after looking at the cooling system very carefully and assessing the ac fans, i noted the slightest spot where coolant was leaking at a seam, but no big deal, just a drop and im not losing any noticeable amount of coolant. so i put radiator stopleak in, and i think it clogged up my radiator or therm. because immediately after, it overheats off and on driving. I havent been running AC at all. Im thinkin my radiator was on the way out anyways. anyone recommend a place to pick one up (d1 radiators seem to be quite expensive). of course, it was a 96 degree day out too

 

We have other posts that mention the problems with stop leak products. In older radiatoors, that have used water - other than distilled, there is a build up of calcium inside the tubes, it is rough, and irregular shaped. It can be constricted enough that the stop leak decides to stop it as well, which then results in either a new radiator or a rod out. You might check with an indy shop to see if they can clear it out (I paid about $65). You can get an oldy from the salvage yard, but it will need rod out as well. Around here, radiators are $50 used. My radiator is 175K miler.

 

The temp gauge is supposed to be right at the 9o'clock position, slightly above or below is fine, but not at the 1/4 mark.

You can replace your fan motors with those from a 1993 Toyota Corolla, they use the exact same fan motor, check the tech section for the part number for new fan motors, otherwise buy a pair of fans from a junk yard and swap the fan blades and housings.
You will also need to swap the connector from the old fan to the new one.
Once the swap is done plug them in and turn the key on and check the fans to make sure they are blowing in the correct direction.

 

Spike,

So if it is not supposed to be at 1/4 or 1/3, but should be horizontal - does that mean I have a bad gauge in photos above? - have swapped coolant temp sensor.

 

Yours is as it should be. There are lines above and below the range your pointer are in. Spike is referring to the points between them, not the scale yours is in.

mine is starting to overheat at half. It stays under in normal conditions. These gauges are intentionally made to be unresponsive as not to scare people when the engine gets hotter. When they spike, there is a serious problem.

But yours is fine. That is where it is supposed to be..