I have a 1988 volvo 240, when you first fire the car up from cold she is ok. When she gets up to temperature it does not just stop in the middle, the needle goes into the red. When you place the interior blowers on setting 1 the temperature comes down straight away. Can anybody e-mail me with the answer for this?

Remove the radiator and hold up to the light. You should be able to see through the cooling fins. Years of vegatation, dirt, and cat hair can block the air flow through the radiator. Use a garden hose to force the debris out by directing the water flow against the back of the radiator. Repeat in problem areas until all matter is removed. Then turn the hose on the backside of the condensor for the AC to flush it. I would not use the high pressure wash wands for this task as their high pressure can damage the cooling fins in the radiator. Any areas on the radiator that has the cooling fins flattened down could be careful worked with tool to open the air flow again.

If you are still running the old plastic tank (OEM)radiator perhaps it is time to think about replacing it with a new metal tank one. The plastic ones have a lifespan whose envelope you are currently pushing.

Randy

Try changing the thermostat first. Inexpensive and easy to do. Do not allow the car to badly overheat as damage can occur.