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I have a 1999 Cavalier 2.2L. My temperature gauge is also shifty. It fluctuates everywhere from running at the lowest end of the normal range to the highest, nearly overheating sometimes at idle. It runs coolest when driven consistently at about 45 miles an hour.
There's a TSB that says air trapped in the top radiator pipe could be to blame as it causes the coolant temp sensor to read inaccurately (I've yet to verify or repair this)
I've also read that perhaps the thermostat could be to blame, although I live in Alaska, and this morning at a blistering 12 degrees my drive to work was plenty warm... Not to mention the temperature gauge rode in the same area as it did when it was in the 40s...
All in all I'm still looking for an answer to this very same problem myself...
***UPDATE:***
If you are having the same 'problem' I am, as it turns out (odd as it is) I think it is normal for the gauge to flip-flop across a wide range. See here for details of another person describing their Cavalier and the normal operating ranges for their car:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1e/bl525e.htm
What else can I help you with?
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