Last saturday, my 1991 DX overheated... I had just gotten off a quick trip down the highway and was sitting at a stop light when like smoke or steam or something starting wisping up from the front of the hood. I looked down and the heat needle was about 3/4 of the way up. So i threw on the heat, and it cooled off... This was the first time this has happened, and it hasnt been running hot at all since then. I tried to check the coolent level, but i couldnt see anything or anyway to tell how much there is. Is it supposed to be obvious?? Ive got a few ideas about what may have been the problem, but finding out if there's coolent is obviously the first step.. so how can i tell??

 

The thermostat may have been temporarily stuck. Could happen again. Easy $5 maintenance item, worth doing even if it wasn't the problem.