why does my car overheat when i am parked/stopped?

Check for coolant leaks first, especially if your car does not have a "low coolant" indicator light in the gauge cluster. Make sure your radiator and the reserve tank are filled to the appropriate level with the correct kind of fluid. Most GM vehicles use Dex-cool, just consult your owners manual for which type to use. If your car isn't showing any visible signs of overheating, the fan is working, no smoke, has coolant, then I would say you may have a bad thermostat. However if there is a coolant leak, make sure you get a mechanic to check that out.

Best of luck!

Why Does A Car Overheat

If the engine does NOT boil when stopped and idling or parked and the engine switched off, it's quite probably fine. You are probably reacting to a rise in temperature, which is normal, and thinking it is overheating.

Any car engine will rise in temperature when not moving, or when turned off. Thermostatic fans may not operate when the car is moving at all, because the temperature is lower when air is moving naturally through the radiator. The engine thermostat prevents the engine getting too cool, and the fan starts up if it's getting a bit hot.

It sounds to me like your problem, if any, could be the thermostat is not functioning properly, if the gauge is reading below normal when driving.

If the gauge is calibrated or has a "normal" range marked on it, it should remain in the "normal" or be above 180F. if everything is functioning correctly.

It can still go higher when stopped and idling, or after stopping and turning off.

Well its common for your car to cool down rapidly when your driving(It should be). Your car should be running at 160-180 normally. If the temp is rapidly increasing when parked or at a stop, It could be that the inside of your block and radiator is dirty and needs a flush. Have you ever tried removing your radiator cap and checking if your fluid is clear?

Hope this helps some what. If it ever gets above 220, thats too hot. Try putting your car in neutral and giving it gas till it goes down because it is very dangerous for your motor to be getting that hot. You can damage your motor and you need to keep it cool at all times.

FAN .

fan clutch.

fan electrical switch...

and check the rad fluid add tank..Level.

try flushing out the radiator and change the thermostat.