I think the water pump is leaking. the car gage doesnt go over the driving temp but i smell fluid ive checked the hoses it just came up about 2 in low of fluid i added and now there was a puddle under the car. I cant see the leak after taking off the cover or down the sides or front of the engin but it was there and the cross member under the front of the engin is wet

possibly a hose or water pump leaking, but only while driving when full pressure is on the system. first check your oil and make sure theres no water in the oil.if no water in the oil, then fill the radiator,and let run in driveway until it reaches temp 190 to 210 and look for water leak then. If it were just the thermostat then you should have a boil over in coolant tank and wld/shld be able to smell or see the coolant loss. also inspect your radiator sides front and back, your radiator may have a hole

check the radiator censor making sure that the wires for this have not come off is there any fluid on the road when its been left for a few hours normally a car loses water any way may be half a pint a month or so this is normall check hoses for splits before forking out for a new water pump

YOUR TEMP GAGE WILL NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY WHEN THE COOLANT FALLS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL. WHEN IT IS SMOKING IT IS EXTREMELY HOT. IF YOU HAVE A COOLANT LEAK THAT BAD IT SHOULD BE NOTICEABLE EVEN WHEN IT IS NOT HOT. YOU NEED TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE COOLANT LEAK. WATER PUMP, COOLANT HOSE, FREEZE PLUG, HEAD GASKET, RADIATOR CAP LEAK, OR RADIATOR, OR HEATER CORE. CHECK THE ABOVE AND YOU WILL FIND THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK.

COULD BE THERMOSTAT IF TOP RADIATOR HOSE IS NOT HOT AND BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE GOING TO WATER PUMP IS HOT THE THERMOSTAT STICKING PARTIALLY CLOSE.IF TOP HOSE IS HOT THE RADIATOR,ENGINE BLOCK HEATER CORE NEED FLUSHING OUT.IF WATER PUMP WEEP HOLE LEAKING REPLACE WATER PUMP, FAULTY WATER PUMP WILL CAUSE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT.REPLACE RADIATOR CAP MAKE SURE YOU HAVE 50 / 50 MIX SOLUTION ANTIFREEZE AND WATER IN COOLANT SYSTEM. IF ALL LOOKS GOOD CHECK ENGINE OIL ON DIP STICK, IF OIL IN DIP STICK LOOK LIKE MILKSHAKE YOU HAVE BLOWED HEAD GASKET THAT WILL CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING CAR IN SHORT DISTANCE AND ENGINE OVERHEATING.

the temperature gauge range of movement is still considdered an acceptable range and depending what weather conditions and other loading on vehicle eg going up hill also while towing. But some things ive come accross like possibly the water pump, at higher speeds the impeller could be loose on shaft and with pressure it may not be turning at proper speed, I would replace the thermostat for saftey measures also, while you looked at the water pump. Check out the heater hoses and pipes that run behind the engine to the other side for leaks also. check connections of temp sender unit wire on thermostat housing(there are 2 sensors on it) its the smaller of the 2.the other one is for cold starts

you have a leak in the water pump or a heater hose. check the coolant system for a leak.

Low fluid light means check your coolant which prob whats on the ground. Depending on the rate of leakage fill coolant start try and locate leak sounds like a hose or water pump slow leak prob water pump fast leak hose good luck

u could have a leake in your head gasket and the collent is getting out that way . when car is up to temp stand behind the car near the exaust a see if u can smell the coolant

I doubt very seriously the temp problem has anything to do with the timing issue. It sounds more like the water pump is going bad or you have low coolant. When your moving the fan should be free wheeling if it isn't the clutch is bad or the Fan motor is bad. I would look at the Fluid level and water pump for being the issue here.

is the ac system smelling funny like antifreeze or is it dripping fluid. maybe you didn't add enough fluid the first time