Car overheats while standing

Yes. The engines coolant goes thru the heater core to provide heat. If it leaks out enough coolant it can result in overheating.

does the temp gauge reach the red area? check eng coolant .Over heating could cause eng to cut out so as not to cause more damage check the cooling system.When travelling slowly or at stand still turn heater to max heat and max speed this will cool eng but is only a temporary solution

Temp is going up, well that doesn't mean anything unless it actually overheats, in traffic it can reach 240 F and present no danger of engine damage. If this is not the case DO NOT DRIVE THIS UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FOUND AND REPAIRED UNLESS YOU WANT TO BUY ANOTHER ENGINE JOB.

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----

temp gauge goes erratic? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/heater-blows-intermittently-and-temp.html

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Temperature gauge keeps fluctuating up and down close to red? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/temperature-gauge-keeps-fluctuating-up.html

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Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
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Temperature gauge does not move and no heat when heater is ON? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/temperature-gauge-does-not-move-and-no.html

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This details will help.Thanks.

The two statements are contradictory. The thermostat should assist in warming up the engine in the cold but if it is stuck closed it would overheat but warm up quickly. Overheating in the summer could be the fan not kicking in in traffic. You can check a thermostat by boiling it in water and observing the temperature at which it starts to open. This information should be stamped on the unit. You can also watch the fan to see if it kicks in with the engine idling when hot. If it does not it could be the thermostatic switch or the fan itself.

At idling speed an engine does build up a lot of heat and the cooling fan will kick in. In slow moving traffic or traffic jams the temperature gauge can touch the red - particularly on hot days. The reason it cools down when you start moving is because of the air flow through the radiator.

Presumably there are no leaks from the cooling system otherwise you would have mentioned it. In normal circumstances the fan will not be running as you are driving at speed, as the air-flow through the radiator is sufficient to cool things. The fan only kicks in to get rid of excess heat - and this usually occurs at idling speed or after you have parked the car.

If the fan is running all the time as you drive, this points to either a fault in the fan switch, or the car is running too hot. presumably in normal driving the fan isn't running and the temperature gauge reads normal?

It is common - in stationary traffic many cars overheat (particularly big engined models) try to stall and 'cut out'. Restarting can be difficult until the engine cools down.

Is your car overheating in normal driving conditions or just at idle speed? Overheating in normal driving conditions can be caused by things like a failing water pump, blocked radiator, collapsed hose, faulty thermostat or, in the worst case scenario, cylinder head problems.

Overheating at idling speed is 'common'. Check your coolant level. If your car isn't using/losing coolant then there probably is no major problem. You can flush out the cooling system and refill with new coolant - and also check your radiator. Are the cooling fins crumbling with age? Or maybe they're partly clogged with insects and debris from the road? A blast with a hosepipe wil sort that out ..

The question is how much does your car overheat in normal driving? If it doesn't .. it appears as though you have nothing to worry about as such. Most cars have 2 speed fans... the 2nd faster stage kicks in at some point dependant on engine temperature. Perfectly normal.

really sounds like your elevtric cooling fans are not working let it run in your drive way with hood open for a while and see if they ever come on they should come on somewere between 210 to 220 or so,[not exact specs just around there]

depending on the length of time in traffic and what temperature the car runs at while normal driving you can have either a thermostat, water pump or fan problem I would check those items first

You have a bad radiator fan. Check to see that your fan comes on when temp goes past half way, about 3/4.

1.Low coolant level,2. restricted rad. ( full of dirt, bugs etc.)3. Idle too low.4. Fan not cutting in.5. Water pump.