I noticed my temp gauge starting to go past 1/2 to the hot side. Granted these gauges are actually meaningful compared to later gauges and I was in traffic but moving. I've never noticed the temp going as high as it did. Once I got to speed it cooled down. Water level is good but did notice the fan hard to spin. I read where there is a clutch when it's warm the viscous clutch kicks in. Don't know what normal is. Pump is new. Don't know how old the t-stat is.
Might want to run through the diagnostic procedures for the aux fan - I think Bentley runs thru checking relay, radiator temp switch, hi & lo on the fan, etc. - need to do all that on mine, I think my aux fan is out. Overheats idling, but does ok when moving.
May have lucked out for a change. The resistance I was feeling was the fan hitting the lower part of the shroud. Probably enough to slow it down. Cable tied the shroud and now the fan spins freely. Glad I noticed it in time. I'll look into the external fan next.
Mine was doing exactly the same thing and i dreaded sitting at traffic lights because the temperature would climb. I'd gone thru all the usuals also and was in denial about the radiator myself but after replacing everything else had no other option but to try the radiator. The radiator itself was actually the problem. temperature is once again perfect regardless of outside conditions. it was actually one of the cheaper parts in the system and i wish i'd hit it first.
I forgot to mention the followup in my case. The fan was hitting the fan shroud on the bottom. A few wire ties fixed it.