1997 Chevrolet Malibu running hot

I TAKE IT THAT YOU ARE OVERHEATING.......HOW FAST (QUICK)?

HAS IT BEEN EXTREME (CUT OFF/ BOIL OVER/ LIKE DAMAGE YOUR ENGINE EXTREME)....OR IS YOU GAUGE READING HIGHER THAN NORMAL?

...........OF COURSE YOU SHUT 'ER DOWN AND QUIT DRIVING WHEN YOU NOTICED?

.........I'M TRYING TO RULE OUT ENGINE DAMAGE....LIKE HEAD/ HEAD GASKET/ VALVES BEING DAMAGED...............IT'S JUST HARD TO SEE IT FROM HERE, ........AND MY OWN STEP-DAUGHTER STRETCHES THE TRUTH.............ONLY "BRIBING" HER FRIEND, LET ME KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HER CAR!..........I DON'T KNOW YOUR FRIENDS, I'M LOW ON CASH....LOL!!!

ARE THE FANS WORKING WHEN YOU REACH OPERATING TEMP?

I REPLACE MY THERMOSTAT ON BOTH OF MY JEEPS EVERY YEAR....NEED IT OR NOT..........HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE "NOT" ........I SORTA CALL THIS EXTREME PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE......AT A COST OF LESS THAN $10 PER VEHICLE

DID THEY REMOVE YOUR THERMOSTAT TO TEST IT?........THIS WOULDA BEEN THE TIME TO REPLACE IT!

YA KNOW............MR. RADIATOR HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1996 OR SO, IF IT'S ORIGINAL.......IT MAY HAVE DEPOSITS AND BARNACLES GROWING ALL IN IT........SLOWING DOWN WATER FLOW AND THE ABILITY TO COOL IT.................EVEN IF EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS 100%....IT WILL NOT MAKE A CLOGGED UP RADIATOR WORK

WHERE IN THE COUNTRY ARE YOU?

I JUST LOOKED AT A RADIATOR FOR YOURS AT "ADVANCE AUTO PARTS" .COM.........IT WAS $119........IF THAT STORE IS AVAILABLE TO YOU, I CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO SAVE $40 AND HAVE IT IN YOUR HANDS IN AN HOUR!............IF YOU WANT ME TO

WITHOUT KNOWING YOUR ENGINE SIZE....I JUST "WINGED IT" USING THE 6 CYLINDER......I FOUND THIS WATER PUMP.........LOOKS LIKE A PLASTIC IMPELLER, BUT HARD TO TELL.......IT'S POSSIBLE ALL OF 'EM HAVE PLASTIC.....SOME MAY NOT FOR YOUR VEHICLE

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_remanufactured-water-pump-driveworks_5420520-p?searchTerm=water+pump

I'M GONNA LINK YOU TO ANOTHER ANSWER I GAVE TO SAVE TIME.....LOOK AT THE PICS

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1992-ford-taurus-cooling-fan-doesn-t-kick-on-car-starting-over-heat-ve-checked

YOUR TURN....YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ELABORATE...I DO!

THE MEDIC