These2boots

My girlfriend has an 02 RL. I recently changed and at least attempted to bleed the coolant system. I didn't get a lot of bubbles and the fluid under the radiator cap was very still.
As I don't drive this car very often I'm not familiar with where the temp gauge should sit. On most vehicles it's right in the middle of the gauge but on her car it is perfectly horizontal. is this normal for this vehicle? She drives short distances but we are in florida so the the engine gets up to the horizontal temp quickly. I replaced the temp sensor to see if it had any effect but it did not. I've been concerned the water pump might be failing (no other symptoms).
thanks!

John from PA

There are several images on line of the instrument cluster of the RL (from around 2002) and they show from about horizontal to very slightly above horizontal..All show engine at idle but of course we don’t know if the vehicle has been driven enough to fully warm up the engine.

Babafats

its normal I have an oo rl and the gauge never gets to horizontal i have owned the car for 21 years even after an overheating engine blew both head gaskets and it was repaired the gauge operating temp position ne ver changes It is supposed to quickly get to the position - normal operating temp- as quickly as possible in florida thts normal it means the thermostat is functioning correctly

Babafats

by horizontal im taking it you mean halfway between hot and cold