My cars temperature gauge rises when I'm in stop and go traffic only. I've had it looked at at three different shops, have had the fan switch and thermostat replaced, and the last shop (a Honda dealer) told me my head gasket needs to be replaced. I've been hesitant because I figured if it was the head gasket it would be overheating more often and not just that circumstance. A few days ago it did this, and then later that night the gauge stayed at Cold and barely moved. Could this be electrical? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated thank you.

 

Head gasket is a possibility. Do you know if you have oil in your coolant, or coolant in your oil? Do your fans actually come on as they should?

I would suggest to drain the system, confirm the new Tstat is OEM Honda (many shops use cheaper brands), and re-fill and bleed the system. You can also drop the Tstat into a pot of water on the stove to confirm it is actually opening and shutting properly.