I have a 97 cl 3.0 and my temp. gauge in the cluster is at normal, in the middle while i'm driving, but when I come to a stop, the temp slowing starting getting hotter until it reaches the the hot line. Then when I drive off it lowers. Any ideas?

Termistat?

 

Check the coolant level in both the radiator and the overflow container when the engine is cool.

Check that the cooling fan comes on when the car is fully warmed up. If it doesn't, it could be the fan switch or the fan itself. You can apply 12V DC to the fan directly to rule the fan out.

It may also be the thermostat. When they fail they tend to fail in the open position -- this allows the water to circulate through the block too quickly such that it doesn't have enough time to absorb heat from the engine and therefore diminishes the heat exchanging effect.

I'd get it checked out before driving much more -- the more time it spends overheating the more likely you are to cause some serious [read: expensive] damage.

 

Check the fans as mentioned above, it's not uncommon to see them fail on CL's from that era. Definitely don't keep driving it with this problem.