Good night friend
I am the owner of a Cavalier of 97, I would need to know what engine is yours but I have (and here is achieved) of the workshop manual.
I tell you that mine presented a similar problem and should keep the air conditioning on to work the electrventillator and at the end of so much search and not real The crack (normally did not break visible but lowered the level very little and reheated).
To correct it, make the radiator repair.
Another known cause that produces engine overheating is air in the cooling system, if you observe the engine front you will see a horizontal tube and in it a purge screw, if they have not eliminated it, something accustomed to some workshops. That purge screw is loosen (do not take it out, unless it has been replaced by a normal screw) after heating the vehicle, adjusts and re -locks up, this is repeated until you observe that air does not come out by the purge (eye with the water level in the container).
The normal thing is that the electrventilator turns on once the vehicle reaches a certain temperature but if there is any air bubble on the water temperature thermostat, it does not light.
I await any of the two options solve your problem