Chrysler Repair: Sebring overheats, lower radiator hose seems empty

Question
i have a '98 sebring jxi, with the mitsubishi 2.5l v6, and i had a small radiator drain plug leak, which i since repaired. the car did overheat at that time, and i just noticed that the lower raiator hose ic cool and apparently empty. even though the hose is hot, i can compress the upper hose while the engine is hot. when i have the cap off the coolant seems to be moving well. what would cause this? the temp seems to fluctuate, getting pretty high, but cooling rapidly. can this be the thermostat, or a gummed up radiator, or a little of both?
thanks

Answer
Hi Martin,
I would suspect that the radiator is clogged. If manifold on the side where the hoses connections is hot but the far side manifold is cold then that would indicate that the cross-flow tubes are partially obstructed.  You can remove the thermostat to check that and put it into a pan of heating water to watch whether it opens as it approaches boiling.
Sorry for the long delay in responding but I just found your question in the "pool" to which Kevin had referred it.
Roland