Chrysler Repair: OVERHEATING?: 2000 SEBRING JXI CONV., climate temperatures, temperature gage

Question
QUESTION: My 2000 Sebring convertible (JXI) is overheating I think??? Temperature gage jumps up then down.  Could this be a fan issue and where can I locate the fuse for the fan?  I love this car and it has 150K miles on it and have never had any major issues with it except the replacement of the fuel pump two years ago.  Please help!!!

ANSWER: Hi Tony,
Some oscillation in the temp reading is natural as the thermostat opens and closes and the fans go on and off. If you turn on the A/C the fan should come on at the same time that the compressor kicks in, which would tell you if the fan fuse is OK. So tell me what you mean by 'up' and 'down'. What is the range of motion as measured in fractions of full scale (H) being 4/4.
Is it 1/4 to 3/4 or?
Roland


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Checked the fan with a/c test, it did kick on.  We have had some extremely cold weather here lately will this affect the open and close of the thermostat?  When I did the a/c check the car NATURALLY would not overheat as it has been doing. Any suggestions??

Answer
Hi Toni,
I believe the rapid cooldown is the fact that the coolant in the radiator is colder before the engine heats up enough to open the thermostat,  so that when the thermostat opens it causes a more rapid cooldown than you have experienced in normal climate temperatures. As I said, overheating is only going to H and staying there.
Roland