My 98 is overheating!

[smschrag]

My Explorer (Sport) is starting to overhead (according to the guage)

This weekend I took a three hour trip and the following happened:
-Every 15 minutes or so the needle reached close enough to the red to turn on the "check guages" light.
-Then after a few minutes, the needle moves back down and the light goes off.
-About fifteen minutes later, it does the same thing.

Does this sound like a thermostat problem? What else could it be?

Also, I don't know that it is related, but my AC isn't working. It isn't cooling the air. I just had it charged so I suspect my compressor is going out. Any ideas?

Thanks for your help

 

[X~FACTOR]

I would check the thermostat first. At around 20 bucks its the cheapest route to check first. About your A/C, I don't have much experience with this but I heard this has something to do with "blend door" problem.

 

[mikeh]

Agree on the Thermostat for your overheating problem.

For your AC I suspect that your accumulator is rusted out like mine was on my 98. Pull your foam back on your accumulator and see if there is a ton of rust under it.

Mikeh