Temperature guage goes bonkers

[leamas57]

Hello from the States to what seems an august group of authentic Freelanders!

My 2003 SE (I think it's a 2.5) 53,000 miles, is scaring the crap out of me. The auxiliary fan has been running like mad after shutoff lately and I haven't seen the temperature gauge anywhere above the midway point, but I have been losing coolant slowly.

Last night I saw the gauge spike into red and then bounce back down, only to go back to red again. It was a short trip and the car didn't act abnormally, so I hope I didn't do any damage. I am worried that it's been overheating all the while and I haven't known.

Is is the thermostat? A local tech who moonlights thinks it might be air in the system and a leak.

Any helpful hints?

Thanks--I can't afford anything major right now...

Leamas...

[doobreydog]

Sounds like an airlock...As well as that the fans are supposed to come on progressively running at a certain % depending on temp. If only one fan is working it will start and run on full speed to compensate for other...start and run engine at about 2-3k rpm to see if this is the case, if so would check out fuses/relays etc as can often be the cause...

Wellcome to the "M&D" house

[leamas57]

You are kind to offer these thoughts and the welcome! Hoping I can bleed out the air with help of a former tech. Will probably change the Thermostat, too. Can't imagine how good you guys must in the lanes over there. ...

Anybody gets to Arizona, there are some trails here, though I wouldn't use mine for that unless I buy a new car and keep the FL for trails.