Narcoleptic coolant temp gauge

["Sean Ford" <sean@nwh.org>]

Good morning q-list,

   I thought I had a good case against myself for finally proving my insanity,
yet this morning I confirmed that I'm not seeing things and my coolant temp
gauge has actually developed a case of narcolepsy. I'll be driving along and the
temp gauge will slowly begin dropping back to it's base, wake up a little, fall
back and just lay there. The heat still blows and the temp gauge eventually
regains consciousness, but it's disconcerting nonetheless. Anyone have any
ideas? A short somewhere, possibly? A dirty contact, perhaps?

   Is it possible that this temp gauge problem might be connected to an
intermittent/random "Brake Light" warning that began appearing roughly around
the same time?

Sean Ford
sean@nwh.org                       '92 Audi 100CS 5spd 30K mi
Newton-Wellesley Hospital      '89 Suzuki Katana 600 14K mi
Newton, MA  02162 (USA)      http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/5528