temp light(s) coming on randomly...

hey,

a few weeks ago, two lights on my dashboard (1997 sl1, about 85000
miles) started blinking occassionally (about 5 or 6 times, then
stopping). the first times it happened, it was when it was raining hard
and kind of cold outside. since then, they've appeared several times a
week and with no pattern as to what is making them come on - of course,
i live in minnesota, and in those couple weeks, temperatures have
dropped considerably and it's in the 30's now.

nothing else appears wrong, temp gauge is normal, no other lights pop
up, no starting difficulty, no noises, nothing out of the ordinary....
actually, i'm not even quite sure what both the lights are, but i was
able to take a pic with my cell phone one of the times they were on:

http://static.flickr.com/94/275701748_c4f6e1229e_o.jpg

one looks like the coolant level (thermometer sticking out of some
waves) and one is something else (another thermometer in a box with
waves at the bottom?).

soooo i thought i'd try here and see if anyone else has similiar
prolems or knows what this is before i go pay to have it hooked up to a
diagnostic machine (around $100 alone! eesh). i've noticed no other
problems, but i figure if it really IS bad, better to go get it taken
care of before winter really hits!

anyway, thanks in advance for any light you may shed!

 

one looks like the coolant level (thermometer sticking out of some

Did you then check the coolant level?

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

 

Hahahah! I had that happen when my dad left my coolant flood tank partly
unscrewed and some water evaporated out. Fill your freaking coolant tank,
and depending on how bad it is, have it flushed, eh?