Engine temps all over the place

[Sixshot]

Hi,
I have a 1998 Firebird, and the other evening while driving around I noticed that the engine temperature gauge was fluctuating a lot....normally it doesn't get much higher than 210 and consistently runs cooler than that.
But it was getting really hot, close to 260. It kept moving around between 260 and 160. Anyways I've never had this happen before, so any ideas on what's happening? Thanks!

[Akuma]

Check your coolant. If the needle is accually jumping then it sounds like an electrical problem maybe?

[Sixshot]

The coolant level was ok....I hope it's not electrical but it sure sounds like it. Yeah, the needle was moving back and forth....even tonight, it got all the way to the red mark and the "check gauges" light came on! I just blasted the heater and it went back down.....

[Skullcamaro]

Check and probably replace your thermostat and make sure that your coolant fan(s) are coming on when the temperature raises. Do coolant flush and refill. Other then that then a possible electrical problem. Their could be a couple of things wrong in combination. Check them out. Good luck.