Back on the road and Running hot

[WileE7]

After sitting for nearly 2 years and almost being sold I've got my bronco back on the road / . The issue I'm having is while I'm driving the temperature guage sits at or above the L on the word normal I haven't changed the thermostat or flush the coolant yet. This morning when I was driving 5 min into the drive the temp guage shot up to the H and when I turned the heater on all I got was cool air the entire 30 min drive. When I took my foot off the gas the temperature went down slightly. Any thoughts of why its running like it is?

 

[Krafty]

sounds like you have a big air pocket in your engine, check your coolant level then I would look at thermostat.

 

[Bully Bob]

Moving the knobs on the dash doesn't necessarly mean the "heat" is turned on.

Some are cable operated., some are vacuum, some are both. However the fan will still blow air.

The other issue isn't likely related.., sounds like a T-stat stuck partly open.