I have a 1995 protege mazda and it has worked fine until my husband tried to put the air conditioner on and then on the dash it shows a battery and it is lite up and shows charge. but my temp gauge shows right on hot and will not move. could you tell me what this might be. I thought it might be the alternator but with the gauge like that I am not sure. It is driving ok.The only thing I have noticed within the last couple of days is when it shifts it pulls back a little, just slightly and sometimes when it has been turned off it makes a metal sound but not always this just happened all today
the other problem I have is the windshield wipers. This is hard to explain.It is not where the arm is connected by the bolt with the cap where you can adjust it, it is next to it. there is a cross screw looks like under a small grill and when I move the arm it looks like it is cracked under the grill some where. when I turn the wipers on they flap off the window and stop in the middle of the window

i would definately say that the alternator is the source of the first problem, the second with the wipers, I would say that the wiper control arm under the wiper cowl is broken, or the plastic retainer on the end of the control arm is cracked, extremely worn or missing, check those out and should find your problem.

I don't know if I am doing this correctly but if you can read this, for the wipers can it be welded together and for the alternator problem would the alternator cause my temp gauge to go to H.

the wiper control arm can not be welded because the plastic collar i referred to earlier, has to be able to pivot, and the temp gauge..........if the alternator is not working correctly, many sensors, gauges and the like will not work correctly (malfunction) if you replace the alternator and still have the temp problem, I would definately replace the thermostat next (about 3 bucks) and that way, you will eliminate yet another possibility. I hope this helps, post again for more information if you need it.