car runs hot and heating gauge doesn't work

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My car won't start. It frequently ran hot, but unbeknownst to me because the temperature gauges don't work. The lights flickered on occassion and the battery charge during cold wheather ran low, durin warm wheather recharged. Now it won't start at all nor will it take a charge. Should I replace the battery and where are the temperature gauges for a 1992 Ford Thunderbird LX thanks