1997 Ford Escort LX

[senseiguy]

Hi. I have a 97 Ford Escort station wagon. I have recently had it checked by my mechanic, and according to him the heat and a/c are working normally. The coolant temp gauge goes up just slightly above cool once it is warmed up. My worry is that, once I turn the heat on, the heat works, but the temp gauge needle goes down and stays down at the "C" line of the temp gauge....Help...is turning the heat on supposed to cool the car down like that?!!! Before I go looking like an idiot and bringing it back into the dealer (who just worked on the car last week,) do I have a problem? As I said the mechanic said the heat is working and the car does run at normal temp until I turn the heat on...I am confused