1995 Lumina Heat Problems

Ok, first thing that happened, the power steering started leaking. Its not hte pump but a tube connect. Next, I noticed the car was getting really hot and the heat was not coming on, it was blowing cold. As soon as the temp gage reached hot, the heat kicked on the the temp went down. WEll now its just getting hot and the heat just blows cold and the hot light is coming on. WE checked coolant levels. We suspect the thermostat, but I was just wondering what other opinions were.

Did you check the coolant in the radiator, or just the resevoir? If there is any air in the system, it can behave like this. Then the question is, where did the coolant go? If it is actually full, and no air present at the bleeder screws, the theremostat is probably bad. If you let the car cool off, and grasp the hose coming out of the thermostat housing as the motor warms up, you should begin to feel the heated coolant starting to warm the hose up. If the hose stays relatively cold even as the temp begins to go to the hot side, the thermostat is not opening. Are you getting coolant rejection to the resevoir when it begins to overheat?

it could be a slipping belt due to the blown power steering hose causing inadequate coolant circulation. In laymans terms, the water pump isn't circulating coolant because the belt is slipping.