Car stalled, steering wheel locked while turning!

[yuning83]

Today when I was trying to make a left turn into a parking lot off a street, the car stalled, and steering wheel locked up so i almost run up the curb. Lucky nobody was on the opposite of the road, otherwise I'd run straight into them. The car stalled out a week ago too at a stop light. Last year I had problem stalling a lot and it turned out to be loose filter, I have K&N SRI. But I checked the filter, and it is tight. Maybe just the weather? it's been in the 10s these couple of days. What else could I do? I really don't want to have this happen again on me while turning like today, very dangerous.

[luke_xb]

There could be tons of Possibilities, only my best guesses from your story without actually seeing the car. First, check to see if there is any airleak anywhere from your k&n sri to exhaust, the filter could be tight, but what about everything else. Ignition: check your coils first than wires and plugs. Bad valves: something happened to your intake(mostly) or exh valves. (usually experienced mechanics can hear it over valve cover while the car is idling) Fuel filter, Fuel Injectors, Transmission, Idle control... If I see the car may be i can help you better. Good luck!

[humboldt1498]

What mods do you have?

[mitsukaiSI]

Are you sure you didn't bump the key with your knee and accidetally shut it off? As long as the key is in the run position the steering column remains unlocked wether the care is on or not it SHOULD be impossible for the wheel to lock if the car stalls... I've seen stranger things though

[yuning83]

hmmm, I'm cleaning the engine bay today, so I'll look for leak. I only have SRI in the engine bay. Other than that I never thought about the knee thing. You know what, I'm 6'2 and sometimes my leg do touch my key chains. I'll try to reproduce it see if that might be it. lol

[RJJensen]

power steering pump shot?

[mikonguyen91]

idk if this is your problem or not but when you installed your SRI, did you disconnect your battery for about 10-15 minutes, then connect it again and let it idle for about 10-15 minutes also? I had this same problem with my Fujita SRI. This is supposed to reset your ECU and let it learn the new A/F ratio. Same thing happened to me, it turned out I forgot to let my car idle after I reconnected the battery. Hope this helps

[invsta]

If you're in a turn then you're going no more than about 35-40mph? As long as your key is turned to "on" the wheel shouldn't lock. You'll only lose your power steering. The car should still be very controllable.

Originally Posted by mitsukaiSI

Are you sure you didn't bump the key with your knee and accidetally shut it off? As long as the key is in the run position the steering column remains unlocked wether the care is on or not it SHOULD be impossible for the wheel to lock if the car stalls... I've seen stranger things though

Pretty sure the wheel didn't lock.

[yuning83]

Ok I checked the knee bumping key theory, no way it'd be that. Power steering pump can't be shot as once the car restarts, everything works just fine. I install my SRI like 2 winters ago, so it shoudln't be the ECU relearning process. And the steering wheel indeed locked, because I didn't make the turn since the wheel locked right after I turn the steering wheel about 90 degrees, not enough to turn into the street intended. I went straight to the curb where you wait for the walk signal for crossing the street. It felt like understeer at 15-20mph! Before I realized that my steering wheel is locked up.

I'm lost now, car is fine all day today about 30 miles of driving in all. No CEL no nothing. I'm not all that suprised about the stalling, but never once before yesterday had the steering wheel lock on me like that.

[invsta]

Originally Posted by yuning83

Ok I checked the knee bumping key theory, no way it'd be that. Power steering pump can't be shot as once the car restarts, everything works just fine. I install my SRI like 2 winters ago, so it shoudln't be the ECU relearning process. And the steering wheel indeed locked, because I didn't make the turn since the wheel locked right after I turn the steering wheel about 90 degrees, not enough to turn into the street intended. I went straight to the curb where you wait for the walk signal for crossing the street. It felt like understeer at 15-20mph! Before I realized that my steering wheel is locked up.

I'm lost now, car is fine all day today about 30 miles of driving in all. No CEL no nothing. I'm not all that suprised about the stalling, but never once before yesterday had the steering wheel lock on me like that.

I think the key to this mystery might be the wheel locking. It tells me there may be something wrong with your ignition assembly.

[cpena06]

This happened to me twice! First time i was backing out, steering wheel was all the way right, my steering wheel had locked while my engine was on! I couldn't move, i almost hit the car behind me!!! This happened maybe a month after i bough the car in December 2007. I though it was something i had done so i disregarded it being a new driver at that time. It is now March 2010 and this happened to me again! Now i am pissed! I am at a red light, my engine is on, an item had fallen in my car so i reached down to get it. Doing this I had put my hand on the steering wheel to brace myself and it had locked!! I was at a red light! People were honking at me to move and i could not move my steering wheel left or right, i could not take out my keys, or turn my key on or off because that too had locked. I was sitting at the red light and remembered that little release button. I though fast (after five minutes of being honked at at the red light)...I opened this little piece next to my shifter, and stuck in a pen that released something, apparently you do this when you steering wheel locks BUT NOT WHILE ITS FRICKIN ON!! SO DANGEROUS!! anyways, it released somehow. I had put my car back in park, pressed the button, turned my steering wheel all the way to the right it had released...I am taking my car in today and they better not think they are making me pay for this!!! i'll post back with my results from Honda.

[shnuffy]

In light of all these Toyota recalls and safety concerns... this frightens me.