So today i was turning right into the store so i was in 3rd gear moving it to neutral then to 2nd gear and as soon as i start to turn my steering wheel it just locked up on me and i couldnt turn the steering wheel at all so i braked hard til it stopped (almost hit curb) then the engine suddenly turns off. i started the car back up with no problem and i can turn the steering wheel again.

Does this have something to do with the AWD system because when i used to own a 1991 3000gt VR4 it did the same thing to me and i sold it before i could find out what the problem was.

Thanks

 

My first impression:

You either have cams or a big boost/vac leak and the engine quit. When the engine quit, the power assisted steering went out, the wheel didn't actually lock. Solution: vac test and fix it, and/or go to get a retune with specific attention to the idle. With cams if you let the rims dip too low or go neutral suddenly, the car stall.

 

last week i just did a boost leak test two days straight... the only leak i have is the throttle body shaft seal which the parts just came in this week. idle and vacuum readings are good.
when i had my VR4 it happens randomly but only when i downshift then turn is when it happens.
havent open valve cover to check what kind of camshafts i have but im pretty sure its stock cams

 

Are you running a stock BPV?

 

everything is stock except the downpipe which doesnt look like oem cuz it doesnt have heat sheilds

 

Whatever is causing the engine stall is causing the steering problem. Fix the engine idle problem and you have fixed the steering.

 

for your wheel to actually lock your ignition switch itself would actually have to go bad... it is supposed to lock only when the key is off. having cams wont actually make your car shut off... cams being out of time will but i digress, if you only have the small leak at the throttle body then tighten you biss... its the screw on the top right corner of your throttle body... if it is open it can cause vacuum leak like symptoms...

next time drop the car in second and pop the clutch it should restart the car with a healthy jolt and your steering should come back up unless it is the ignition then you need a new one...

 

My DSM did this to me once in 146k of driving. So, it is possible that what happened to you is only a fluke occurrence. Later I did have to replace the idle speed control.

 

Not true. The more aggressive the cams, the less vacuum they provide the engine at low rpm which can make it stall. It's also why cars with big cams idle like crap.

 

When properly tuned your cams shouldnt shut your car off... My cams are bigger then the massive gsc r2's everyone is crazy about... They idle remarkably well and have plenty of vacuum because my tuner know his *** from a hole in the ground. If you cams shut your car down then you need a better tuner or need to have them dialed in right... Cams arent just plug n play as everyone thinks...

 

idle is fine... i will pull out the valve cover tomorrow to check my cams.
my vacuum reading is at 20 in/hg which i believe is normal.

 

I still don't understand how the steering column locked with the key still in the to the 'on' position?

This is mechanical, if you're car stalled you should still have full steering control just unassisted.

Perhaps you have a faulty ignition switch?

 

thats exactly what im talking about.
and my vr4 did it before too.
i have had other cars but they were either FWD or RWD and not problem like this occured.

 

3rd gear is not a parking lot gear, you probably just stalled it...

 

Unless you are used to this happening or a very experienced driver, when you lose the assistance of power steering, the force needed is so much different, you mind, rather than instantly knowing the force needed is way greater, just sorta locks up. So, it is usually your mind, not the steering, that locks.