A number of years ago a man ran a light and hit the right front of my DisII Fixed and drove fine but lately when I make a hard right turn it sometimes locks for a second. If I turn it to the right till it hit the normal stop point the engine dies. I can't help believe the two are related. Any ideas would certainly help. Thanks. Doc

 

Doc, that's a mystery. Wow. When you say it locks are you referring to the steering? Do you hear any belt squeal when that happens? My first though was that the power steering pump was doing its most when you are at a full turn and the belt is very tight on the pump because of the way it routes... but I think the belt would slip before it would slow the crank pulley.

Anyway that's the only way I can imagine the two being related.

Going way out on a limb... I had the main positive wiring get loose one night and came to rest on the exhaust, which burned through the insulation. It stopped all electrical activity in the truck in an instant. I coasted to a stop then it started right up (I didn't yet know what the problem was). Then when I turned RIGHT the wires touched the manifold again and all went dead. I found some zip ties to keep the wires off the manifold until I could get home. I am referring to the wires at the front right of the engine that follow the heater hoses down to the thermostat area.

 

Very interesting problem. Just like charlie, may first thought was the Power Steering Pump was seizing and killing the engine maybe, but I don't know if that's even possible.

I guess you could take the belt off for a second, start the truck, and turn the wheel to the right and see if it kills the truck still. If it does then I doubt the power steering pump is the issue. Don't let your truck overheat with the belt off, watch your gauge. Also, with the belt off the wheels will be really hard to turn. You might want to jack the front up off the ground to help turn the wheels.

 

Okay so let me be a little clearer. When I turn the wheel hard right (to what I call the lock point or the point where the steering wheel won't turn anymore) sometimes it seems to bind for a second. The other day when I made a very hard right turn around a sharp corner it actually locked up and would not straighten out till the engine died. That was a first. Most of the time it just binds for a second then recovers. No belt noise at all, no other odd sounds. Now when sitting at a dead stop if I turn the wheel as far as it will turn to the right the engine dies within a few seconds. Seems to affect the idle speed. It always restarts as soon as the wheel is straightened but the idle is off (low) for a few seconds. Hope that better explains my dilema

 

I would still remove the drive belt, start the truck, and turn the wheel all the way to the right to see if it still dies.

As for the steering wheel locking up, that is a major safety issue. Does it feel like the steering column is locking, like when you remove the key and lock the steering wheel to one direction? Try jacking up the front end, putting the key in the II position and turn the steering wheel all the way right and left. Do you feel it lock up?

 

I think I know what you mean. My 04 does a thing slightly similar.

If I go to full lock, it's like I've gone 'over a hump' and the steering pump takes a while to get back on board and return the direction. I'm assuming the PSP is on its way out. I'm waiting for it to become more of an issue before I spend the cash.

I remember swapping the steering pump on another older car and even though it 'worked', the quality of 'steering' wasn't as good as the original pump. So I am avoiding repeating the same.

 

Shocking.

I cannot imagine how the two can be connected other than something really off like the power steering pump dragging the belt at full turn or some loose wiring being pushed to ground when you turn. The power steering pump is just a small hydraulic pump and you can kill an engine when the hydraulic powered device binds. I'd just be shocked that if that was happening you wouldn't hear your belt screaming or find pieces of the belt all over.

The only catch I've ever had steering was caused when the u joint on the steering shaft was catching the metal shield on my motor mount after an engine swap. But it never threatened to stop the engine.

So my best bet is that there is a problem with the steering gears. They are binding and causing the power steering pump to seize. Grooved belts do have a lot of grip, so it is killing your engine...

I'd be shocked if that was right.

Easy way to check would be to jack up the front, turn all the way to the right, and observe engine die. Then remove belt, repeat, and hopefully see no change in engine RPMs. I say "hopefully"... It would mean a new power steering unit.

 

Did you check your steering shaft ujoints to see if they are rusted or need greasing. This same thing happened with my friends ford explorer and it was the steering shaft ujoints binding. The steering wheel would turn than lock up and you would have to muscle it back to straight.

 

I just discovered a steering issue with my 2003 Disco after letting it sit for almost a year. I had to do some rear frame repair so had the gas tank out and it sat.
Today I took it for it's maiden voyage around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights. It is hard to turn the wheel and it does not snap back.
I drove for about 10 minutes hoping it would loosen up but it is still hard to turn and no snap back.
I'll take a look at the steering u-joints tomorrow.

 

I was able to get my steering back to normal by spraying BP blaster on the two steering column ujoints.
I feel like it was the upper ujoint that needed the lube because I sprayed the lower on at the steering box but could not reach in to spray the upper ujoint until I pulled the intake plumbing for access room.
Are these steering shaft ujoints greasable? I did not notice any grease nipples on them.
Thanks for the tip on the steering column ujoints. Saved me time and money.