Steering intermittently locked

MitchC · Mar 29, 2023

Hey, I have a 2014 Ram 1500 5.7L with push to start and electronic braking system.

Yesterday morning I started my truck and the steering wheel was locked as if the vehicle was still turned off. I tired turning it off and on a couple times but that didn't fix it, I eventually put it in drive and pulled forward about 10 feet then went straight back, and while backing up it unlocked the steering and I was able to drive fine. This morning however it was back and I tried my trick of going forward then back multiple times, checked the EPS fuse and tried letting it run for about 30 minutes but it didn't unlock the steering wheel. I got a ride to work and when I got home I tried to turn on my truck and the steering wheel was working perfectly fine.

The only thing that changed was it was - 14

Celsius in the morning and +6 when I got home. Any idea what could cause this issue?

Should I be worried about loosing steering while driving?

Dean2 · Mar 29, 2023

Even electric steering can be steered manually if the assist goes out. Is the wheel truly locked or just REALLY hard to turn? Next time it is locked at start try to see if you can apply enough force to trun it. My bet is you are getting intermitent electrical failure and manual steering. Try gently pushing down the fuse to ensure it is seated, in fact do that for all the fuses.

MitchC · Mar 29, 2023

Hey Dean thanks for the reply, I just tried your suggestion and pressed all fuses in, when I started the truck the wheel was still locked but I kept hard pressure on turning it to the left and all of a sudden power steering came back. But it was literally locked prior to that, not just hard to turn. It was like you got into your truck and just tried turning the wheel while it was turned off or like after you turn your truck off and can wiggle the wheel for 10 seconds before it goes completely stiff.

I hope the fuse re-seating fixed it but I guess I will find out tomorrow morning, it seems to be worse in the cold.

Do you by chance know if the rack and pinion on these trucks has the EPS built into it or is dodge trying to charge $3000 for the rack and pinion then another $3000 for the EPS to mount onto it?

Thanks again!

Dean2 · Mar 29, 2023

Not sure. I tried my 2020 Grand Cherokee 5.7 push button start, when I went out this morning. The steering doesn't actually lock at all, at least not like the ones that used a key. Even with the car not running at all I can turn the wheels even in park. It is stiff but not a huge grunt to turn the wheel.

If yours is locked hard and tight my guess is the steering lock pin is not releasing properly. I am assuming yours still has a turntable key. If it has push button start I don't know how it is locking that tight.

crash68 · Mar 29, 2023

MitchC said:
Do you by chance know if the rack and pinion on these trucks has the EPS built into it or is dodge trying to charge $3000 for the rack and pinion then another $3000 for the EPS to mount onto it?

The steering rack and EPS is all one assembly. The steering also has to be calibrated with the ESC/ABS or you'll get errors with that system also, it uses angle feedback from the steering to determine a correct wheel speed for stability control and braking purposes.

crash68 · Mar 29, 2023

Dean2 said:
If yours is locked hard and tight my guess is the steering lock pin is not releasing properly. I am assuming yours still has a turntable key. If it has push button start I don't know how it is locking that tight.

There is not a steering column lock on these trucks with EPS.

Dean2 · Mar 29, 2023

crash68 said:
There is not a steering column lock on these trucks with EPS.

The jeep is my first EPS vehicle so did not know they all had no lock pin. Going to have to check out the 2021 2500 and see what kind of steering it actually has. Wonder if it is eps or still the old style.

crash68 · Mar 29, 2023

Dean2 said:
Going to have to check out the 2021 2500 and see what kind of steering it actually has. Wonder if it is eps or still the old style.

It should still have conventional power steering but probably no steering lock.
I've lost track of they made hydro-boost brakes standard on the HDs, for a while it went back-n-forth on using vacuum booster on the gassers.

MitchC · Mar 30, 2023

crash68 said:
There is not a steering column lock on these trucks with EPS.

I heard that’s the case with this year of Ram, but is that true for even the Canadian 1500’s? Because it’s definitely not just hard to turn it, it has a little play which is super easy to wiggle but that doesn’t move the tires, after that little play it’s impossible to actually turn.

It happened again this morning, wheel was locked and only after running the truck for 20 minutes it unlocked and I was able to drive it 100% okay.

I know I should bring it to a shop to look at but no one has heard of this issue at the dealership or online and there aren’t any codes or warnings appearing on the dash.

Dean2 · Mar 30, 2023

MitchC said:
I heard that’s the case with this year of Ram, but is that true for even the Canadian 1500’s? Because it’s definitely not just hard to turn it, it has a little play which is super easy to wiggle but that doesn’t move the tires, after that little play it’s impossible to actually turn.

It happened again this morning, wheel was locked and only after running the truck for 20 minutes it unlocked and I was able to drive it 100% okay.

I know I should bring it to a shop to look at but no one has heard of this issue at the dealership or online and there aren’t any codes or warnings appearing on the dash.

Well, if it locks again tomorrow, jack up the front to take some weight off the tires and see if it will turn then. I know the Jeep, the tires turn easier, with the engine not running, on the polished concrete garage floor than it does on the Asphalt with much more grip.

I would also suggest you try turning the wheels with the truck shut off, after it has been working okay and see if the tires will turn then. Guy has to walk through some orderly steps to try and isolate the cause. That way you may be able to figure out what the actual problem is. Keep us updatrted, we will see if we can be of more help.

crash68 · Mar 30, 2023

MitchC said:
It happened again this morning, wheel was locked and only after running the truck for 20 minutes it unlocked and I was able to drive it 100% okay.

Find the fuse that feeds the EPS, and try pulling that fuse the next time the steering "locks up". I'm guessing when it locks up your "fighting" the power steering, pulling the fuse should make the rack resort to manual steering.

Dean2 · Mar 30, 2023

crash68 said:
Find the fuse that feeds the EPS, and try pulling that fuse the next time the steering "locks up". I'm guessing when it locks up your "fighting" the power steering, pulling the fuse should make the rack resort to manual steering.

Good suggestion, never thought of that one. Not sure how that would actually work but sure easy enough to try.

MitchC · Mar 31, 2023

Dean2 said:
Good suggestion, never thought of that one. Not sure how that would actually work but sure easy enough to try.

Brought my truck to a shop, and they found out it’s a recall on the rack and pinion.

Thanks for everyone’s help though!

Dusty · Apr 3, 2023

MitchC said:
Hey, I have a 2014 Ram 1500 5.7L with push to start and electronic braking system.

Yesterday morning I started my truck and the steering wheel was locked as if the vehicle was still turned off. I tired turning it off and on a couple times but that didn't fix it, I eventually put it in drive and pulled forward about 10 feet then went straight back, and while backing up it unlocked the steering and I was able to drive fine. This morning however it was back and I tried my trick of going forward then back multiple times, checked the EPS fuse and tried letting it run for about 30 minutes but it didn't unlock the steering wheel. I got a ride to work and when I got home I tried to turn on my truck and the steering wheel was working perfectly fine.

The only thing that changed was it was - 14

Celsius in the morning and +6 when I got home. Any idea what could cause this issue?

Should I be worried about loosing steering while driving?

Marshall · Apr 3, 2023

MitchC said:
I heard that’s the case with this year of Ram, but is that true for even the Canadian 1500’s? Because it’s definitely not just hard to turn it, it has a little play which is super easy to wiggle but that doesn’t move the tires, after that little play it’s impossible to actually turn.

It happened again this morning, wheel was locked and only after running the truck for 20 minutes it unlocked and I was able to drive it 100% okay.

I know I should bring it to a shop to look at but no one has heard of this issue at the dealership or online and there aren’t any codes or warnings appearing on the dash.

Seen the last post after I posted , I don't remember are recall on mine , unless it was long time ago.

Steering intermittently locked

MitchC

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crash68

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