STEERING LOCKING UP

[Davis Canada]

Weird issue. My steering wheel is locking up sporadically

Orginally I thought it was frozen (Canadian Winters) but it has done it when it isn't that cold too.

It is sporadic so hard to diagnose. Mostly what has happened is if I use the remote starter I would go out and the steering would be locked up. Remote opened doors and was goo for the igniton to start, but I changed batteries just to be sure. New battery didn't fix anything

I let it sit and 30 minutes later it was good

However it happened this morining again and this time I did NOT use remote start. I started old fashioned way. But let it warm up while I shoveled my walk (snow) and when I went back it was locked.

Dealership says they never heard of it.

Any ideas?

 

[Brandon-w]

Intermediate shaft.

 

[Davis Canada]

But why would it only do this sporadically, or why only when cold? I looked at the steering shaft and it "looks" ok. The steering isn't tight it is literally locked.

 

[Brandon-w]

Oh that's what mine was doing. What year is it.

 

[Ribtipram]

No **** they never herd of it. Thats because its a problem dam dealers. Sounds like the lock solenoid is sticking. Or not getting signal to unlock. Has it ever had a problem while moving.

 

[Tach_tech]

No **** they never herd of it. Thats because its a problem dam dealers. Sounds like the lock solenoid is sticking. Or not getting signal to unlock. Has it ever had a problem while moving.

Steering wheels haven’t had locks in them since 2008, so that won’t be it, unless he has an 08 or older

Need to know what year he has, if it’s the electric power steering, could be an issue with the rack.

 

[Ribtipram]

Yea i was just thinking the way the op made it sound was like it was locked like the old days. Op is it locked like that. What year truck. Can you turn it if you really pull on it. Edit sorry just noticed its a 14. My bad

 

[Davis Canada]

Sorry guys, it is a 2014 Ram so no "old fashioned" lock system. Bu it feels exactly like that.

It has NEVER happened while driving, only when parked. It happened 3 or 4 times in the past month or so, but those were always with remote start, and always came back after sitting maybe 30 minutes.

Today was the first time it ever happened with the normal start, and it is STILL locked 16 hours later and I have tried it a few times in that 16 hours with no change.

Frustrating

 

[Davis Canada]

And no i cant turn it at all, wheels are straight and the column and shaft look good

 

[crash68]

Being it's a 14 it has the electric power steering. Maybe try pulling the large fuse for it to maybe rule out the electrical part of it? I know the fuse for the steering in my '15 is a 125 Z-Case bolted right off the battery post.

 

[Davis Canada]

Is it the front or rear fuse for the steering? There are 2 fuses on my positive post. One is 120A the other is 180A

BUT neither is bad. I tried using a short jumper cable to eliminate the fuse and no change
I also used meter and have 14.85V on both terminals after the fuse

The steering wheel symbol IS NOT on in my vehicle, as I have read many have seen.

The steering is COMPLETELY locked, not just hard to turn, it is LOCKED. That is why I am leaning against it being the power "assist"

Thanks guys, it is still locked this morning so that is 24 hours, which of course it has never done before. It is suppose to go above freezing here tomorrow so that might help diagnose at least?

 

[chrisbh17]

Service manual indicates some RAMs have an Electronic Steering Column Lock. I know the US trucks dont have it, but maybe the Canadian ones do?

 

[Tach_tech]

Service manual indicates some RAMs have an Electronic Steering Column Lock. I know the US trucks dont have it, but maybe the Canadian ones do?

None do since 2008, doesn’t matter where it is. They stopped using them when they went to the fobik design for the keys in the dash instead of the column.

 

[Wild one]

Is it the front or rear fuse for the steering? There are 2 fuses on my positive post. One is 120A the other is 180A

BUT neither is bad. I tried using a short jumper cable to eliminate the fuse and no change
I also used meter and have 14.85V on both terminals after the fuse

The steering wheel symbol IS NOT on in my vehicle, as I have read many have seen.

The steering is COMPLETELY locked, not just hard to turn, it is LOCKED. That is why I am leaning against it being the power "assist"

Thanks guys, it is still locked this morning so that is 24 hours, which of course it has never done before. It is suppose to go above freezing here tomorrow so that might help diagnose at least?

For ***** and giggles jack the front tires off the ground and see if you can turn the steering wheel,if not,then see if you can manually turn them by grabbing a tire and heaving on it.If neither work,i'd hazard a guess the rack went south on you and is locked up.

 

[crash68]

Is it the front or rear fuse for the steering? There are 2 fuses on my positive post. One is 120A the other is 180A

If I had to guess, I would say it's the 120A one as mine uses a 125A(although mine is an EcoD).
I suggested pulling that fuse to possibly eleminate the power assist part from locking the steering. Although if there was an electrical issue I figured it may throw an error code.

 

[Davis Canada]

UPDATE
So temps warmed up to 6 degrees celcius today, and it is perfectly fine. Started up and all was great, drove it around and no issues.

So it is something that is temperature sensitive, which is weird as hell to me! I could understand it I had driven through water or even if it was packed with snow that froze and locked it up. But there is no moisture in or around it. Just when it get cold the steering "freezes up" makes no sense to me.

 

[Davis Canada]

Anyone have any idea what could cause the steering to literally FREEZE solid during cold temperatures?

 

[PolarisCobra]

I have to think that there is water someplace where it isn't supposed to be. Ice is strong stuff.

 

[Davis Canada]

But where could it be? We have had warm warm weather here and gone for long drives since it started sporadically. I would think that any water that might be somewhere would have evaporated or drained

 

[Marshall]

Water in the rack? I have a 14 , never any problems, BUT steering problem is something that Has to be figured out, BTW it was -18 last night, SK.