2000 GT Power.steering Dead? Dying? Please help.

I have no idea in hell what happened to my 2000 GT. I was making a u-turn, and I turned the wheels FULLY. While completing the turn, I noticed the steering was sluggish and it made a weird screeching/rubbing sound. But when I went to make a turn into a parking lot, I noticed that it was dead.

BUT...

The weird part is that it is only dead when I am NOT applying throttle, or going at very show speeds. When I am going along, it works until I brake or slowdown, then its dead again.

Also, I noticed my engine was pretty hot, but that may have just been cause I took it on a semi-long trip.

I think that maybe the throttle response may be not as...peppy...but maybe thats just my mind.

Now I really don't know what to do, I am in one hell of a bind.

I hope any of you folks knows what may be the cause.

Thanks so much.

I'd check the power steering pump. And check to see if your PS fluid is low or leaking.

I went out this morning and checked, no visible leak, and the fluid levels are fine.

I called the mechanic, and he got back to me just before.

He said that the problem might be in he rack, and that I am losing pressure somewhere, thus I can turn the wheels while idling, but when accelerating, the pressure is increased, thus I can turn.

I went out and bought Lucas Power Steering treatment/sealer stuff, and I will try that later. He still has to look at the car, but this Lucas stuff may not fix it

I may need to replace the rack :-(

Well, I emptied my power steering tank as much as possible, and filled it up with the Lucas stuff I bought, and at first it did nothing...and I was pissed.

Well, I let the car sit a little, and I added a little more of that stuff after re-testing the level while the engine was hot. And when I went to move the car up on the driveway a minute ago, it seemed like the steering was a little better, but not great...

I also hear the pressure leak on the passenger side of the car....

Well, We'll see what happens, I can't even bring the car into the shop until Monday, so I guess I am stuck with this crap for now

...

I know I will have to replace the rack, and that sucks.

Hmm...Too bad your car isn't one of the ones that fell under the recall for the rack and pinion.

...damn...I wouldn't mind GM fixing the car for nothing.

Oh well.

That stuff I put in started to work this morning, and I took the car out two times, and all seems to go well.

I am going to have my mechanic look at it anyway on Monday, cause, with my luck I have a feeling that this nice quick fix, wont last more than a few days.