'97 - Steering Locks up when going through water

[SDk60]

Has anyone experienced a Steering "Lock-up" when driving through water?
All the air dams and body panels are in good shape and my mechanic says he can't find an explination ... Any Ideas?

[brokenantimatter]

You have an open solenoid near the front passenger tire that collects water when you drive through standing water. The car will actually momentarily die and in enough water will cut completely die. You can spray it with a water hose and listen to it whine while it spends the water out.

I am guessing this is normal.

[drdisque]

actually, water is just getting on the power steering belt causing it to slip.

[newton_21989]

I have the same problem. In as little as 3-4 in. of water at ~10mph, the power steering belt makes a really annoying slipping sound and everything electrical "dims." One weird thing I've noticed, it is also related to what gear the car is in. (WTF?!) It squels in Drive, but not Park, Reverse, or Nuetral. Go figure.

[SDk60]

The spray on the power steering belt is what I've suspected - I've had it looked at by two differnt mechanics and there doen't appear to be anything "Wrong" - But I still think that it should not do this - It takes very little water to make the steering fail. I didn't know if anyone had tried to "Fix" this problem.
My daughter, who is away at college has the car. She probably drives it 100 miles a month. Thurdsday night, in a light rain, the steering did it's thing and she bent 2 rims and blew 2 tires on a curb.

Thanks for the input!