Steering wheel locked up, Service Engine Soon light, Flickering head lights

[AnimalDrMarshall]

Hello there. I just aquired a 1999 Aurora a couple of days ago. My parents bought it at an auction and gave it to me because I was in need of a car. I found out they have put "Unleaded" gas in it a few times when it says that it needs "Premium Unleaded" gas. I was wondering if this could seriously damage anything?


Last night when I drove it home, it was dark. I noticed the "battery voltage" light was on and the headlight were cutting in and out and flickering between bright and dim, as well as all of the light of the car.

I thought "duh its the battery" and so this morning I calle dmy mom and asked how old the battery was. She said the car was having the same problems with them so they just put a BRAND NEW battery in it. So, they didn't know why it would be messing up again.

I took the car down to DMV to register it and it didn't have any problems....then..
I took it to the gas station and filled the tank up with Premium Unleaded gas and then took it out on the freeway for a spin. I had the air conditioning going and I was listening to the CD player. Everything was going well. I went to get off of the freeway, was on the off ramp taking a curve, and my STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED AND SHUT OFF even though the car was still running. I just put the break on and pulled with everything in my to get the car into the grass on the side of the off ramp.

I was afraid to drive the car home, but had to get home for work, so I drove all the way home in the slow lane just in case the steering wheel locked up on my again and I had to land my car on the side of the road. Luckily it didn't lock again, but the "Service Engine Soon" light came on and remained on for the rest of the trip home.

It was incredibly scary. I've never had a steering wheel completely lock up on my on the freeway before.

Does anyone know what may have caused this? And do you think the steering wheel, service engine light, battery light (even though the battery is brand new), and all the lights in the car shorting in and out are all in connection with one another? Oh, and also the DIC chimes and says "CHECK CHARGE SYSTEM."

My wife thinks maybe it the alternator...but I have no idea...nor do my parents...the car is way comfusing for all of us and I was just wondering if anyone has an ideas as to what this might be all about...Does it sound like the alternator??

[apollo7879]

Sounds like you have a few unrelated problems.

Flicking lights sounds like the multi-function switch. Check out this site:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=198519

If you can't access, do a search for "multi-function switch" in this forum.

[aurorabrain]

OK here goes.....
When you say steering wheel "locked" do you mean you lost POWER steering, or do you mean the steering wheel lock actually engaged and you couldn't move the steering wheel at all?
Your light flickering problem is because of a bad diode in the alternator or voltage regulator, hence the original battery problem and the reason they put in a new battery. (How could a multifunction switch make the lights flicker?)The only way this is serviced would be a reman alternator, i've been there. Battery light comes on when the charging system (alternator) isn't putting out enough energy to charge the battery and run the car at the same time. This is easialy tested with a digital multimeter when the car is running, operating voltage should be 14.4-15V at an idle on these cars.
Premium is great for these cars if you want to pay for it, and it is recommended, BUT i run 89 octane in my car and see no knock retard at WOT and get full timing advance. So in my opinion if you have a stock car and no mods, midgrade would be ok. Regular can damage things, but this car is equipped to compensate for engine knock, although i would not recommend running regular on a 10.*/1 compression engine.