My car over heats and wont start and my steering wheel is stiff what could be the problem?

Tiny
INDIACOLLINS
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
I have a 97 pontiac grand prix and one day it stopped on me. Temp shot right up and under the hood was smoking. So I tried putting antifreeze in it afterwards I stopped and started putting water in it. The temp was going down slowly but the car would not start back up. So I left the car and got it towed to my house the next following day. After getting it off the trucking bed I tried to start it again but it still didnt come on. So myself and a neighbor pushed the car into a parking space and come to find out the wheel was so stiff to move. The lights in the car are on so no its not the battery causing the car not to start.
Monday, September 17th, 2012 AT 9:49 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
If the engine is not running, the power steering would not work and that would result in the heavy steering.

The overheating could have damaged the head gaskets resulting in loss of compression and the inability to start.

Have the coompression tested for a start.

A block test for determining if the head gaskets are bad would be recommended.
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Monday, September 17th, 2012 AT 10:41 AM
Tiny
INDIACOLLINS
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  • 5 POSTS
If the head gaskets are bad how much do you think it will cost for it to get replaced?
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Monday, September 17th, 2012 AT 3:00 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
It depends on what other damages are there. It can be costly and should start from 1000. You need to get local quotes to be accurate.
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Monday, September 17th, 2012 AT 3:53 PM
Tiny
INDIACOLLINS
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes it is very costly, Where would be a great place to get a quote from?
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Monday, September 17th, 2012 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Your local garages. Try a few of them.
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Monday, September 17th, 2012 AT 4:10 PM

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