My car is a 1986 Camaro IROC-Z with TPI. Earlier today I was driving for a couple of hours and was sitting in bumper to bumper Memorial day traffic. I believe my car's overheating issue's have been solved though my temp gauge doesn't work, I kept popping the hood of my car at every stop and no signs of overheating.

Anyway, I made a tight U-Turn while driving and my power steering locked up! Initially, thought my engine stalled but when I stepped on the gas I had power. RPM was normal but my Oil pressure dropped from 30 to the first dash mark. I pulled into a parking space, killed the car, popped the hood and nothing appeared to be wrong. Coolant overflow was fine (at normal level and no bubbles), engine oil level was fine and no play in the power steering belt. Oil was changed 2 weeks ago and is still full and still gold. (Castrol High Mileage 10W-30, same as I've used for years).

The Power steering pump was replaced almost a month ago since the old one cracked. I let the car cool and hung out in the Pawn Shop for 30 minutes.I started the car and Power steering returned! I drove for 40 more minutes and no power steering problems. I drove around my subdivision at 15 to 30 mph just to make sure and Power Steering worked the entire time! Oil pressure returned to normal (just above 30 when driving and just below at idle).

What could have caused this? Could the new belt have slipped and then slipped back on? I have all new belts that were installed at the same time as the pump. I pushed on the power steering belt and felt no play.

 

Update: I took the car for two more drives today. Oil pressure is back up to normal (30 idle, Just above 30 low speed driving and above 45 highway speed).

I drove around my neighborhood and I kept trying to make sharp U-Turns on a two lane road and nothing happened. Not sure why it happened earlier though.