Trouble Starting Car

[96corolla1.8]

Alright guys ... need your expertise now more than ever...
I have a couple of problems with my 96 Corolla1.8
I live in chicago and its extremely cold out(problems happen only in cold)
Couple of days ago i was driving to work and my battery light tuned on... my steering wheel locked even though the car was still running. I stopped and turned the car OFF and back ON and battery light went away and car behaved fine again. Today i was going out and tried to turn my car on and no lamps came on steeringwheel was locked up and the transmition could not be moved even with the key in the slot and transmition unlocked...
I jump started my car thinking it was dead and it turned on again just fine...
I went to my friends house (30min) drive, and when i was leaving about 3 hours later my car wouldnt start again???

does the steering problem have anything to do with batter or not really?

I though either the battery wont hold the charge or the alternator, please help me hunt this problem down...
TIA, Ed

[dJcHiKo]

not exactly sure man, check the battery terminals and the terminal connectors, make sure its not all corroded and dirty and they are bolted together tightly to make sure the connection is good.
you may need new spark plugs if its not starting, check those out
the same kinda thing happened to me about a week ago with the lights not going on or anything i just popped the hood and tightened my battery terminals and it was good to go, hasn't happened again

hope u figure it out!
bumped the thread up for you

[trife96]

Originally Posted by 96corolla1.8

my steering wheel locked even though the car was still running. I stopped and turned the car OFF and back ON and battery light went away and car behaved fine again. Today i was going out and tried to turn my car on and no lamps came on steeringwheel was locked up and the transmition could not be moved even with the key in the slot and transmition unlocked...
I jump started my car thinking it was dead and it turned on again just fine...
I went to my friends house (30min) drive, and when i was leaving about 3 hours later my car wouldnt start again???

does the steering problem have anything to do with batter or not really?

I'm thinking bad connection with ignition somewhere. The steering locking mechanism is tied in with the key cylinder which is also tied into the shift lock solenoid. It's possible you have a short there somewhere. Which I might also mention is very very uncommon.