Need help trouble shooting broken steering wheel lock

[gtpharr]

I have a 2005 Corolla LE with auto trans. I took it in for state safety inspection which it passed without problems. The tire shop (Tread Quarters aka Mr. Tire) recommended that that I have both the transmission flud and power steering flluid flushed. The power steering fluid was just flushed by Toyata dealer 6 months ago and the fluid was very clean. The transmission fluid was a little dirty but Toyota does not recommend flush and I was not willing to let a tire shop stort messing with my transmission.

I declined the additional "up sale" services and let the mgr know that I was skeptical of his state inspector's recommendations as the power steering fluid was just flushed 6 monts ago. This entire conversation was done by phone early in the morning and I did not pick up the vehicle until much later in the day.

My son (a 16 year very new driver) picked up the car and drove to local video game store. When he came out, the key would go in, but key would not turen out of lock position. My son went back in the store and some kid told him to try pumping the gas pedal and turning the steering wheel. My son tried this and got the key to turn and vehicle to start. He drove home and told me aobut it.

I assumed the steering wheel was binding against the lock and just needed to have pressure taken off of it. This is perfectuly normal and I intended to show my son how the lock can sometimes bind if the wheels are left in odd positons with pressure on the power steering.

I attempted to show my son how the steering wheel lock works and found that the lock no longer works at all. With the engine off and key completely out of the ignition, I can turn the steering wheel from complete left to righ and back. It just will not lock.

Everything else seems OK. Vehcile drives fine and all lights and indicators function mormally.

It may be just a coincidence that vehicle breaks imediately after I called the tire shop on trying to up sell me on unnessary maintenance. I can't rule out that tire shop screwed something up either deliberately or by accident.

I also am not sure how hard my son turned the wheel and it is possible he forced it hard enough to break something.

I stopped by the dealer and asked them about it. Several of the service advisors said they had never heard of a steering wheel lock not locking. The dealer charges a $90 diagnostic fee just to trouble shoot so I thought I would try TN for some advice.

If any one here has any suggestions on how to trouble shoot the steering wheel lock, I would greatly appreciate any advice you can provide. I have not checked any fuses yet, but I'm guessing there is probably a relay or solenoid involved and it may be as simple as a blown fuse.

Thanks for your help.