1986ish e250 puddle splashing causes power steering/steering failure?
 

just a quick one...my drive way has this huge puddle on the drivers side of it...and in the morning when im driving down the easement, if i hit this puddle and splash water up uner my van the steering seems to lock up within a couple seconds....i can get it loose by turning the wheel(very stiff!) back and worth, kind of wiggling the wheel and eventually it breaks free and goes back to normal...what is this?

thanks,
-james

the water might be getting on power steering pump belt and making it slip

yea true...the belt is slightly loose and i probably need to tighten it a nudge...i guess i was expecting a squeeling noise if the belt was spinning free...
i guess ill get hands dirty and tighten that belt.