OK. I wasn't in Minneapolis though. I might have gotten a rental there. I was in a little watering hole called Blue Earth.
The power-steering fluid had gelled up in the cold (never ever use Lucas power-steering stop-leak again) and that locked up both the power steering-- so the wheel could not be turned by any normal and possibly not even paranormal human-- and locked up the power-brake booster so no amount of standing on the pedal would apply the brakes. Fun. You can't steer and you can't stop.
Since then, the entire power steering/power brake system has been replaced, and the fluid shouldn't gel.
Now--- why does GM think it's a good idea to have both systems fed that way? I know other vans I've dealt with had vacuum boost for the brakes--- not hydraulic from the P/S pump. Two different systems so at least you have something.
The power-steering fluid had gelled up in the cold (never ever use Lucas power-steering stop-leak again) and that locked up both the power steering-- so the wheel could not be turned by any normal and possibly not even paranormal human-- and locked up the power-brake booster so no amount of standing on the pedal would apply the brakes. Fun. You can't steer and you can't stop.
Since then, the entire power steering/power brake system has been replaced, and the fluid shouldn't gel.
Now--- why does GM think it's a good idea to have both systems fed that way? I know other vans I've dealt with had vacuum boost for the brakes--- not hydraulic from the P/S pump. Two different systems so at least you have something.