Okay earlier today my girl friend was backing out of a parking place and when she started to turn the steering wheel she said the power steering went out and the brakes completely quit working at the same time. Also the check engine light, battery light, oil light and ets light came on at the same time. She said she turned it off and turned the key a few times until the lights until the lights went off, then she crank the engine up and everything worked fine again. When I got to her apartment I checked the fluid levels of the brakes power steering fluid and the engine oil since its light was on as well, and they were all fine. We just drove the a little bit now and it seems fine. Has anyone here had this problem or heard of this happening before. The car is a 1999 2.2L base automatic, she also told me that the car did the same thing about 4 or 5 years ago one time. I would appreciate any help on this.

It sounds to me like she didn't let the car finish cranking over, and threw it in gear before it was running, therefore "losing" power steering and brakes. How ever, it never "lost" them so-to-speak.

yeah I thought that too and ask her right after I posted but she said she let it sit for a little while before she put it in gear. But she has a different version of "a little while than i do" lol. any other ideas what may cause this. I noticed that if you turn the switch to the "on" position with out cranking it those are the dash lights that stay on. I thought maybe the engine just died on her and she didnt realize it or maybe something went wrong with her switch. The car has a really hard time starting up sometimes but I dont think that would have anything to do with it. any other ideas?

I think its a girlfriend issue not a car issue...lol

If things are a little off, you can put the car into drive/reverse with the engine off. Maybe it sat for a little while without the engine running.... I've done it before trying to back out of a space while distracted, it's pretty obvious when you push the gas and nothing happens, then you have to push the brakes hard to stop.....

It's possible the car stalled too like you suggested and she didn't notice

Okay that makes sense. hopefully its no big deal but I'll be sure to keep a close eye on it just in case. Thanks for the help guys

Car stalled or never started. When CEL, battery and oil lights come on, that means engine not running.