Reply To: Can an oil leak short out a starter and cause a brand new drive belt to snap?

[Richard Kirshy]

Not for nothing.
45 years working on cars.. when a starter is engaged it means the bendix has pushed the starter gear forward to engage the flywheel.

I assume you were driving the vehicle when you loss steering which means the engine was already running.
If what this dealer rep is trying to tell you is that the starter shorted, reengaged with the flywheel after the engine was already running, you would know it because the two gears would not mesh and make the most god awful noise you will every hear.