[sanddrag]

Sounds like just the steering lock to me which is a normal function of every car. Did you try fiddling with turning the ignition ad the wheel at the same time to unlock it. I accidently lock my wheel all the time, maybe once per week but all it takes is a little jiggling of the ignition (with the key in there) and the wheel to unlock it. Of course it is possible that your steering lock malfunctioned and wouldn't let you unlock it no matter what. That is probably the more likely case. Does anyone know how those things work anyway? Would disconnecting and reconecting the battery reset it?

EDIT: I just read the "really loose" part. Yeah, that's not normal. Something must have broken. Maybe even the steering box (or rack and pinion) or the steering shaft?