DIY: Replace dreaded steering-lock on 2009s and early 2010s.

kenchan · 01-22-2013, 02:02 PM

better than nothing, but still shelling out 700 and headache for the tow.

Greg928s · 01-23-2013, 12:02 PM

Fudge, This may have happened to me this morning. It flashed the key fob and would not start. when i put the key into the dash and said no key in the orange screen on the left. Had it towed.

One question I could not find after reading through this thread briefly. Have not read all the way through so forgive me if it was covered. When I in neutral getting it on the truck to tow I could move the steering wheel all the way to the right. It was hard without power steering but i did it. Does that mean it could possibly be the key fob not the dreaded steering lock box?

I am waiting for the verdict from Nissan dealership. Hopefully they aren't going to try and rip me off if its something with the fob not the steering lock.

I bought this thing 5 months ago! 46k on it, 2009

Greg928s · 01-23-2013, 12:21 PM

I also noted that there was curiosity as to if the cold had something to do with this issue. yesterday was the coldest day thus far since i bought the car at 7 degrees. Depending on what nissan's diagnoses we could conclude cold as a factor

rangercarol · 01-25-2013, 12:12 PM

Our early 2011 has exhibited no signs of a problem, but better safe than sorry. Especially, since it is my wife's car and she is often far from home.
I followed your procedure to remove the fuse and found that there was no effect on the car other than there is no steering lock.
There was a little more to getting to the fuse than I anticipated, but I got it out without hurting myself or the car.
Thanks for the information...

Thanks,

rangercarol

Baer383 · 01-25-2013, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangercarol

Our early 2011 has exhibited no signs of a problem, but better safe than sorry. Especially, since it is my wife's car and she is often far from home.
I followed your procedure to remove the fuse and found that there was no effect on the car other than there is no steering lock.
There was a little more to getting to the fuse than I anticipated, but I got it out without hurting myself or the car.
Thanks for the information...

Thanks,

rangercarol

Your welcome

Hope you have a good weekend!!!!!

kenchan · 01-25-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg928s

I also noted that there was curiosity as to if the cold had something to do with this issue. yesterday was the coldest day thus far since i bought the car at 7 degrees. Depending on what nissan's diagnoses we could conclude cold as a factor

it seems battery cca might have something to do with it. ive noticed there seems to be some relation to weaker batteries....even for the GTR guys.

SouthArk370Z · 01-25-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg928s

I also noted that there was curiosity as to if the cold had something to do with this issue. yesterday was the coldest day thus far since i bought the car at 7 degrees. Depending on what nissan's diagnoses we could conclude cold as a factor

The GT-R recall lists excess grease as the reason for failure. Grease gets thicker when it gets colder. Cold probably makes things worse, but, with all the failures that happen in warmer weather, is not likely the root cause.

bfowlzr33 · 01-25-2013, 01:38 PM

ughh

i get the heebie jeebies every time i see this thread.. CUT THE BROWN WIRE! AGHHHH!

akmofo · 01-25-2013, 03:57 PM

I'm pretty sure I read this whole thread, and no one has mentioned this yet..

say you take the whole thing apart, like Korrupt did here:

DIY: Replace dreaded steering-lock on 2009s and early 2010s.

Couldn't you just manually rotate the gear into the correct position (depressing the two buttons), then either cut the brown wire, pull the fuse, or possibly cut the motor power on the circuit board itself? (I haven't opened mine yet, going to do it tomorrow).

When the gear is in the position where the two switches are pushed in, is the mechanical lock pushed out and into the steering column? The pictures are hard to tell how the locking mechanism works, but he does say in the last picture "This piece has to be taped down or removed so that you can turn the wheel".

I know Fritz has mentioned he has some detailed instructions, but haven't gotten a response from him yet.

SouthArk370Z · 01-25-2013, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akmofo

Couldn't you just manually rotate the gear into the correct position (depressing the two buttons), then either cut the brown wire, pull the fuse, or possibly cut the motor power on the circuit board itself? (I haven't opened mine yet, going to do it tomorrow).

If the switches are still working, that should do the trick. If grease has gotten between the contacts, it sounds like you have the ability to cut traces and/or solder jumpers to get the proper open/close status. The proper positions are in one of the multitude of SLU posts (Links to posts about Steering Wheel Lock may help locate it, maybe not) or, IIRC, the FSM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akmofo

When the gear is in the position where the two switches are pushed in, is the mechanical lock pushed out and into the steering column? The pictures are hard to tell how the locking mechanism works, but he does say in the last picture "This piece has to be taped down or removed so that you can turn the wheel".

I've never taken one apart, but going by what I've seen and read, the "lock pin" makes the switches when it retracts fully.

Good luck. Take pics and post a DIY when you figure it out.

bfowlzr33 · 01-25-2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akmofo

I'm pretty sure I read this whole thread, and no one has mentioned this yet..

say you take the whole thing apart, like Korrupt did here:

DIY: Replace dreaded steering-lock on 2009s and early 2010s.

Couldn't you just manually rotate the gear into the correct position (depressing the two buttons), then either cut the brown wire, pull the fuse, or possibly cut the motor power on the circuit board itself? (I haven't opened mine yet, going to do it tomorrow).

When the gear is in the position where the two switches are pushed in, is the mechanical lock pushed out and into the steering column? The pictures are hard to tell how the locking mechanism works, but he does say in the last picture "This piece has to be taped down or removed so that you can turn the wheel".

I know Fritz has mentioned he has some detailed instructions, but haven't gotten a response from him yet.

wtf! how come ive never seen this! +1 to you sir

01-25-2013, 12:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
rangercarol Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: McCormick, SC Age: 85 Posts: 56 Drives: 2011 370z Cherry 6m Rep Power: 3371	Steering Lock Our early 2011 has exhibited no signs of a problem, but better safe than sorry. Especially, since it is my wife's car and she is often far from home. I followed your procedure to remove the fuse and found that there was no effect on the car other than there is no steering lock. There was a little more to getting to the fuse than I anticipated, but I got it out without hurting myself or the car. Thanks for the information... Thanks, rangercarol

01-25-2013, 01:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
bfowlzr33 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Age: 35 Posts: 150 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z SR M6 Rep Power: 14	ughh i get the heebie jeebies every time i see this thread.. CUT THE BROWN WIRE! AGHHHH! __________________ 07 TITAN CC OFFROAD PKG 06 Mustang GT 5MT 01 Audi TT ABT 6MT

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01-22-2013, 02:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141522	better than nothing, but still shelling out 700 and headache for the tow.

01-23-2013, 12:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Greg928s Base Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4 Drives: 2009 Chicane Yellow Rep Power: 14	Fudge, This may have happened to me this morning. It flashed the key fob and would not start. when i put the key into the dash and said no key in the orange screen on the left. Had it towed. One question I could not find after reading through this thread briefly. Have not read all the way through so forgive me if it was covered. When I in neutral getting it on the truck to tow I could move the steering wheel all the way to the right. It was hard without power steering but i did it. Does that mean it could possibly be the key fob not the dreaded steering lock box? I am waiting for the verdict from Nissan dealership. Hopefully they aren't going to try and rip me off if its something with the fob not the steering lock. I bought this thing 5 months ago! 46k on it, 2009

01-23-2013, 12:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Greg928s Base Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4 Drives: 2009 Chicane Yellow Rep Power: 14	I also noted that there was curiosity as to if the cold had something to do with this issue. yesterday was the coldest day thus far since i bought the car at 7 degrees. Depending on what nissan's diagnoses we could conclude cold as a factor

01-25-2013, 03:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
akmofo Base Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Nevada Posts: 22 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 14	I'm pretty sure I read this whole thread, and no one has mentioned this yet.. say you take the whole thing apart, like Korrupt did here: DIY: Replace dreaded steering-lock on 2009s and early 2010s. Couldn't you just manually rotate the gear into the correct position (depressing the two buttons), then either cut the brown wire, pull the fuse, or possibly cut the motor power on the circuit board itself? (I haven't opened mine yet, going to do it tomorrow). When the gear is in the position where the two switches are pushed in, is the mechanical lock pushed out and into the steering column? The pictures are hard to tell how the locking mechanism works, but he does say in the last picture "This piece has to be taped down or removed so that you can turn the wheel". I know Fritz has mentioned he has some detailed instructions, but haven't gotten a response from him yet.