Steering Lock: cut one wire. /switch optional

kgb

I received my bypass harness and installed it yesterday. After the work was completed, I verified the lock no longer engaged and went for a drive. What I noticed almost immediately was the throttle response lost some of its zing, i.e., the pedal had to be depressed further to make the car go. It was subtle but noticeable to me and even more noticeable with the AC on. So after driving the car today, with the harness in still bypass, with the AC on in 96 degree heat it became more evident to me the relative sluggishness of the throttle was not present before the harness was installed.
So I reconnected the brown wires and confirmed the lock was working and went for a drive. I noticed immediately the throttle response was back to its quickness.
I'm not sure what's happening when the brown wire is open but it seems to be having a negative impact on the drivability of my 370Z AT/2011.

I do appreciate all the work put into this solution.

KaienZ34

... psychosomatic

__________________

zguynate

Agreed. That wire should have absolutely nothing to do with your acceleration as it is not connected to anything that would effect it.

__________________
2009 370z touring w/sports package

kgb

I agree. It should not based on what is known. But I know my car. I intend to remove the fuse since the difference is it removes power from the computer as well. If it works I'll comment about it.

zguynate

True. Stranger things have happened lol. On the 350 forums there were people who swore up and down that their car would run slower when one of the driving lights were blown. Something about it creates a draw on the ecu and some other stuff that I cannot remember.

But like you said you know your car. Try plugging the OEM harness back into the steering lock and pulling the fuse and see what that does.

__________________
2009 370z touring w/sports package

Boost_lee

Installed BDL's kit yesterday. Hardest thing about the install is becoming a contortionist to maneuver both hands under the dash

Simple install and I can rest easy that the Z will not leave me stranded

__________________
My TT Z

ZeeingAround

If anyone is in the West MI area and needs this installed, PM me.
I will install this for no charge. Well, maybe a beer.


ETA on the next batch of cables?

__________________
Get some roosters for eggs and Bulls for milk . Then you will see that gender matters. Especially at milking time.

bdl99

Before doing that or drawing any conclusions it would be better to get a bigger sample size if you can, you currently have an n=1 based on what you said. The beauty of the plug and play harness is it can easy be restored to factory state either by re-connecting the brown wire (as you did) or completely remove the harness. There are so many other variables here that could be in play (fuel, temp, driving conditions, the throttle pedal is close to where you are installing etc) and when measuring something subjective this is also even harder. Temporarily installing a switch would allow you to compare with and without brown wire connected much more easily and also remove some of those other variables. It will still be a subjective measurement but at least the n will be higher. With a switch you could even do a blind trial with a passenger controlling the state of the switch and scientifically put any psychosomatic theories to bed

Ubetit

This would be very easy to do and i'd be interested in the results.

bdl99

That was really said in jest but would be interesting. I've had my fair share of these experiences. When I was working on a front camera kit for the GT-R I was convinced there was something different after installing in my car. Either the throttle or the bite on the clutch appeared different. I was sure that I must have done something or disturbed something. Even though logic told me there was no logical connection I was all ready to rip everything out and go to the dealer. It was the wife that said "why don't you leave it and come and have a cup of tea" (very English). So I did and then went for a drive and when I got back everything was fine and nothing since. Still to this day I don't know if I imagined it or if it was just one of those DCT glitches but I automatically associated it with the the last thing that I had done.

kgb

Thanks for the suggestion, bdl99. However, the thought that my unconscious projections were coloring my experience was put to rest shortly after I reconnected the brown wires and drove off. The perceived loss of throttle response was gone and so was the more pronounced lazy shifting that had developed--I have an automatic. I know what I've described sounds weird, but it is my confirmed experience. But I do intend to try some things before abandoning this steering lock solution.

bdl99

Thanks, that is why I suggested a few more tests. I wasn't saying it didn't happen but rather something else may have been in play.

kgb

Is this is all you can say, then you are too self-assured about knowledge.

KaienZ34

You must not know what the word even means.

__________________

kgb

I know that you can't expect to know the truth about anything if you wittingly or unwittingly project your thought between it and yourself. This idea is at the essence of the word psychosomatic. You replied with a self-assured response without really knowing the truth.