Steering Lock: cut one wire. /switch optional

bdl99 · 06-18-2012, 03:08 PM

There are lots of discussions in various threads and I have received several PMs asking my take on the pros and cons of each solution. I've always responded privately up until now and didn't post publicly because I thought that some might think I'm biased. Those who know me or have dealt with me will know that I'm not like that at all. I'm happy to adjust the information below if the facts are incorrect and of course can be backed up with data.

Before I go any further I first want to acknowledged Fritz's work, because without it the plug and play harness wouldn't have been created and I'm sure that the pull the fuse solution wouldn't have either. Or at the very least the other solutions wouldn't have been developed as quickly because Fritz's work proved that removing the power from the lock while in the unlocked state was the key to a solution. Regardless of which solution you go for most of the credit really lies with Fritz.

Pros and Cons of Plug and Play harness vs Pulling the fuse

Plug and Play Harness

Pros:
The easiest and quickest solution to perform where no trim needs to be removed whatsoever

Full instructions provided with pictures and a video of the install process

Fully reversible, either temporarily via switch or by just removing the harness and returning car to factory state

It only cuts the power to the lock and not the ECU. When pulling the fuse the power is also removed from the ECU. Some have speculated that this has no downside and that appears to be the case except the delays in starting that many have seen.

Cons:
It costs $50

Pull the fuse:

Pros:
There is nothing to buy

It is also reversible - Just put the fuse back in

Cons:
Although straight forward, it is not as quick and easy to install as the harness. Some have broken clips etc and you do need to be careful, but to be completely unbiased many have done this without issues.

As mentioned above it does appear that this solution does sometimes cause delays in starting. There are theories that the ECU will learn and adjusting for this and that might be the case. However, typically with ECUs they learn by acquiring data and if that is the case it would normally log that data. The data the ECU would be logging is that it issued a pulse to activate the relay but didn't receive the confirmation via the positive feed from the relay to the ECU. If it is really doing this I would expect this data to be presented/reported when a Consult unit is attached by the dealer. To date no one has confirmed if this happens or not.

Dwight Frye · 06-18-2012, 06:03 PM

To the pros for the harness, it only requires a tiny screwdriver blade to press down the lock tab on the factory connector at lock, and a set of diagonal cutters or scissors to trim the extra plastic on the zip ties after you tidy up the harness under your dash. And a small flashlight or trouble light to help see what you are doing. Install is very fast. Removing it would be equally a breeze, and no worries about what might be going on in the ECU due to the fuse being pulled.
As for the $50 being in the con column, it was worth that much to me for the intellectual property of those that figured it out, designed the harness, sourced the raw materials, tested, packed, shipped, dealt with PayPal and everything else involved. Plus the time save not ******* around under the hood pulling the fusebox out and reinstalling it. And my peace of mind is worth a few bucks too.

redline727 · 06-19-2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwight Frye

To the pros for the harness, it only requires a tiny screwdriver blade to press down the lock tab on the factory connector at lock, and a set of diagonal cutters or scissors to trim the extra plastic on the zip ties after you tidy up the harness under your dash. And a small flashlight or trouble light to help see what you are doing. Install is very fast. Removing it would be equally a breeze, and no worries about what might be going on in the ECU due to the fuse being pulled.
As for the $50 being in the con column, it was worth that much to me for the intellectual property of those that figured it out, designed the harness, sourced the raw materials, tested, packed, shipped, dealt with PayPal and everything else involved. Plus the time save not ******* around under the hood pulling the fusebox out and reinstalling it. And my peace of mind is worth a few bucks too.

I second this. $50 was well worth it. Bc I look at it as saving me $500 + tax + towing + saving the stress of Not having to watch my car go up a flat bed by someone who could give a fu€|< about my car + being without a car if my lock failed.

Even if I didn't per order before the fuse method came out I still will have got the harness. I was never a fan of doing anything to the fuse box in any of my cars. Even going all the way back to the fast and furious days of interior neon lights and people tapping the power wire under a fuse haha.

Now I get in my car and hit the start button with no worries if the lock will fail

Bboyeruga · 10-16-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdl99

pros and cons of plug and play harness vs pulling the fuse

plug and play harness

pros:
the easiest and quickest solution to perform where no trim needs to be removed whatsoever

full instructions provided with pictures and a video of the install process

fully reversible, either temporarily via switch or by just removing the harness and returning car to factory state

it only cuts the power to the lock and not the ecu. When pulling the fuse the power is also removed from the ecu. Some have speculated that this has no downside and that appears to be the case except the delays in starting that many have seen.

cons:
it costs $50

pull the fuse:

pros:
there is nothing to buy

it is also reversible - just put the fuse back in

cons:
although straight forward, it is not as quick and easy to install as the harness. Some have broken clips etc and you do need to be careful, but to be completely unbiased many have done this without issues.

as mentioned above it does appear that this solution does sometimes cause delays in starting. There are theories that the ecu will learn and adjusting for this and that might be the case. However, typically with ecus they learn by acquiring data and if that is the case it would normally log that data. The data the ecu would be logging is that it issued a pulse to activate the relay but didn't receive the confirmation via the positive feed from the relay to the ecu. If it is really doing this i would expect this data to be presented/reported when a consult unit is attached by the dealer. To date no one has confirmed if this happens or not.

fyi

06-18-2012, 03:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
bdl99 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 244 Drives: Nissan GT-R 2011 Rep Power: 15	There are lots of discussions in various threads and I have received several PMs asking my take on the pros and cons of each solution. I've always responded privately up until now and didn't post publicly because I thought that some might think I'm biased. Those who know me or have dealt with me will know that I'm not like that at all. I'm happy to adjust the information below if the facts are incorrect and of course can be backed up with data. Before I go any further I first want to acknowledged Fritz's work, because without it the plug and play harness wouldn't have been created and I'm sure that the pull the fuse solution wouldn't have either. Or at the very least the other solutions wouldn't have been developed as quickly because Fritz's work proved that removing the power from the lock while in the unlocked state was the key to a solution. Regardless of which solution you go for most of the credit really lies with Fritz. Pros and Cons of Plug and Play harness vs Pulling the fuse Plug and Play Harness *Pros:* The easiest and quickest solution to perform where no trim needs to be removed whatsoever Full instructions provided with pictures and a video of the install process Fully reversible, either temporarily via switch or by just removing the harness and returning car to factory state It only cuts the power to the lock and not the ECU. When pulling the fuse the power is also removed from the ECU. Some have speculated that this has no downside and that appears to be the case except the delays in starting that many have seen. *Cons:* It costs $50 Pull the fuse: *Pros:* There is nothing to buy It is also reversible - Just put the fuse back in *Cons:* Although straight forward, it is not as quick and easy to install as the harness. Some have broken clips etc and you do need to be careful, but to be completely unbiased many have done this without issues. As mentioned above it does appear that this solution does sometimes cause delays in starting. There are theories that the ECU will learn and adjusting for this and that might be the case. However, typically with ECUs they learn by acquiring data and if that is the case it would normally log that data. The data the ECU would be logging is that it issued a pulse to activate the relay but didn't receive the confirmation via the positive feed from the relay to the ECU. If it is really doing this I would expect this data to be presented/reported when a Consult unit is attached by the dealer. To date no one has confirmed if this happens or not.

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06-18-2012, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dwight Frye Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Occupied California Posts: 423 Drives: '09 Tour/Sport/6MT Rep Power: 16	To the pros for the harness, it only requires a tiny screwdriver blade to press down the lock tab on the factory connector at lock, and a set of diagonal cutters or scissors to trim the extra plastic on the zip ties after you tidy up the harness under your dash. And a small flashlight or trouble light to help see what you are doing. Install is very fast. Removing it would be equally a breeze, and no worries about what might be going on in the ECU due to the fuse being pulled. As for the $50 being in the con column, it was worth that much to me for the intellectual property of those that figured it out, designed the harness, sourced the raw materials, tested, packed, shipped, dealt with PayPal and everything else involved. Plus the time save not ******* around under the hood pulling the fusebox out and reinstalling it. And my peace of mind is worth a few bucks too.