DIY: Steering Wheel Lock Failure FIX!
 

1) Locate fuse box by battery under battery surrounding cover
Attachment 82613

2) Take off battery surrounding cover
Attachment 82614

3)Take off one last cover by battery near windshield
Attachment 82615

4) Take out fuse box there are two clips on top of the fuse push both and pull up
Attachment 82616
once you have gotten the fuse box out as far as you can you have to take the cover off, to take the cover off reach both hands to the bottom of the box feel for two big clips unclip them and take the cover off it will look like this on the inside…
Attachment 82617

5) The fuse is 10A on the lid of the box it will say 10A Steering wheel lock (DO NOT TAKE THE FUSE OUT YET)

6) Now go to the steering wheel with a rubber mallet or I took a screw driver and get under the steering wheel you are looking for the steering wheel lock it which looks like this
Attachment 82618

watch this video if you need help on locating it 2009 Nissan Won't Start - Steering Lock Failure - YouTube

7) Now that you have found it hit it three times not to hard with the rubber mallet or the handle part of the screwdriver and push the start button continue to do this till the car unseizes and goes in to acc mode. When you hit it you might see a small spark, that is okay don’t freak.

8)Once the car is in acc mode take out the fuse 10A (might need some pliers to take it out or tweezers) and put it all back then get in the car and start and your done! :icon17:

Good job! :tup:

Thank you!! I Had to learn this the hard way, my car seized from steering wheel lock failure on Christmas Eve and had a nice person on the Houston Z FB page help me through this process of fixing it my self. Figured I would pass on the help for anyone else that needs it =)

When your steering wheel lock fails far from your house and your car won't start, DO NOT panic, nothing to be perplexed about it. Simply open your trunk, find the tow hook, hold it hard as you can as if you are about the beat the $hit out of some rice cakes, locate the metal box under your steering wheel, and beat the living cr@p out of it. While you are hitting it, try to start the car at the same time. Once the car cranks, go home drive safely, proceed Hirrah's DIY. I just cut my brownie wire so I don't have to deal with this bs anymore lol

Thank goodness when the car froze up it was in the garage or else I would have panicked. I didn't even know steering wheel lock failure existed till it happened :/ Nissan didn't send me any recall letter. But yes beat the sh** out of that useless steering wheel lock and save ur self the hassle of taking it to the dealership and wasting your time, there hasn't been a new model of the steering wheel lock that hasn't had the failure in the end just pull the fuse.

is there a way to fix it if the car won't go into acc?

Beat on the ESCL with your fist or a soft-face hammer while trying to get the car to start. If you get it to start, don't turn it off until after you have pulled the fuse. I suggest having the IPDM pulled and ready for fuse extraction before you start beating on the ESCL.

This has worked for several people but not everyone.

PS: read the first post in this thread.

beating the tf out of the box, still not working :(

Going to try this method tomorrow. Mine seized up outside my parents house. Read everything in the owners manual, my fiance got in the car and held the unlock button on the key fob. Both windows rolled down and won't go back up. So now I have the car non-starting and with both windows down. Luckily I could push it into their garage. Glad I found this thread, cause my first call was going to be to the dealer. I will post my results. 2010 370Z Touring, 24k

Day z I sent u a message but really u just have to keep trying. Craigzter same thing happened to me my windows were completely down but luckily the car was at home in the garage, mine happened Christmas Eve so I was gonna be stuck for two weeks no help so I'm glad this thread has helped many ppl hope it works for u :)

:ughdance:Thank You Guys!!! Worked like a charm. Tapped lock and pulled fuze. Done and Done :happydance:

Awesome! Im glad it worked out for you =)

Great! You may want to call a dealer and see if your '10 falls under the TSB/recall (early-2010s qualify). Get a fresh one and you just need to put the fuse back in if you ever have need for the ESCL (eg, when selling).

Hmmmm, pull the fuse I wonder where that idea came from.;)

once upon time there was this guy named baer...

DIY: Steering Wheel Lock Failure FIX!
 

So, I picked up my car from STADIUM NISSAN after they said the SLU has been replaced under warranty. I started the car, the "intelligent key light" is now ON wtf? When I turned off the car, the steering lock doesn't lock. I wonder if they didn't put the fuse back in. :confused:



Update:

The mechanic turned off the Intelligent Key Light with his computer. When I asked him about the fuse, he said he didn't bother to check the fuse :facepalm:
Got home, turned of the car, a couple hours later, I started the car, the IKL is ON again :facepalm: now I am thinking maybe I should put the fuse back on, go back to the dealer and have them fix it, again... :ugh:

Testing backup Steering Lock Unit
 

Hi everybody,

I am a (currently sad) french owner of a G37 Infiniti, equiped by the same (un)famous unit as the GTR & 370 (48700JF00A) and, of course, it's faulty and my car doesn't start.
There is no recall, unfortunately, by Infiniti.

I've already read tons of threads. Tapping/hitting doesn't help. And I don't want to open and rebuild it for the moment because it's quite complex...

So I bought the SL unit of a used crashed 370z (a D version).

But before installing it on the column, in order to confirm the defect, I just connected the unit, hanging to the wire. The car started, I was happy.
And when I turned ignition off, the lock went out, seems ok.

=>The trouble is now that the lock refuses to withdraw again, preventing from starting again. It seems that the unit has inhibited itself, due to the lack of physical constraints by the column.


Am I right? Or can you see another reason? How to restore it in unlocked position?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Best Regard,

Phil.

Hi,

Interesting that the Infinitis have the same lock.
No, the lock will not have “inhibited itself due to lack of physical restraints”. (Said with confidence from numerous tests with the lock, in various states, hanging from the column, to get an answer.)

Maybe you touched that one external screw…and it is absolutely NOT resettable and clever too!

Go back in these posts to mine of around Feb to March 2012. The post was … er…poohed….but there

is a way to operate without the lock, using an “eyeglass case” (search for that) for the electronics
which you have to take out of the lock. …There’s later ones for a lock rebuild.

Your lock now probably has the projection/plunger extended (locked position) which can be pushed in against a spring. When retracted, not against the spring, it sits flush with the unit.

a)Message me with your e-mail address as I’m not on this very often and we can “do it” you may be near enough…(I have a working butchered version) and I’ll dig back my records and --- or
Send me your original unit and, no charge, I’ll fix it…..probably.
b) This (excellent!) site has the Technical Service Bulletins (“TSBs”) from Nissan re their first “voluntary recall” on GTRs in March 2010 …. And their second for GTRs but including 370Z in March 2013….both for that infamous 48700 part.
……..Show that to the Infiniti folk…if you are still under warranty….and even if not.
Once one can get past all the “no” bureaucrats, Nissan can be helpful. Infiniti should kow-tow!
c) If you are only concerned with an instrument warning light,…when all is OK just dis the battery neg for a minute which works for a 370Z ….but you have to read the owners manual to stop the windows
misbehaving thereafter.

My guess is you have innocently put a tool near that solitary screw…and that’s screwed it!

Best regards,

Fritz

Thanks for your answer and your time for me.

So my backup SLU should work hanging by the wire from the column. If it doesn't, I see three possible reasons:
1) the SLU is faulty too and I am very very unlucky. Let's say possible but not very probable (it's a D version)
2) I touched the "external screw". Q1)Which one ? How does it work? I see only the two "self breaking" screws to fix it on the column.
3) the fault doesn't comes from the SLU itselft but from the upper module (IPDM/BCM) which doesn't give to right signal to unlock. It could explain why tapping the module is vain. I'm building an home made harness to analyse the signal (of course, I don't have a consult III interface, not yet). It will be ready tomorrow but Q2) have you all heard of similar symptoms NOT caused by the SLU? I am interressed in your feedback.

I read your different threads. Very interesting of course. But I want at this stage a "soft" workaround:
1) to confirm the SLU is faulty. In this case, I'm ready to prosecute Infiniti if they refuse any warranty. What I read, (including the fact that Nissan explains in its NTB there is an inherent defect) should be relevant arguments (your b) point)... But this is for later and not my current purpose.
2) to be able to drive 250km to the dealer and avoid tow cost. My SLU is blocked in a "in between position" that is the wheel is unblock but not enough so the sensor doesn't give signal to allow BCM to start. Unless Q3) you tell me it's to dangerous to drive with the lock threatening to lock at any time. Whatever you think, I'll do it at my own risk, off course

So I don't want to destroy my original SLU. Besides, opposite to the 370z, replacing the SLU requires to uninstall the
column (it's located in the upper part...) and to complex for me for a DYI.
However, I'm ready to rebuild and sacrify my backup SLU, if I am 100% convinced why it doesn't work anymore (see Q1). It has indeed a spring, when I push it, it retracts but comes out when I released it.

I sent you an email, a few days ago. Please check if it's not in the spam folder.

Best regards,
Phil

PS: regarding your c) point, I didn't read the manual... The windows is completly down and the car outside. So I cut up a plexyglass piece and it's no more a problem.

after removing the fuze.... should we replace with a new fuze or just leave blank?
thanks.

Leave it blank. Verify that the steering column is free and the car will start and then put everything back together.

Thank You :driving:

Thank you!!

New to the forum and recently purchased my first Z. Is this steering wheel lock thing still an issue with 2015? Thinking I should go ahead and pull the fuse anyway...

From what I understand, they stopped using the steering lock with the 2012 model year, so you shouldn't have it at all. The way to verify is just by getting in your car and starting it up. If you have the steering lock it should disengage audibly and your steering wheel should "jiggle" a little. You shouldn't see/hear that, though, as your model year doesn't have a steering lock.

After removing the fuze, can I also remove the steering lock it self too? or this will throw cel?

Just to verify, I have no issue, but just to ensure that I don't run into this, I can just pull this fuse and be done with it correct?

u want to pull it while the car is in the ON position (engine can be off).

Ok thanks.

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/9528/ZLxUga.jpg

Ok pulling the fuse was one of the first things I did with my Z - about at the end of last year - my key light came on - but it never locked up, and even now it's fine - crossing my fingers as well.

Changed battery's in the fob's and also pluged into the Key vagina lol. Still the key light is still on...

But how do I get the keylight on the dash to go away?

My 2011 froze today with the steering lock. Good thing I listened to another owner and found your post. Save me at least a grand plus :tup:

:happydance:

How much of that $1000 are you sharing with "another owner"? You ought you at least buy him/her dinner. ;)

Beer is absolutely warranted next car meet:bowdown:

Im in the exact same boat and this is after nissan replaced the steering wheel lock a while ago when they were doing the recalls.

Do i discard the fuse?

Drop it in the glove box (or wherever you keep your fuses) so you have a spare 10A fuse when you need it.

So everything worked for me, but my steering wheel obviously won't lock up now. I see it as an issue when it comes to theft so how are you guys dealing with this?

I didn't lose a second of sleep over it.

Most thieves who are going to take a 370Z are going to winch it onto a flatbed or have some way to defeat all the immobilizer circuits (eg, fob emulator).

My 2011 370z is having the same exact issue. However, when banging on the mechanism with a rubber mallet, I can not for the life of me get the car into accessory mode. How many tries did it take everyone else?

Since your's is already locked, you'll either need to buy a new one ($450ish) or remove the steering lock mechanism and do the following:
http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...dy-failed.html

I ended up doing the above before I saw it was possible...worked for me.