Update: Steering Lock issue - Bypass Kit!
 

Hi all,

2010 owner here that recently encountered the steering lock failure and resolved it.

I've known about the problem for a while but never paid much mind to it since I naively thought it wouldn't happen to me. Well, it did, at ~51k miles. I was stranded on a Sunday night in the city and was nerve-rackingly trying to DIY fix it via the resources on this forum to no avail. No amount of hammering to that steering lock was going to get it to work. I had to get it towed home. I found out about the Voluntary Bulletin but they declined me because I have a revision C, and the Bulletin only covered revisions A and B. The next thing was to chance it by buying a used steering lock on ebay. They're going for $150-200. However, I came upon this one seller that had sold over 700 of these so called Bypass Kits for $103. It appeared to be an official Nissan part but I found it odd that there was almost nothing about it when searching via its serial number, including this forum. I took a chance and bought it. Had it installed by a friend and voila, it worked!
With this bypass kit, you don't need to cut any wires or pull any fuses after. It's a direct plug and play replacement to the steering lock except there's no more steering lock. No need for reprogramming by the dealer (this is a lie by them to get you to cough up another $200-300).

As advised by others already, don't wait until your steering lock fails on you and leaves you stranded. They made up to a revision D or E, which all will fail over time. If you have a 2012 or newer model, they eliminated the steering lock on them so you don't have to worry about this issue. If you have decided to ignore all warnings and ended up here reading this thread wondering how to get your as$ unstranded. Take a hammer and bang away at the steering lock located under the steering column while pressing the start button. You'll know it worked if you hear the steering unlock disengage. If that didn't work then you'll just have to pay for a tow like i did.

Now onto the actual fixing, I don't recommend spending the money on another steering lock module that will eventually fail. Just pay the $100 for this bypass kit and be done with it. It says Altima in the title, however the cars that have been effected and are compatible with this kit are Altima, Maxima, 370z, and GTR.

Part no. 48708-9N00A

Link to ebay item: 09-10 ALTIMA MAXIMA STEERING LOCK BYPASS KIT FOR 48700-9N00B NO PROGRAM NEEDED | eBay

Would appreciate a rep if this was helpful. Thanks all

just FYI, this part is only $85 from Nissan, and courtesy parts has it for <$60.

Box Kit-Steering | Genuine Nissan | 48708-9N00A : CourtesyParts | Genuine OEM Nissan Parts & Accessories

Also, pulling the fuse is free =)

Procrastination is expensive. Lucky me I was able to mash the slu and got it unlocked when it failed. Pulled the fuse and no more issues since.

What does this bypass do? I've looked at the pictures and can't figure out how it's supposed to work.

I think it's just a steering lock without the lock, so whatever subsystems communicate with the lock will believe it is functioning normally. The very existence of the part shows that Nissan, to some degree, doesn't feel confident in the electronic steering locks. On the nissan parts DBs (like courtesyparts) you can see it is not associated with any model Nissan car - I'd speculate that it's only for dealers to use in cases where cars have repeated steering lock issues and they just need to do something to satisfy a customer without pulling a fuse (which would not look like a professional solution).

Good looks on finding it for so much cheaper at ~$60. Much better price than what I got it for.

To clarify, this is the cheapest and easiest option if:
1. you didn't pull the fuse already while your steering lock was working
2. your VIN isn't covered under the Voluntary Bulletin
3. smashing the failed steering lock doesn't work

It installs exactly where the steering lock should go with 2 hex bolts and uses the same wire plug.

That sounds reasonable. Thanks.

:tiphat:

Not working
 

Bought that part and it did not work it was a waste of time and money...and i do have the red key flashing it wont start...I am not trying to spend so much on a brand new steering column

Just Google 370z steering lock lock fix and there are several videos that will help you out. Mine was supposedly fixed under warranty and I it locked up on me this past winter so I just Googled it followed the instructions and all has been good ever since.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Mid year 2011’s dont have the steering lock either

Same here. For those who got the steering lock replaced under warranty, be forewarned the lock will fail again.

Thats surprising. Did you have it professionally installed? If so, I'm sure the seller would have no problem exchanging or refunding your money.

just pull out the fuse and you're good to go

Just had my steering lock fail (rev D, was previously replaced from the TSB in 2013).

Mine failed in the "unlocked" state (I could still turn the steering wheel), which I'm not sure is normal? and I could not get the car to turn on or ACC at all. The start button showed "LOCK" and the yellow key light came on solid, but the key fobs were working fine.

This youtube video saved my day: https://youtu.be/pLPTNm0xxy4?t=70
Just short the pink wire to ground to bypass the broken lock and get the car to power on. Removing the fuse while in ACC did not fix anything, and it still goes into lockdown without me keeping the pink wire permanently grounded.

I ordered the 48700-9N00B delete kit and will see if that works when it ships.