I agree. Thank you again.

Mine failed too. Unfortunately I didn't see this posts before or else I would of remove that darn fuse. $700 and 2 weeks of suffering. :mad:

My 09 just failed - it probably failed twice before this but somehow replacing the car battery (and maybe warmer weather at the time of replacement, who knows) allowed the car to start. I didn't equate it to SLU the first two times because of the fact that it started back up.

I will do the requisite bashing of the SLU with something blunt to see if I can avoid taking it to the dealer. But I had a thought:

If I take it to the dealer, let them fix it, and then refuse to pay on the grounds that Nissan USA refuses to acknowledge the problem, what can they do other than keep the car on the lot? It's winter in PA so I'm not driving it anyway... what do you think would happen first: Corporate folding and covering the cost, or the Dealer's lawyers taking me to court for the cost? :)

You will probably accrue interest and storage charges. It doesn't look like Nissan is going to change their attitude and the dealer's hands are tied as long as Nissan won't authorize warranty/recall. Pay the dealer and hope that Nissan will offer a refund should they decide to do a recall.

Sounds right... I had an even more preposterous idea than that but I'll spare everyone :stirthepot:

BTW, despite how much this issue makes me want to punch Nissan in the face, the one thing I haven't seen mentioned yet in Nissan's defense re:recalls/TSBs is that it's not just a matter of the ROI on replacing all problematic SLUs; there's also the added potential of thousands of false positives being reported.

If '09-'10 Nissan products had a TSB out for bad SLUs, but the only evidence of a bad SLU is a car that won't start, then anyone owning those vehicles could say a) that a dead car meets the TSB stips; and b) if the dealer attempts to resolve the issue as anything other than the SLU TSB, they are violating the terms. I could demand a replacement of the SLU even if I had merely left the dome light on for a week.

The fact that you can get a car with a bad SLU running again - sometimes by accident - makes it extremely difficult for both consumers AND Nissan to defend.

Nissan deleted the system from the car. Thats the solution in their eyes. I would not hold my breath for a recall. All thats left are used cars and the warranty clock is ticking. Every day fewer and fewer cars are an issue. Win win for Nissan.

USA Cars
 

Hey guys,

I had noticed in the other thread that all of the cars listed (so far) are american. I have a 2009 Canadian Sport Touring model. Do you think the issue could be limited to the American vehicles?

How do i tell which version of the steering lock i have? I believe my car was made in June of 2009.

Thanks!

IIRC, there has been at least one Canadian and one British 370Z that have reported SLU failure. But my memory ain't what it used to be.

There is a label on the SLU that will tell you which revision it is. If you have a 2009, you probably have one of the earlier revisions.

The fix is easy enough that there is no sense in taking a risk - pull the fuse, cut the wire, or install a harness.

loads of fails in uk
so while my car is working i just pull the fuse and job done???

Yep. Just make sure the SLU is working when you pull the fuse.

yes mate, that's it! Then a pint in the pub!

slu working ie you wheel is looked?

or your

unfortunatley this crap happened to my Z as well it happened right when i hit 50,000 miles on it and it just wouldnt start at all. I had to pay to get it towed to the dealership which was around 120 bucks. Then the dealership told me it would cost me about 1000 to get it fixed i was like WTF!:mad:......but the crazy thing about it is that when i went to my car at the dealership there was literally 5 other 370z's with the same issue as mine and i asked the service rep if there was any kind of recalls he said no!:eek:

and all the 370z that were there with the steering lock issue were 2009's and 2010's:eekdance:

I emailed Nissan on the 10th and got someone to call me and I got an incident number. They said someone would call back. No one did. I emailed Nissan USA today and someone did call back. He said he would look into it and will call back Thursday. He's going to try and get me something back. My SLU died at 45044 miles. I also told them I had driven Nissans since 1983. Strongly suggest you e-mail Nissan USA. I said my Nissans in the past had been reliable and that they had no honor. (Worf reference which I'm sure they missed).

Confused
 

If your SLU has been disabled via the fuse how can you still get a starting failure?

who are you referring to? I dont see who has had a failure after disabling the SLU.

Steering lock mechanism malfunction
 

I recently was unable to start my Z . Tried everything , inserted key fob..no go, changed battery...no go, checked battery reset option...no go. Finally had it towed to dealer :/ $1400.00 later was told that "steering wheel lock mechanism" had malfunctioned!!! I really suspect all they did was re-calibrate the key fob ... Anyone else out there experienced this?

Its a huge problem. Too bad you didn't get a chance to use the search function before this happened. In short, there is a fuse you could have pulled to stop the lock from functioning. The locks have been such a problem that they don not even install them in new Z's

I just had this problem too. Mine was covered by the extended warranty. It seems to be a problem with 2009 to early 2010 models. They had to change the steering lock actuator and reprogram the ECU and FOBs. Apparently this problem creates a short in that shuts the engine down (believe it has to do with anti-theft).

damn. $1400:shakes head:

Correction my friend 09-mid 2011 last 4 of the part # should read f00d to be in the clear.

I'm reall sorry to hear that Geezer1946.
I recently purchased a used 2009. Luckily I read about this problem before i purchased it. Needless to say as soon as i got home from the dealer i took the steering wheel lock fuse out (by following instructions in other threads about the topic)! My steering wheel lock is now safely disabled !

Steeering Lock Bypass Kit
 

Just ordered the steering lock bypass kit. I'm not big on cutting wires or popping fuses. Instructions seem simple enough. $59.00 which includes shipping.

I ended up doing this as well :)

u shouldve pulled out the fuse, did it on mine no issues

Think I'm going to wait till my warranty is up then pull the fuse.

Cause the the world would just end.:tup:

Is there a how-to youtube video on removing the right fuse?

A week ago Friday my car wouldn't start so I started reading and knew this was the issue before the tow truck got my car to nissan. Thank god our warranty covered it. $1300 total cost. Glad it's fixed now!

I found this one by searching Youtube for "370Z steering fuse". There may be more; this is just the first one I found.

Steering lock failure?
 

My car didn't start tonight. It's currently sitting in my work's parking lot in the freezing cold: it's -16C tonight :(

My working theory is that it's the dreaded steering lock failure. However, I want to prove it before I do anything like pay for towing. A couple of things make me slightly skeptical:

1. I can turn the steering wheel. It's not locked.
2. One of the DIY's claims that you have to put your car in ACC. But I can't even get to ACC. It stays in "Lock" mode.

Do either of things mean that it might be something else?

Thanks for the help....

Maybe it broke in the open position...

Same thing happened to me a week and a half ago. It's your steering lock. I read up while my dad came and I told nissan all the symptoms and they told me to bring it in so we got it towed and i diagnosed it correctly before nissan looked at it thanks to the forum. Thankfully my warranty covered the $1100 bill and towing which was only $45 somehow. Best of luck my car was at nissan all weekend because it happened on a Friday and got it back last Tuesday and it runs great. It was sleeting (here in Clemson,SC) when mine failed so I know the feeling. Get it towed and fixed. Good luck.

if it is the steering lock, then it didn't break in open but rather in an "almost but not quite open" position. There is a little switch in the lock which is depressed when the lock is all the way open. the (depressed) switch allows the engine to begin the start sequence.

It could be a lot of things, the fact you can turn your unmodified steering lock leads my to suggest it probably is your steering lock. (which because its not locking is clearly malfunctioning)

Unfortunately you do not have an easily diagnosed common mode of failure.

I recommend the standard "emergency fix" of pushing your start button (with your key in the key holder) and tap/bang the crap out of your malfunctioning steering wheel lock hoping it will slip loose from its jammed position. If that works (really stick with it for awhile) then definitely pull your fuse or cut your brown wire once you get the car running BEFORE YOU TURN IT OFF!

good luck, unfortunately you are not talking about a standard (well understood) malfunction.

one last though. Make sure you have a good battery in the key fob or just put it in the little fob holder (if it is dead that should allow a start.)

This whole steering lock situation is an absolute outrage. Nissan should be ashamed. Their refusal to take full responsibility and issue a recall is certain to cost them in furture sales. I know they've lost my business. I was waiting to buy my wife the new Maxima coming out next year. Given that it would be a first year model, I now expect as little help from them as possible on a problem like this in the new Maxima. So, instead, I ordered her a beautiful new Volvo and they are paying for the round trip for her and me to take delivery at their plant in Sweeden. Sorry Nissan---you blew it (and I sure hope you read this).

When my lock failed, I can turn the wheel. Else I wouldn't be able to get on the tow truck

I was in the same boat a week or so ago. A few questions...do you see the keyfob light on the far left console like the car doesn't register the key is within range but are still able to pop the locks with it? My unit failed with partial engagement, DON'T SPEND MONEY YET! Thank fivepoint for the heads up!

Sent from my Evo-3D without that Taptalk paid B.S. I Swyped every word myself. :rolleyes:

Everyone with the lock problem, please complain to the NHTSA AND complain via e-mail to Nissan USA. When complaining to NISSAN USA let them know that will lose business from you. I had to e-mail NISSAN twice but they did contact me and are working on it. My lock issue occurred after 45,000 miles so no warranty. I'll advise what the outcome is. They said the recalled the GTR because those owners were the ones to complain most to NHTSA. Complain to NHTSA.

If this ends up being the steering lock, I will certainly be complaining to Nissan Canada and Nissan USA.

Anifaust, on the left edge of the left console (not the main screen but the outer edge, there is a tiny orange symbol that says "Key". That lights up briefly when I first get in the car. Then it goes out after a few seconds.

The push-button ignition reads "Lock"

Pushing the push-buttom ignition does absolutely nothing.

All other keyfob functions (lock, unlock, etc) work fine.

The tow truck is ordered. Should be here in 45mins.

So angry.