ATTENTION!! 2009-2010 owners with steering lock/wont start issues

asdfsammich

Surfdog said it all best right there ^^^.

Pull the fuse and enjoy the ride. Getting all twisted up over it isn't worth it.


Tapatalk & such etc

doesntcount

Well, that's fair enough to say. But I'm still super pissed. The dealership gave me the quote for the repair: ready? Have a seat.... $1600!!!!!

So, yesterday, I called Nissan Consumer Affairs and lodged a complaint. My car has only 19000 miles on it. It's 3yrs7mo old. Used to have an extended warranty (extended in coverage, but not in time) that expired 3 years ago (not sure why the original buyer bought it... maybe worried about the 09 being a first gen). So I'm hoping to get at least some of the repair subsidized.

If they leave me out to dry, I'll likely be done with Nissan. I know there's a lot of Nissan loyalty on this site, and don't get me wrong, I love my Z, but I've had a lot more problems with this car than I've ever had with any car. Had to replace 2 MAF sensors over the summer for a cost of $600.

I can't help but chalk this up to poor practices on Nissan as a whole. Not just in their manufacturing of parts like this that frequently fail, but the failure to realize that these are the parts that need to be recalled in order to maintain customer loyalty. ie. you either need to not make mistakes or you need to own up to your mistakes by way of recalls.

FWIW, my coworker who has a GT-R had his steering lock recalled. Why the GT-R and not the Z? Totally bizarre.

daisuke149

did you try fixing it yourself by tappoing it and then pulling the fuse?

doesntcount

I tried the tapping. No dice.

However, I posted in another thread (here: How many of you have pulled the steering lock fuse?) about the nissan service guys being able to get it working using a lock from an altima.

Baer383

They are Nissan techs and they have no Fvcking clue,
My discovery to remove the fuse has been argued since I recommend it and nobody has had any problems(except for a delay in starting which has not been proven to be related)if the Nissan techs studied these cars as much as we do they just may learn something.

__________________
2013 ZL1

754 rwhp 747 rwtq

R0bDC

Call Nissan! Don't just email. Talk to Regional Specialist! then try and talk to a Senior Regional Specialist and fight them! lol

Also report it here Home | Safercar -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Here is the Number (888) 327-4236

Good Luck!

doesntcount

Ya. I emailed and called. I have a case. They're investigating. If I don't get satisfaction tomorrow, I'll escalate it.

And ya, I submitted an issue to the NHTSA.

doesntcount

I can't argue with that. I know absolutely nothing. I just know how to drive it. I don't know how to fix it

Huan'z

Good luck buddy. Hope u sorted it out ASAP.


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wilsonp

Don't understand how your extended warranty was good for 7 months?

In any case, pulling the fuse won't help if you have another lock installed - when they put the broken one in, your car won't start again. You have to pull the fuse with your lock installed and the car running.

I had this happen to me at my sister in laws. Unfortunately I thought I'd be immune or something, or I didn't feel like ten minutes of car work just a get at a fuse! Or make the Nissan extended warranty pay - Nissan won't get my business again by treating 370Z owners like second class citizens but not GT-R owners. Some of those car engineers should be made to fix every problem they've designed in on every car sold.

In any case, I tried the tapping, etc, and after reading some more, followed the advice to smack it with the tire wrench like it was stealing $500 dollars and it started. I promptly cut the brown wire.

Note: My steering wheel could turn fine - it seems it stuck without fully locking or during the unlock.

__________________
2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black
Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon
Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

Dante Rising

Sorry everyone,

I know there are several threads related to this problem, but the more I read the more confused I become on the subject. I have absolutely no knowledge about working on cars.

Three days ago the low key battery indicator started showing on my 2009 Nissan 370Z (automatic transmission) LCD screen. I ordered a set of new batteries from Amazon, but they have not yet arrived.

Today when I went into my garage and the car wouldn't start. I noticed the yellow "key" indicator is on, and the intelligent key will only lock and unlock the doors. I tried to start the car by placing the intelligent key in the manual start port, but the push button ignition stays ("reads") in the locked position, and the LCD shows an image that appears to be telling me to pull the key out of the port.

The steering wheel itself is not locked, however. I can actually move it back and forth, but the break petal will not press very far down.

Is this most likely the Steering Lock failure issue, or am I doing something wrong? And if this IS the steering failure, am I understanding my first option is:

1) "open the car door, but dont try pushing the start button. Take a heavy tool like a hammer or something and smack the crap out of the SLU about 5 good times and then put your foot on the break and push the start button"

or am I supposed to HOLD the push button down WHILE banging on the Steering Lock pane?

2) Also, the piece I'm supposed to hit is silver panel under the steering column that says "to throw away in case of free fall"? Correct? I'm REALLY worried that I will hit this thing too hard, or from the wrong angle with the hammer and cause even MORE problems.

3) If this doesn't work, are there any other manual ways for a newbie to disengage this lock without calling a two truck and spending $1500 dollars?

Thank you, everyone.

Baer383

Hit it with a hammer a few times while trying to start the car at the same time,then once started cut the brown wire or pull the fuse and that's it.

Yes the small piece that says free fall on it.

And the last resort is really not for newbies you have to remove the lock open it and push the lock open manually.RPIA

__________________
2013 ZL1

754 rwhp 747 rwtq

Dante Rising

Wish I had looked at all those threads two days ago!

Just to clarify, should I be hammering the SLU AND pressing the button simultaneously AND pressing on the break (in other words, actually trying to start the car. I'll need to be a little bit of a contortionist for that )

or am I simply hammering on the SLU while pressing the start button, in an attempt to get it to ACC or ON mode?

I really, really hope this works. Don't really have $1500 at the moment to throw around. The 370Z is my favorite car out of all the vehicles that I have owned, but this is troubling.

Baer383

All you need to do is tap the lock and then try and start the car,once started leave it running and pull the fuse and your done.

__________________
2013 ZL1

754 rwhp 747 rwtq

Dante Rising

Thank you!

Forum member DCspartan09 had the exact same problem as me. From his post:


"SLU failed but in the unlocked position (e.g., never locked after shutting down the engine, and can freely turn the wheels while its off)

A couple people called him "lucky", and said they thought simply pulling the fuse would fix the problem. I'll try this if the hammer-and-button press doesn't work. I won't be able to work on either method until tomorrow morning, however.