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

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.

R0bDC

NISSAN! Very Disappointing to see this time after time after time and it wont stop.........

diddy535

Don't smash it with anything, time for a tow unless you can replace the steering lock yourself

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Baer383

Apparently you haven't been reading the steering lock threads?

__________________
2013 ZL1

754 rwhp 747 rwtq

OldGuy

I, too, am an '09 automatic Z owner, who knows virtually nothing about the mechanical aspect of cars. But I can read these posts and had the mechanic remove the steering lock fuse pre-emptively. It was so simple, it took about 8 minutes and he wouldn't even charge me (thought he Nissan dealership estimated $165.00 for the same job). Read the excellent threads here, that include pictures and as soon as you get your car unlocked, have this done. Also, it's better than cutting wires, as you will be able to re-insert the fuse if you go to sell the car, thereby restoring the car to "stock." The new owner can then make his own decisions on how to handle the problem.
Nissan has avoided all responsibility in this matter and has truly "dropped the ball." Made me decide not to buy my wife a new Maxima---got her a Volvo instead just because of the way Nissan has mishandled this entire situation.

864Zbeast

Steering lock failed. Mine did the same thing a couple weeks ago. I had to have it towed to nissan and fixed

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R0bDC

Make sure to post it here Sticky***** Steering Lock Failure Database ***** Sticky

Also Reported it

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

Lastly Call Nissan Consumer Affairs and tell them.

I really do believe Nissan will recall this if everyone does their part.

Dante Rising

Thanks again for the assist, everyone.

Two final questions:


1) If a few light taps don't work, I can basically bang on the SLU as hard as I want correct? After all, this is the component that Nissan is going to replace if this workaround fails?

2) So simply cutting the brown wire has no negative consequences? I didn't see any in any forum posts. Due to my inexperience with cars I prefer to go this route, even though a step-by-step process was posted for the fuse box. Someone on the forum mentioned that if you do not replace all the seals properly when doing the fuse workaround, water can get into the box and cause several thousand dollars in damage. Not sure I want to tempt fate...


Thanks!

Baer383

You DON'T have to replace anything when removing the fuse most of these people on this thread think they are helping when in fact they don't know what the hell they are talking about,they probably said to replace the seal b/c they were stupid and ripped it when opening the door to the fuse box.

You just open the fuse door remove fuse #48 it says steering lock on it put the cover back on it and that is it,go to the first post and you will see how simple it really is.
You don't have to beat the sh!t out of it but you may have to hit it a little harder than a few taps to get it to move.

Good luck Frank

__________________
2013 ZL1

754 rwhp 747 rwtq

Dante Rising

LOL! I got the car started with the hamming method!!

I followed the excellent instructions below, but I am stuck:
Steering lock problem solved (for real)


How to I OPEN the fuse box?!?! It is like a child-proof medicine bottle! I'm pulling and tugging, twisting and turning! I'd really appreciate some assistance quickly. The car is running!

Thanks!

Baer383

Here is your answer post 234
Steering lock problem solved (for real)

__________________
2013 ZL1

754 rwhp 747 rwtq