There is no battery warning light - there is a Charge warning light, but that might not come on when your battery is bad. You should be able to tell battery status from the voltmeter when the engine isn't running, but possibly not always.

I think the battery provider should cover the battery/tow if it is less than a year old?

Update: Checking the Warranty Booklet PDF, the OEM battery is covered 100% for first 12 months/36,000 miles and towing is covered for 3 years/36,000 miles for failure of a warranted part, so if you are on your OEM battery you should be good.

What if I get an aftermarket alarm installed (GETTING THE Viper this week), and if I face this key issue in the future..? I'm sure the dealer is going to "claim" that all this happened because of my after market alarm not being installed the right way, and hence warranty voided? I have 20,000 miles on mine so far. 2009.

Depends on what the after market alarm connects with. Since most people appear to only have starting issues, and not lock/unlock door issues, unless you get a remote start option, it shouldn't be a problem.

yah, socal and i have narrowed it down to the IPDM and steering lock unit in the General Forums section. we think it's the IPDM as root cause, steering lock as secondary problem not getting proper voltage to operate, triggering the immobilizer prevent car from starting. regardless of you dealer changing anythign on the car, if they dont look closely at the IPDM it's not going to fix your car. and IPDM is covered under warranty.

i would imagine nissan might do a recall on this thing if too many customers complain.

here...

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ranking-2.html

I'm getting the Viper 5901. You need some intelligent key bypass thing with it right...? (Immobilizer or something.. I can get you the exact model number if you want?)

And now this happens to me...Car will not start, stuck in the lock position, key light remains on, breaks stiff, all other electronics functioning. It seems like everyone all at once....FML. And my car is stuck at my job's parking lot collecting ice, surrounded by other employees cars, with minimal space for a flat bed to fit. Not to mentioned being lowered. I hope they are able to get it on, and fix this crap, without trying to weasel their way out of a warranty claim. This is BS.

Wtf? My friend with a 09' z34 told me about this happening to him last month. Damn, hopefully I don't get this. Im looking @ everyones cars and they are all 09's.

Ugh. No problems from my '09 yet but it sounds like it's just a matter of time before it needs to be towed to fix this issue.

Here's to hoping they release a recall on this stupid wheel lock sensor.

Hi guys, has this issue been fixed? Or is it still lurking around waiting to disable the Z?

I'm still waitin for it to happen on my '09 AT.
24k miles so far... have the viper installed w/remote start

[Sometimes when I remote start and get in the car, it shuts off... and i have to restart it... but thats probably related to the remote start, and not the issue in this thread.]

I've been thinking of moving to a Cadillac CTS Coupe 2011

no issue on mine. i have a feeling people are accidentally using the steering wheel to support their weight while going in/out of the car causing binding problems on the steering lock...which then leads to IPDM burning out. :confused:

i have no scientific data, but i basically dont touch the steering wheel while the car is off.

Alright guys, weights for all those who have this issue please.

:icon18:

seems like it happens totally on a random basis- but to those guys who has have it happened: was it because of a couple of steering wheel locks which caused the mechanism to fail?

any recalls on this issue yet..?
My 'key' light is on, but everything working normally at the moment..

FML, going to the car meet today, been preparing for a month and BAM, car's in LOCK! /cry

Just happened to me...this totally sucks. Went to the store for five minutes and when I got back in my car....nothing...lock light came on...it's been towed to the dealer and they have been looking at it for two days now.

IPDM and steering column lock switch failure...or something.

take the negative off for a bit, pump the break 5 times, wait, then re-hook negative back up. Mine started up and worked like nothing ever happened.

Another 2009 Bites the dust
 

I've fallen victim to this as well, I wonder if Nissan is going to do a recall on this, I'm out of factory coverage and it's costing me ~$1100 including labor :mad:

i thought it was more like the burnt solenoid coil or something... but thanks for the input. i guess i will throw in my 10mm socket in the trunk too. :D hahaha.

did you try unplugging the negative from the battery, discharge the system by pumping the brakes? :confused: can you try it now if you haven't already?

i think this just happened to me... the no key light on the left side panel is lit up. my key's battery is full... im stuck at work waiting for the tow truck. so pissed and im out of factory coverage.

Did you try unplugging the battery and draining it by pumping the brakes?

No, I'm currently at the stealership :(

Sorry to hear. Hope you get that taken care quick. Do you remember doing anything different when you parked the car before the issue?

Well, now I am having the same issue! I went to work, parked it, and when I was leaving afterwards would push the start button and nothing. It would show up with the little yellow key light, stay in the locked position and not turn over or act like it wanted to turn over. At first I thought maybe it was a dead battery, but the headlights work and all other lights work, just acts dead when trying to start. So I suppose I will be calling Nissan tmw to get it towed and brought in for maintenance.

Luckily it is still under warranty since I just bought it certified used from a dealer about 4 months ago, just sucks that something like this has happened so soon. My wife can tell i'm super upset because I am quiet.... Hopefully it doesnt take a week or longer to fix, and hopefully I get a half decent loaner...

so did you try resetting the ecu by undoing the ground and pumping the brakes?

No, I started to get frustrated so instead of getting upset I choose to walk away and try to just sleep on it. Tmw when I go into work, before I call the dealership I will try that to see if it fixes it. Thanks for the pointer, any others that people have that I can try I'm open to anything.

yah, try unplugging the IPDM module in the engine bay, tap it around little bit and plug it back in. ive read in some nissans it had gunk in there and the relay seized up or something. not sure if it helps on this car or not but worth a try i guess.

you can download the service manual from this site to see where the IPDM module is located. it's on the passenger side in the engine bay.

GL!

Question, when this happens does it prevent you from using the actual key as well? If it doesn't you could at least drive it to the dealership instead of getting it towed.

Actual key?

I thought i saw a spot you could use the regular key that is in the fob. Went out to look and feel like an idiot now.

weezal- any luck this am?

Actually, none at all, still doing the same thing. I played with the IPDM and reset the ECU and it is still doing the same thing. So called the Nissan Dealership and since I have it under warranty, I am currently waiting for the tow truck to get here and bring it to them. I just hope they can fix it relatively quickly and they do not stick me with a Geo Metro loaner... But, thanks for the advice anyways.

^^ thats sucks. :( GL with the repair. :tup:

and LOL @ Geo-Metro. haven't seen those in a long time. :icon17:

Steering lock solenoid - 2009 Z with 38K
 

(2009) with 38K miles.
Car was flatbeded to the dealership for $121 dollars.
I was told it was the "Steerling Lock Solenoid" - He says he hopes that's the problem.. (sounds like a part changer dealership - 1st time there).
The service manager has to order the part. 5 Days Nice weather, no Z!!!

I saw the yellow key light on the left come on.. I could do nothing
Push Button was in the "LOCK" postion.
I unplugged the battery for a few hoping that would help but no luck there.

I'll report back. This Part needs to be recalled by Nissan!!!The service manager said he has seen it alot on the Altimas and Maximas with this problem.
Anyhow my nice shiny yellow Z went away :hello: on the back of a flat bed..

Folllow Up - I hope this helps any fellow Z owners!!!
 

Well after waiting 2 weeks for a back orded part from Nissan and the typical part changing service dept.
the dealer was able to locate the back ordered part from another dealer.

This is how it went down for anyony else who comes across this....
Reprogrammed both key fobs - (Not The Problem)

Problem Part --> Turns out to be the "Steering Lock Assembly"Part# 48700-jf00d Priced from $542. - $622.
So I go hit with $887 Bill.. (2 Hours Labor, $622 Part + Tax)
12 Mo./12K Mile Warranty on parts and labor on the repair.

I think the dealer was fair for this repair. But for the love of repair service
you can get a Hip replacement in 5 hours!!!! 2 weeks just sucks!

They need to recall this part. - It happens on to many models.

I hope this helps any fellow Z owners!!!

i think the solenoid is part of the steering lock assy...

glad you got your car back. :tup: thanks on the pn for the 48700-JF00D. :)