Steering Lock Module, Yellow Key Light *FIXED*
 

First and foremost, HUGE thank you to everyone on this forum and the YT videos I have seen for help. Just wanted to add this post to help anyone like myself in the future....

So...If your dash has the yellow key light coming on and off for the past few weeks… you could be experiencing the Steering Lock Module failing... Here were my initial remedies & observations....

#1. New battery in key fobs
#2. New battery, cleaned terminals, Only using warm water...
#3. Car starts fine, no lag, no clicking, no issues.
#4. Put the key fob in the holder, left side dash.
#5. LIGHT WAS STILL ON....

In short my car had the YELLOW KEY LIGHT on for a month or so and then it finally died/wouldn't start up.

*FIXED IT*... So to anyone that runs into this issue, if your car is starting and running fine but that key light is on do your self a favor and take out the steering lock fuse 10A in your engine fuse box. It's the STEERING LOCK MODULE, A recall was issued in March 2013 for 09'-11 models. I called Nissan Consumer Affairs and they said they couldn't help that the recall had been closed... �� Called Nissan was quoted about $1200-1500 dollars. So I started googling fixes...

I had to hit the steering module (Silver Box under the steering wheel & WITHOUT TAKING DASH OR ANYTHING OFF) under the steering wheel with a rubber hammer a few times while pressing the push to start button multiple times, my car went into ACC/ON mode.. (was not running/started) WITH THE CAR STILL IN ACC/ON... I took out the fuse and turned my car off. Went to restart my car and NOTHING... :(

So I hit the module again a few times, got it back to ACC/ON and held the brake and held the start button for like 2-3 seconds.... and VIOLA'!!!

STARTED UP... However... the light was still on... (turned my car on and off about 5X's to see if it would die/lock again and it did not, but the light stayed on) so after a bit more digging... someone on the Z forum said they did the same thing and the light stayed on and their car died a month later... Someone commented their battery was the issue... So I took CRC Battery Cleaner and CRC Battery Protectant with a wire brush tool, to clean the terminals and the clamps etc... Went in to my car... LIGHT WAS OFF and STARTED UP FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE... Fingers crossed this is the final time I will have to deal with this... Hope this helps and shoutout to you all and others for the help and suggestions. I am super grateful!! Blessings. I truly think the combo of the fuse and cleaning the battery did the trick. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! :driving:

Just updating this thread, my car has once again seized and stopped working. This is AFTER the fuse removal technique... I am lost on what to do now, I WILL NOT take my care to the stealership.

How do I alleviate this issue? Can the module just be unplugged or removed completely?

*SOLUTION* Hope this helps someone out there who has this problem. So be aware, this is AFTER I did the fuse removal technique months ago that originally fixed my issue, the WEIRD part is HOW did the lock module/actuator turn back on if the fuse was out... EITHER way.. its FIXED!

STEPS:

#1. With the car off... put the 10amp fuse back into the designated spot for the Steering Lock engine fuse.
#2. Start your car using the pin/ground method.
#3. While car is still on, take the fuse back OUT of the engine bay fuse panel.
#4. Turn off car
#5. Start the car a few times just to make sure it will not go back into the LOCK/LIMP/SEIZE/ mode.

Just drove it home, all is well... if this happens to me again, I will simply follow these steps. I know down the road buying a emulator/bypass kit for this part will be ideal... Haven't tried to cut the BROWN wire that some speak of... Hope this helps!!

Much love Z family, Happy Holidays!!