DIY: Replace dreaded steering-lock on 2009s and early 2010s.

ffarmand · 12-19-2012, 07:12 PM

Thx kenchan, you're been most helpful. I got a friend to order it from Nissan for ~$550, in stock. Not bad. Going to look closer at your DIY and give it a shot...

On a side note, my dealer's service dept told me Courtesy Nissan - being a 3rd party dealer - doesn't sell OEM parts and that Nissan does not back them up, this is after quoting me $1200 to fix mine... I was going to get the part from Courtesy anyway before my friend offered to get it for me locally, RevD that is.

I'm a little disappointed overall with my 370Z, 3 weeks ago my clutch/master slave cylinder gave out after one tract day... Again my dealer wanted to charge me ~$900 to fix it. Thanks to you guys on this forum; I just bled it and its been fine since...

I got this car this past summer b/c I just wanted a reliable, but at the same time fun car for daily driving/work, but it has let me down more than I expected... Hoping nothing else breaks down on it randomly.

kenchan · 12-19-2012, 08:38 PM

your dealer is lying to you. courtesyparts is an online store of an actual nissan dealer (like your dealer) called courtesy nissan and they sell genuine nissan oem parts. i know cause im a pretty regular customer of theirs.

Courtesy Nissan - Nissan Dallas - Nissan McKinney - Nissan Mesquite - Nissan Lewisville - Nissan Plano - Texas, TX

im not sure if nissanpartzone is an actual dealer or not, but ive bought maintenance parts from them in the past and they too sell genuine nissan parts.

dont listen to everything your dealer says. they're out to make money from service and they will charge you an arm and a leg for a 15min job. you can source your own metric screws too with standard philips or hex head.

no need to use the security screws.

just take one of the security screws off while you wait for your steering lock to arrive.. bring the screw to your local acehardware and just find the same thread and pitch, length.

sorry to hear about the other problems. in general the Z is a very reliable car.

Speedguy07 · 12-27-2012, 08:04 AM

So i tapped my steering lock car works now no way to explain to the dealer that its not working if i cant prove it. Should i just order the new revision since i have an 09 with 37k miles and its probably not covered under warranty?Also how long does the tapping fix last anyone test that lol.

Baer383 · 12-27-2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedguy07

So i tapped my steering lock car works now no way to explain to the dealer that its not working if i cant prove it. Should i just order the new revision since i have an 09 with 37k miles and its probably not covered under warranty?Also how long does the tapping fix last anyone test that lol.

Pull the fuse or cut the brown wire with the lock in the unlock position and be done with it ,money out of pocket

Speedguy07 · 12-27-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baer383

Pull the fuse or cut the brown wire with the lock in the unlock position and be done with it ,money out of pocket

I just read your fix thread thanks i think you just saved me 500 bucks and alot of headache lol i havnt drove my Z for a week!

Baer383 · 12-27-2012, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedguy07

I just read your fix thread thanks i think you just saved me 500 bucks and alot of headache lol i havnt drove my Z for a week!

That's cool this New Years have a drink for me.

SouthArk370Z · 12-27-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedguy07

I just read your fix thread thanks i think you just saved me 500 bucks and alot of headache lol i havnt drove my Z for a week!

If that's not worth a rep, I don't know what is.

molamann · 01-04-2013, 11:24 PM

Am I screwed having to buy another steering column lock if my steering wheel is locked and my ingition switched stuck at "locked"?

Baer383 · 01-04-2013, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molamann

Am I screwed having to buy another steering column lock if my steering wheel is locked and my ingition switched stuck at "locked"?

Yes , but I would try banging on it with a hammer and turning the key on.

molamann · 01-05-2013, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baer383

Yes , but I would try banging on it with a hammer and turning the key on.

While it is still installed? If it does work, should I remove the fuse right away? Thanks.

34ST · 01-08-2013, 06:33 PM

Which (where?) fuse should I remove?

Stosh Rickles · 01-14-2013, 07:55 PM

I've spent 4 hours today reading about this topic, and maybe I'm just getting dizzy, but I don't think anyone yet has provided a DIY for removing a locked SLU. Everyone says you have to take it to the dealer if you can't get it to unlock.

That's where I'm still confused: obviously the dealer does "something" to swap out the locked part with the new SLU. What is that "something", and why can't we do it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by molamann

Am I screwed having to buy another steering column lock if my steering wheel is locked and my ingition switched stuck at "locked"?

SouthArk370Z · 01-14-2013, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stosh Rickles

I've spent 4 hours today reading about this topic, and maybe I'm just getting dizzy, but I don't think anyone yet has provided a DIY for removing a locked SLU. Everyone says you have to take it to the dealer if you can't get it to unlock.

That's where I'm still confused: obviously the dealer does "something" to swap out the locked part with the new SLU. What is that "something", and why can't we do it?

The procedure is the same for physically removing the SLU whether it has the steering wheel locked or not.
If you can't get the SLU to unlock/make switches AND you can't replace the SLU yourself, then you have to take it to a dealer/mechanic.

Stosh Rickles · 01-14-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

The procedure is the same for physically removing the SLU whether it has the steering wheel locked or not.
If you can't get the SLU to unlock/make switches AND you can't replace the SLU yourself, then you have to take it to a dealer/mechanic.

Ah, so I was getting dizzy indeed... you can remove the SLU even if it's locked. Thanks SouthArk

Kamus · 01-19-2013, 06:53 PM

My SLU is unlocked, i can move the steering wheel.
What i need to know is, just how do i get my car to start? i removed the fuse hoping it would start, but no go.. then after i removed the fuse i unplugged the battery for a few minutes and still nothing.
So, i don't want to shell out 500 dollars for something that's gonna break down again anyway, and the steering wheel can be moved freely. What do i do to get the Z to start?

12-19-2012, 07:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
ffarmand Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: rancho cucamonga Posts: 19 Drives: 2009 370Z silver man Rep Power: 13	Thx kenchan, you're been most helpful. I got a friend to order it from Nissan for ~$550, in stock. Not bad. Going to look closer at your DIY and give it a shot... On a side note, my dealer's service dept told me Courtesy Nissan - being a 3rd party dealer - doesn't sell OEM parts and that Nissan does not back them up, this is after quoting me $1200 to fix mine... I was going to get the part from Courtesy anyway before my friend offered to get it for me locally, RevD that is. I'm a little disappointed overall with my 370Z, 3 weeks ago my clutch/master slave cylinder gave out after one tract day... Again my dealer wanted to charge me ~$900 to fix it. Thanks to you guys on this forum; I just bled it and its been fine since... I got this car this past summer b/c I just wanted a reliable, but at the same time fun car for daily driving/work, but it has let me down more than I expected... Hoping nothing else breaks down on it randomly. __________________ Dr. F Farmand Attending Hospitalist Physician Department of Internal Medicine

12-19-2012, 08:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	your dealer is lying to you. courtesyparts is an online store of an actual nissan dealer (like your dealer) called courtesy nissan and they sell genuine nissan oem parts. i know cause im a pretty regular customer of theirs. Courtesy Nissan - Nissan Dallas - Nissan McKinney - Nissan Mesquite - Nissan Lewisville - Nissan Plano - Texas, TX im not sure if nissanpartzone is an actual dealer or not, but ive bought maintenance parts from them in the past and they too sell genuine nissan parts. dont listen to everything your dealer says. they're out to make money from service and they will charge you an arm and a leg for a 15min job. you can source your own metric screws too with standard philips or hex head. no need to use the security screws. just take one of the security screws off while you wait for your steering lock to arrive.. bring the screw to your local acehardware and just find the same thread and pitch, length. sorry to hear about the other problems. in general the Z is a very reliable car. onzedge, SouthArk370Z and ffarmand like this.

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12-27-2012, 08:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Speedguy07 Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 29 Drives: 370 nismo! Rep Power: 14	So i tapped my steering lock car works now no way to explain to the dealer that its not working if i cant prove it. Should i just order the new revision since i have an 09 with 37k miles and its probably not covered under warranty?Also how long does the tapping fix last anyone test that lol.

01-04-2013, 11:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
molamann A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,666 Drives: 370Z with NAVVVVV Rep Power: 285	Am I screwed having to buy another steering column lock if my steering wheel is locked and my ingition switched stuck at "locked"?

01-08-2013, 06:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
34ST Base Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: California Posts: 49 Drives: 370Z 6M Rep Power: 13	Which (where?) fuse should I remove?

01-19-2013, 06:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kamus Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: El Paso Posts: 29 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	My SLU is unlocked, i can move the steering wheel. What i need to know is, just how do i get my car to start? i removed the fuse hoping it would start, but no go.. then after i removed the fuse i unplugged the battery for a few minutes and still nothing. So, i don't want to shell out 500 dollars for something that's gonna break down again anyway, and the steering wheel can be moved freely. What do i do to get the Z to start?