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

kenchan · 07-31-2012, 09:16 PM

chidz- it appears to be common people have this problem when the battery charge is low. it could be the steering lock causing a short/drain. when you push your start button, do you hear a windup sound coming from the steering column? If so that's your steering lock working. then when you shut off your car and open the door, you will hear the same windup noise again.

if you dont hear this, it's possible your steering lock has shorted. try unplugging it, tap it a few times, and plugging it back in. if it does come back, you might want to cut the brown wire on the harness (while the car is in ACC), or remove the steering lock fuse (while car is in ACC). check fritz's DIY for cutting the wire or Baer/Daisuke's DIY for fuse removal. GL

Thechidz · 08-01-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

chidz- it appears to be common people have this problem when the battery charge is low. it could be the steering lock causing a short/drain. when you push your start button, do you hear a windup sound coming from the steering column? If so that's your steering lock working. then when you shut off your car and open the door, you will hear the same windup noise again.

if you dont hear this, it's possible your steering lock has shorted. try unplugging it, tap it a few times, and plugging it back in. if it does come back, you might want to cut the brown wire on the harness (while the car is in ACC), or remove the steering lock fuse (while car is in ACC). check fritz's DIY for cutting the wire or Baer/Daisuke's DIY for fuse removal. GL

I can't even open the doors now

I'll have to have it towed into koeppel on friday. Is my car just completely effed up or what? if it's the steering lock this is like $10k in warranty repairs combined with the nav

wstar · 08-01-2012, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thechidz

I can't even open the doors now

Extract the manual key from the fob, and use it to unlock the doors. The automatic window rolling thing doesn't matter for opening, it only matters for closing (so if the battery's so dead that the windows don't pop down a hair, don't slam them closed after!).

Are you sure it's not just a bad battery?

Thechidz · 08-01-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Extract the manual key from the fob, and use it to unlock the doors. The automatic window rolling thing doesn't matter for opening, it only matters for closing (so if the battery's so dead that the windows don't pop down a hair, don't slam them closed after!).

Are you sure it's not just a bad battery?

At this point im not sure about anything. Im already at $5500 in parts for the new navi. If its a huge electrical issue i want them to lemon the car because thats total bogus? Talked to joe here on the forums and koeppel is taking care of me. Im towing it in on friday

MelloYello · 10-10-2012, 07:30 PM

Hey guys, looks like I am the latest victim of this issue. I had the car towed to the dealer and they called me today to let me know it is, in fact, the steering lock and the total is $1,245! I read the DIY on the first page and most of the pages in this thread. Maybe I'm missing something, but I do not see any photos in the DIY, but the write up makes it sound like they were there at one time. I have looked under the steering column and see the unit. I tried the temporary techniques, but none worked. I'm fairly handy, but don't want to tow the car to my house to find out I can't get this thing out and get the new one in. If I can buy one online for ~$600, it appears I can save $650. How many of you have done this yourselves and is it really an easy 15 minute job? Any pics or advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

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07-31-2012, 09:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	chidz- it appears to be common people have this problem when the battery charge is low. it could be the steering lock causing a short/drain. when you push your start button, do you hear a windup sound coming from the steering column? If so that's your steering lock working. then when you shut off your car and open the door, you will hear the same windup noise again. if you dont hear this, it's possible your steering lock has shorted. try unplugging it, tap it a few times, and plugging it back in. if it does come back, you might want to cut the brown wire on the harness (while the car is in ACC), or remove the steering lock fuse (while car is in ACC). check fritz's DIY for cutting the wire or Baer/Daisuke's DIY for fuse removal. GL

10-10-2012, 07:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
MelloYello Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 23 Drives: 09 370Z CY M6 Rep Power: 15	Hey guys, looks like I am the latest victim of this issue. I had the car towed to the dealer and they called me today to let me know it is, in fact, the steering lock and the total is $1,245! I read the DIY on the first page and most of the pages in this thread. Maybe I'm missing something, but I do not see any photos in the DIY, but the write up makes it sound like they were there at one time. I have looked under the steering column and see the unit. I tried the temporary techniques, but none worked. I'm fairly handy, but don't want to tow the car to my house to find out I can't get this thing out and get the new one in. If I can buy one online for ~$600, it appears I can save $650. How many of you have done this yourselves and is it really an easy 15 minute job? Any pics or advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks!