DIY: Steering Wheel Lock Failure FIX!
 

1) Locate fuse box by battery under battery surrounding cover
Attachment 82613

2) Take off battery surrounding cover
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3)Take off one last cover by battery near windshield
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4) Take out fuse box there are two clips on top of the fuse push both and pull up
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once you have gotten the fuse box out as far as you can you have to take the cover off, to take the cover off reach both hands to the bottom of the box feel for two big clips unclip them and take the cover off it will look like this on the inside…
Attachment 82617

5) The fuse is 10A on the lid of the box it will say 10A Steering wheel lock (DO NOT TAKE THE FUSE OUT YET)

6) Now go to the steering wheel with a rubber mallet or I took a screw driver and get under the steering wheel you are looking for the steering wheel lock it which looks like this
Attachment 82618

watch this video if you need help on locating it 2009 Nissan Won't Start - Steering Lock Failure - YouTube

7) Now that you have found it hit it three times not to hard with the rubber mallet or the handle part of the screwdriver and push the start button continue to do this till the car unseizes and goes in to acc mode. When you hit it you might see a small spark, that is okay don’t freak.

8)Once the car is in acc mode take out the fuse 10A (might need some pliers to take it out or tweezers) and put it all back then get in the car and start and your done! :icon17:

Good job! :tup:

Thank you!! I Had to learn this the hard way, my car seized from steering wheel lock failure on Christmas Eve and had a nice person on the Houston Z FB page help me through this process of fixing it my self. Figured I would pass on the help for anyone else that needs it =)

When your steering wheel lock fails far from your house and your car won't start, DO NOT panic, nothing to be perplexed about it. Simply open your trunk, find the tow hook, hold it hard as you can as if you are about the beat the $hit out of some rice cakes, locate the metal box under your steering wheel, and beat the living cr@p out of it. While you are hitting it, try to start the car at the same time. Once the car cranks, go home drive safely, proceed Hirrah's DIY. I just cut my brownie wire so I don't have to deal with this bs anymore lol

Thank goodness when the car froze up it was in the garage or else I would have panicked. I didn't even know steering wheel lock failure existed till it happened :/ Nissan didn't send me any recall letter. But yes beat the sh** out of that useless steering wheel lock and save ur self the hassle of taking it to the dealership and wasting your time, there hasn't been a new model of the steering wheel lock that hasn't had the failure in the end just pull the fuse.

is there a way to fix it if the car won't go into acc?

Beat on the ESCL with your fist or a soft-face hammer while trying to get the car to start. If you get it to start, don't turn it off until after you have pulled the fuse. I suggest having the IPDM pulled and ready for fuse extraction before you start beating on the ESCL.

This has worked for several people but not everyone.

PS: read the first post in this thread.

beating the tf out of the box, still not working :(

Going to try this method tomorrow. Mine seized up outside my parents house. Read everything in the owners manual, my fiance got in the car and held the unlock button on the key fob. Both windows rolled down and won't go back up. So now I have the car non-starting and with both windows down. Luckily I could push it into their garage. Glad I found this thread, cause my first call was going to be to the dealer. I will post my results. 2010 370Z Touring, 24k

Day z I sent u a message but really u just have to keep trying. Craigzter same thing happened to me my windows were completely down but luckily the car was at home in the garage, mine happened Christmas Eve so I was gonna be stuck for two weeks no help so I'm glad this thread has helped many ppl hope it works for u :)

:ughdance:Thank You Guys!!! Worked like a charm. Tapped lock and pulled fuze. Done and Done :happydance:

Awesome! Im glad it worked out for you =)

Great! You may want to call a dealer and see if your '10 falls under the TSB/recall (early-2010s qualify). Get a fresh one and you just need to put the fuse back in if you ever have need for the ESCL (eg, when selling).

Hmmmm, pull the fuse I wonder where that idea came from.;)

once upon time there was this guy named baer...