Steering wheel lock issue or something else
 

First post in a long time, but been lurking for a while now. I've got a 2011, and this afternoon my car wouldn't start. All signs point to the steering wheel lock (key light is on and won't go into ACC), but I'm still able to turn the wheel completely (confirmed by me and the tow truck driver pushing the car down 4 floors of parking garage). Since the steering wheel turns, does that point to another issue besides the steering wheel lock? The steering wheel lock module is there (just stating because I read that there may be no module after March 2011), and it's a rev C.

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Sounds like the ESCL. The locking pin has retracted enough to unlock the steering column but not enough to make the switches. Banging on the ESCL will often temporarily fix things.

Once you get it working or replaced, PULL THE FUSE.

does it sense that you're depressing the clutch all the way? sometimes the car won't start even if it's a centimeter off the floor

I tried banging crap out of it with a flashlight (didn't have a rubber mallet), but still couldn't get it going. I'll try again tomorrow morning now that I've got the car towed where I have access to the mallet.

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It's a 7AT

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Never mind.

SouthArk seems to be on the right track.

It could possibly be the brake switch - a few people have taken it apart to clean the contacts in it and got it working again. Or replacing it isn't too costly, assuming that's the issue.


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I had the same condition, steering wheel could move but the car did nothing when I pushed the start button. I unplugged the steering lock unit for about 30 seconds, plugged it back in, hit the start button (foot off brake) and I heard the steering lock disengage.

Thanks for all the responses! I finally got to work on it today, but still no luck. Did some of the obvious, disconnected the battery, unplugged the ESCL, checked the fuse. And while doing this, at some point must have pressed on the door unlock button for too long while the fob was in my pocket and now my windows are stuck rolled down and the car is outside :(

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keep playing with door switch and keep tring roll windows up I had same issue , and I would put key in fob holder and close door and window finally whent up but it would keep doing it I could repeat getting them to go up by playing with putting key in fob holder and closing the door

If the locking pin is retracted, but the switches aren't working properly, and I want to take the ESCL apart, is there anything that you know of that can be done with the switches? I saw some stuff about soldering wires across the board (this was on an Altima ESCL), but not sure I want to attempt that. If the switches just need to work long enough to get it to ACC so I can pull the fuse, that would be ideal.

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