Horrible experience...!!!

SPOHN · 01-25-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

hummm... is it just the lock to be replaced? is it easy to replace this steering lock?

i'd keep one in the car just in case if it's easy to replace with basic tools. i have some tools all the time in my cars (breaker bar, basic wrench sizes, basic sockets, screw drivers, can opener, skillet, ladle, etc.

)

That might work when it's outside of warranty. Who knows what it cost. Then you can write up DIY thread.

sucasa · 01-25-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spitfire9200

your posts still amaze me sometimes.

op - glad u got it fixed. I'm in Arlington and go to Passport too, they're good people.

+1 for Passport.. Bought my car here this past month and plan to get it serviced here as well.

zrider · 01-25-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

Might be a long shot. But do they pay to have it towed to the dealer?

I had bought extended warranty and with that comes 24/7 roadside assistance and I just used that.

zrider · 01-25-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sucasa

+1 for Passport.. Bought my car here this past month and plan to get it serviced here as well.

I dont know, I have mixed feelings about them. Some of the guys are cool but others just talk out of their a$$. They wouldnt do my oil change because the guy said only Nissan Ester goes in. I just shook my head and said thats not true and left because i didnt want to waste time arguing with the guy haha

.

SiXK · 01-25-2011, 01:36 PM

Yes, same issue happened to me last week. Ignition would not even progress to accessory. Only thing it would do is flash that "Key" warning light. Owners manual states car "may be impossible to start."

It happened to me late at night, not at home. Next day I had to flatbed it to dealership.

Apparently they don't make a habit of stocking the "steering wheel lock unit."

Five days later I got my car back. My dealership does not do loaners. Nissan's rental coverage is limited, I opted against it.

It happened without warning. It could happen to you anytime you stop the car. The unit failed without locking the steering. The dealership could not tell me if the new part was the same or different than the one it replaced. My hope is they know why it failed and fixed the issues with the lock unit.

It was a real pain in the ***. If they are going to replace something that works fine - like a real key - then don't replace it with a flaky system that leaves the car susceptible to a single point of failure like a steering wheel lock unit!

ChrisSlicks · 01-25-2011, 02:33 PM

Corvette's have a huge problem with this as well. Chevy has yet to come up with a 100% solution, but the after market created a solution called the steering lock bypass (or CLB). If there was a way to completely disable the steering lock I'd be down for that.

kenchan · 01-25-2011, 02:44 PM

CLB sounds like a great idea. in for group-buy.

dudafunk · 01-25-2011, 03:33 PM

Subscribed as I'm getting an after market alarm installed soon, and if I run into this issue I'm guessing the warranty will be void because of the alarm install?

SoCal 370Z · 01-25-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudafunk

Subscribed as I'm getting an after market alarm installed soon, and if I run into this issue I'm guessing the warranty will be void because of the alarm install?

How so? Dealerships' add their own aftermarket alarms too. It seems this lock-up is becoming an issue that Nissan needs to address and fix. If the part(s) that fails is Nissan's they would not be able to void your warranty for an aftermarket alarm. I think what owners' need to really worry about is the out-of-warranty costs of fixing this system as this will likely prove quite expensive:

towing charges
diagnostics charges
part(s) charges
removal and installation charges

Something to consider as a prospective buyer of both a new or used 370Z.

kenchan · 01-25-2011, 04:16 PM

so how does this steering lock interact with the immobilizer? almost sounds like the lock fails resulting in an open circuit (solenoid burnt out). if there is some resistance while bypassing this lock the immobilizer 'thinks' the lock is operating? bypassing this circuit would be like a SRS trick resistor?

no idea

dwntwnall4u · 01-25-2011, 09:15 PM

This issue really sucks. Fine they replace the steering lock unit but I assume the replacement will eventually fail again too.

CrownR426 · 01-25-2011, 10:48 PM

I think the 09 owners should check this out before it happens.
My whole day was ruined waiting for the tow company that was 1 hour late. ETA was 50 minutes...

zrider · 01-25-2011, 11:56 PM

i had no idea that there were so many people with this problem. sucks

SiXK · 01-26-2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

... but the after market created a solution called the steering lock bypass (or CLB). If there was a way to completely disable the steering lock I'd be down for that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

CLB sounds like a great idea. in for group-buy.

This would be great.

dudafunk · 01-26-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal 370Z

How so? Dealerships' add their own aftermarket alarms too. It seems this lock-up is becoming an issue that Nissan needs to address and fix. If the part(s) that fails is Nissan's they would not be able to void your warranty for an aftermarket alarm. I think what owners' need to really worry about is the out-of-warranty costs of fixing this system as this will likely prove quite expensive:

towing charges
diagnostics charges
part(s) charges
removal and installation charges

Something to consider as a prospective buyer of both a new or used 370Z.

With the Viper alarms etc., don't you need an 'immobilizer'... (I'm not too well versed but have the exact model numbers, but I'm sure you guys are familiar), don't these relate to the things that are going bad here?

01-25-2011, 01:36 PM	#50 (permalink)
SiXK Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 352 Drives: 09 370Z / 91 300ZXTT Rep Power: 185	Yes, same issue happened to me last week. Ignition would not even progress to accessory. Only thing it would do is flash that "Key" warning light. Owners manual states car "may be impossible to start." It happened to me late at night, not at home. Next day I had to flatbed it to dealership. Apparently they don't make a habit of stocking the "steering wheel lock unit." Five days later I got my car back. My dealership does not do loaners. Nissan's rental coverage is limited, I opted against it. It happened without warning. It could happen to you anytime you stop the car. The unit failed without locking the steering. The dealership could not tell me if the new part was the same or different than the one it replaced. My hope is they know why it failed and fixed the issues with the lock unit. It was a real pain in the **. If they are going to replace something that works fine - like a real key - then don't replace it with a flaky system that leaves the car susceptible to a single point of failure like a steering wheel lock unit*! __________________ Magnetic Black 2009 370Z / Pearl Yellow 1991 300ZXTT

01-25-2011, 02:33 PM	#51 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Corvette's have a huge problem with this as well. Chevy has yet to come up with a 100% solution, but the after market created a solution called the steering lock bypass (or CLB). If there was a way to completely disable the steering lock I'd be down for that. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

01-25-2011, 09:15 PM	#56 (permalink)
dwntwnall4u Base Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Diego/ Hawaii Posts: 158 Drives: 2011 370Z AT,S,T,PW Rep Power: 15	This issue really sucks. Fine they replace the steering lock unit but I assume the replacement will eventually fail again too. __________________ Working my *ss off for a GTM Rotrex SC to go with my 2006 URD Rotrex SC 4x4 Tacoma.

01-25-2011, 10:48 PM	#57 (permalink)
CrownR426 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Korea Posts: 4,676 Drives: Manual Rep Power: 848	I think the 09 owners should check this out before it happens. My whole day was ruined waiting for the tow company that was 1 hour late. ETA was 50 minutes... __________________ Love + Hardwork + Passion RIP SVTRacer

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01-25-2011, 02:44 PM	#52 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	CLB sounds like a great idea. in for group-buy.

01-25-2011, 03:33 PM	#53 (permalink)
dudafunk Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 421 Drives: '09 370z Base Red AT Rep Power: 16	Subscribed as I'm getting an after market alarm installed soon, and if I run into this issue I'm guessing the warranty will be void because of the alarm install?

01-25-2011, 04:16 PM	#55 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	so how does this steering lock interact with the immobilizer? almost sounds like the lock fails resulting in an open circuit (solenoid burnt out). if there is some resistance while bypassing this lock the immobilizer 'thinks' the lock is operating? bypassing this circuit would be like a SRS trick resistor? no idea

01-25-2011, 11:56 PM	#58 (permalink)
zrider Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 175 Drives: 2009 370z Black M/T Rep Power: 16	i had no idea that there were so many people with this problem. sucks