Stranded
 

Hey guys. I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere right now but have a few of my local friends keeping me company while waiting for the tow truck. My certified pre-owned Z will not start. My steering wheel didn't lock when I turned the engine off so I can't even get the electronics to come on by pressing the start button briefly. Someone told me there is a toggle switch by the break pedal to reset it but I can't find anything. Any help locating this switch would help me so I can at least get my windows up before dropping it off at the dealship.

try disconnecting the battery never know.

i dont get wat you mean... :confused:

Put your key in the FOBGINA- Then try starting your car. The key gives your battery a little umph.

I was thinking the same thing.:rolleyes:

Where in LA are you?

:werd:

:wtf2:

:iagree: where, i'm down at the bottom of the state.

I had the same problem its a steering module I think.

If the steering "didn't" lock then the battery disconnect has a pretty good chance of working. If it is stuck in the locked position then you are basically SOL.

Wonder what happen' to OP? I'm sure wherever he's at, he has likely been reached mpby AAA by now, eh?

In for results of issue!

Everything is gravy. The dealership sent a tow truck my way last night about 80 miles out. I've asked around and I'm almost 100% sure that it is the steering wheel locking solenoid like quagmire87 says. After stopping the engine, the steering wheel didn't lock as it normally does and it wouldn't even let me go into accessory mode to put my windows up. I tried disconnecting the battery like Kellyefields recommended and also tried docking the key fob in the "FOBGINA" as NickTurnon put it. I'm already glad I purchased the extended warranty as I haven't even owned the damn thing for a month and I'm already having issues. Thanks for the advice guys. It looks like I'll be driving a Sentra for a little while.

David, I think we have a mutual friend, Jayson. My brother said he saw three of the sickest Z's the other day in BTR and I asked him if one of them had painted rims and he confirmed it. He also commented on how crazy slammed your ride is and on the negative camber. Props to you.

That's good I have a good warranty also 7 years 120,000 miles. It paid itself already. Good luck with everything it just sucks that you have to drive that grandma sentra lol.

werd. this can be a IPDM issue then? :confused:

the steering wheel lock issue is it will lock when engine turned off, and wont unlock on re-start attempt preventing the car from starting.

I just read about the IPDM issues and it is definitely a possibility. In my case, the steering wheel didn't lock when I stopped the car but it was still displaying "LOCK" by the start button when I tried to restart it. I'm waiting to hear back from the dealership.

when you guys run into either issue, try unlocking the steering column and abruptly move the steering up/down (bang on it at full up and bottom positions) to see if it would mechanically un-freeze the steering lock from its state.

it's wat edmunds did a while back on their GTR for their steering lock problem and for them it worked. i would still get that checked out though as it will most likely happen again.

http://www.the370z.com/southern-regi...siana-100.html

Post in here... we always meet up. If you are in the BR area, come hang out.

:iagree::iagree: check us out

I'll definitely come hang out some time after I get this issue sorted.

The dealer is feeding me BS telling me it was a loose battery connection and a failing battery. My battery gauge read > 14V the morning of this incident and I know for a fact that my connections were tight. My lights, horn, and door locks were fully functional too. As a result, they want me to pay $500 for towing less $150, $100 for misdiagnosing, and 75% of the cost of a new battery even though I've heard the battery is under warranty for up to 36k miles. What I don't understand is why they would even cover any of the towing if it was just a battery that they claim is not under warranty.

so they were able to start the car?

the battery guage when engine is running is only useful to see if your charging system is working or not.

this steering lock issue seems to occur more as the battery gets weaker on the 09's and some 10's (so far up to Oct09 build confirmed using old version steering lock RevB. old steering lock version + weaker battery = problem... it seems.),

What dearlership??

Price LeBlanc Nissan. It may have been the battery but that still wouldn't explain why ACC mode wouldn't even work when the lights would shine at full brightness. I've learned an expensive lesson: use Nissan's roadside assistance. The service department connected me with a local towing company instead of sending roadside assistance which ended up costing me $350 when it could have been free. Rough day. There goes alot of my Christmas shopping money =\

They said it started right up which I find hard to believe. It was absolutely dead Saturday. If the battery was failing it would be even less likely that it would start on this cold morning without skipping a beat.

sounds to me you have reason to find another dealership to take your business to. And I would make sure you let yours know that.

neurocache- send the bill to nissan usa and ask for reimbursement if your car is still under warranty.

What year is your Z?

I think he has an 09 Z.

Yah seems like the steering lock was temporary frozen. Moving it around (towing) seems to have disengaged from the error state. But this only means it can happen again.

Next time try the steering column trick noted above.