Check this out:

http://www.the370z.com/parts-sale-pr...s-harness.html

Subbed.

Remove the pause when starting by removing the clutch switch and cleaning the contacts with emery paper or a jewellers file. Reassemble the switch, reinstall and you're good to go! No more pause...

Link to the thread below.

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ring-lock.html

Hate to bring up an old post. But any ideas why the wheel would still lock after I pull the fuse?

make sure the ignition is on and the wheel is UNLOCKED before you pull the fuse....

It's too late to pull the fuse if SLU failed already. You should do it when everything is working. Just have the car tow to dealership have them replaced. It should be free.

Everything still works. I pulled the fuse with the ignition on but I think it may have been on and not acc. I'll have to put it back in and try again. I'm just baffled how it still locks with the fuse pulled. I would have thought it would be stuck locked if I screwed it up

If the steering wheel is still locking and unlocking then you pulled the wrong fuse.

hey all! really hope you guys can help me out here. was leaving for class and then found out my z won't start. intelligent signal came on. pushed the clutch and tried to start it but it stays in "lock". is this the steering lock issue that i just found out about today after this experience. saw a video on a solution by removing the fuse but i am not sure if that's what i should do. any guidance would be greatly appreciated! thank you!

Sounds like the steering lock (ESCL in Nissanese but commonly SLU) or the clutch switch. There are many DIYs on how to identify and fix each one. If you can't find what you need using search (I suggest using Google and putting "site:the370z.com " in front of your search terms), holler back.

still could not get it to start. tried the fuse removal solution but to no avail. called the dealer and will have it towed tomorrow morning. dealer said that there's a recall for escl so hopefully that's the issue so i don't have spend to have it fixed. sigh........downer.....

The fuse removal is only preventative. It must be removed with the ESCL in the unlocked position.

If it is indeed the ESCL, the dealer should cover everything including the tow. Don't let them make you pay a dime for it. I recommend that you remove the fuse as soon as you have the new one in (the latest rev has documented failures as well).

If it's not the ESCL, it is most likely the clutch switch. It's a pretty easy DIY to clean or replace it, or at least, it shouldn't be too expensive even if the dealer does the work.

I had this issue this morning , found this thing but i have something defferent , my steering wheel is not locked !!!
Its pretty heave but i still can turn it all the way !!

Is it possible that my steering lock was disabled BEFORE i switch off the car and stayed that way ?!
And it wont start because its disabled ( and unlocked ) ??

Pls help , and the dealer in saudi arabia don't know s**t about the Z !!

does the steering make metal to metal noise when you turn the steering wheel?

there's only open or closed condition on the lock. if yours is stuck in the open condition, then the steering should feel the same as usual. unless its partially closed and dragging the column internal.

It sounds just as normal as if im driving , would the fuse trick work ?

Have you checked the Clutch switch?

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ring-lock.html

yes, as long as your steering lock is in the unlock state, it should work.

i suggest you look at daisuke/baer DIY section on the fuse pull. you have to pull the fuse while the car is ON and in the unlocked state.

I found a video on youtube that explains the whole thing with pics , type 370z steering lock and it should be very easy for everyone

Thank you soo much :tup:

But if your steering wheel is turning and the car won't start, it is most likely the clutch switch that is not making proper internal contact....

but the clutch switch problem case the car should be asking me to depress the clutch even if i does depress it , not showing the key light !!

right ?!

translation please?

Right. :tup:

If it's showing the key light, maybe your batteries in the FOB are going. Try inserting the key into the fobgina and then see if if it will start. My answer is only based off of what I THINK you were talking about. It was hard to understand your comment.

bare with me guys i'm arabic :ugh2:

what i meant is ..

in case of the clutch switch , the car should be showing ( clutch ) on the screen instead of the key light and i should be able to get the start button to ACC at least !!

and i just changed the batteries and it did not fix the problem + i tried disconnecting my car battery for 10 min and it didn't work too !

my best hope is that the lock was disabled while its unlocked and the fuse trick would work , or i will tow to dealer :icon14:

JUST tried removing the fuse , won't start @:

1) Correct: if the clutch switch was the cause, you would be able to cycle through ACC and off but just no starting.
2) If you have put the key in the slot and it won't start, it is NOT your key battery
3) If you can turn your steering wheel side to side, YOU ARE NOT in steering lock and the switch is not activated. Pulling the fuse will stop the car from locking the steering in the future only, but will not allow you to start the car just because you pulled the fuse.

It sounds like your condition is somewhat unique in that you can turn your steering wheel and still not start the car even after resetting the ECU with the battery disconnected.

You MAY be forced to have the dealer run diagnostics on this one.... sorry

PS: Your english is better than my Arabic. Thank you!

Sounds like the ESCL to me. The steering wheel can be physically unlocked but the switches inside the ESCL/SLU aren't being actuated. Try bumping the ESCL with your hand/fist/hammer until the switches change state and allow you to start the car. THEN pull the fuse.

Thank you guys i will take it to the dealer tomorrow and will pull the fuse once it's running

wheee! : thank you sir for your help

SouthArk . I tried this one , no luck

I wouldn't hesitate to try it a few more times before you take it in tomorrow. If I recall correctly, there are a few people that were successful at banging on the steering column while pushing the start button trying to get the car to turn on (btw... for the steering lock fuse removal, the car does not have to be running - just get it in the ON or ACC mode). At least one commented that it took a pretty good whack before the method finally worked.

Mine failed on Monday. My fault since I ignored the recall notice. Anyway, Nissan paid for the tow and the fix. I'll pull the fuse now. Thanks for the writeup.

just took the car from the dealer , took total of 600$
+ the idiots had another 370z that was parked for 2 weeks and they had no idea that the steering lock was the problem , they tried it after i suggested and it worked!!


will pull the fuse soon


thank you guys for your help

Steering lock problem solved (for real)
 

Nice work!! :tup:

2weeks?!? Stupid dealer :bowrofl:

Edit: I hope you didn't pay the $600. The dealer/Nissan should eat every penny.

I bought a 2009 370z MT (touring w/ sport) with 22,000 miles about a month ago. I read this forum a lot before buying. One of the very first things I did when I bought the car was pull the steering lock fuse to prevent the issue.

I was driving my car tonight and the Intelligent Key Light came on. I'm not sure if it was on from the moment I started my car or came on while I was driving (if that is even possible)? However, it comes on now every time I get in my car or start it up (and stays on). I've messed around with it tonight and the car turns on every time without delay. But, I'm scared now it might not start at any given moment and I'll be stranded...

Some things to note: The steering wheel does not lock, when I turn the wheels with the car turned off, so I believe I pulled the right fuse. I have tried my spare key, the light is still on. I have also tried putting both keys in the fob 'slot', the light remains on.

Is it possible the steering lock has failed, but without the fuse the car will continue to work? Or do you guys think this is just something else other than the steering lock? I plan on taking it into the dealer tomorrow to see what their computer says... But from reading this forum, I'm not even sure I'd want the new SLU rev d... I just hate having the Intelligent Key light on when I drive.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Might be the battery getting low in the key fob.

I tested both keys, and the light still came on for both. I guess both keys are probably on the original batteries (which would be 4 years old) and could both be low...seems unlikely though both would have the issue. If the key batteries were low would the light go out if the keys were in the fob slot?

Tried to pull the fuse last weekend and couldn't get the fuse box open. I barely got the box pulled up past the battery due to the wiring, and that made me a little over-cautious...but that f'er acted like it was glued. I didn't want to break the thing, so I gave up for the time being. Looked easy enough to pop open but it just wouldn't budge much. Thinking about clipping the wire and being done with it if I can squeeze up under there.

The wiring bundle on the bottom of the fuse box (IPDM in Nissanese) can get hung on the bottom of the bracket that holds the IPDM. Reach under the IPDM and guide the bundle past the bottom of the bracket while pulling up on the IPDM. If you have big arms, you may be able to use a dowel or similar to guide the bundle away from the bracket. Good luck.

Steering lock problem solved (for real)
 

Did you wait until the engine bay gets cooled down? Try to wiggle the box, it's a bit heavy at first but once you get some movement, keep on pulling. Good luck!

Notice the large cable bundle

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...81270421_n.jpg