\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. It takes some time for the steering wheel to open. Can You Wrap a Leased Car? How Long Does A Brake Job Take? How do change side mirror on my smart forfour ? wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. References If the key will turn and start the vehicle, the wheel will unlock with the ignition cylinder. This article was co-authored by Hovig Manouchekian. You should still replace the key as soon as you can before it stops working. The cars are equipped with electronic steering column locks (ESCLs) that lock the steering wheels when the Altima and Maxima cars are parked and turned off. The contact was unable to start the vehicle. They don't think this qualifies. A vehicle with such a problem presents a danger both to you and other drivers on the road. Nissan says a manufacturing issue caused the ESCL to malfunction after the car had been turned off. The Exact Answer. Had an older Altima (2008) that the wheels would not return when making a turn. Their focus is on safety-related issues. Now I can go home and sleep. In almost all cases, you are unaware that the steering wheel has locked until you attempt to go forward. "Owner's Manual is like a parachuteonly works when opened.". For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Defective ESCL Locks the Steering Wheel - Nissan Problems In fact, it can happen while driving and catch drivers by surprise. So unless somebody has your car key they wont start it and for some cars even if they use underhand methods to ignite it, the wheel will stay locked. This issue is typically caused by a bad steering rack, either due to mechanical malfunction or being clogged with dirt. Very likely the steering thrust stored in the tires attempting to turn back is forcing excessive tension against the steering lock. After walking you through how to disengage the anti-theft device to unlock your Nissan steering wheel, well cover some other common causes for this problem., Then well even throw in some tips to help you save on. Genuine Nissan Parts - Authentic Catalog Part from The Factory (48700 How to Rotate Tires with One Jack? About 243,000 owners received good news when Nissan agreed to issue a ESCL service campaign for the 2009-2010 Altima, Altima Hybrid, and Maxima. To fix a locked steering wheel, put the key in the ignition and apply gentle but constant pressure in the direction you turn the key to start the vehicle. How to Fix an Ignition Key That Doesn't Turn, Ignition Switch Replacement: An Easy-To-Follow Guide, How to Reset a Traction Control Light (TCS), Car AC Not Working? Mechanic's Assistant: Does the steering wheel lock up while driving, while idling, or while parked? Hovig's knowledge and hard work have contributed to Funk Brothers Auto winning Angie's List Super Service Award for five consecutive years. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If you cant figure out why your Nissan steering wheel is locked, youve come to the right place. Keep in mind to turn it on every time you exit your vehicle. You can check out the power fluid reservoir under your vehicles hood. At this point, it would be reasonable to assume that you have a malfunctioning, Again, you never want to jump right to this conclusion, but a worn or damaged cylinder is a real possibility., Assuming youre parked at home and have some mechanical abilities, you may want to attempt to replace the cylinder yourself. If you have sufficient knowledge on how to do them by yourself, all you need is a DIY guide, otherwise you can consult a mechanic to undertake the repair for you. We can't officially recommend smacking or cutting up your car (tempting as it may be). Also, check the tumbler. The wheel will only move in 1 direction. Nissan will replace the ESCL with an electronic steering column box. Even with the fob present and working[1], the ESCL won't detect it and, therefore, won't release it's iron grip on the wheel. This simple car anti-theft system stops a good number of car thefts, remember to activate it all the time you get out of your car. Unlocking it will require using the ignition key in the same way you would when starting the vehicle. The last time it occurred was approximately July 20, 2008. Power Steering Not Working: Why This Happens and What to Do Older model don't know if they changed the design but hope this helps. You will need a replacement key if the key is too damaged to turn the ignition cylinder. The ignition too can lock up. A timeline of stories related to this problem. When you push the start button on your Nissan Altima, you may notice that the steering wheel is locked. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Its happened to all of us at least once. As a standard procedure, the only way to unlock the steering wheel should be by you inserting the cars key into the ignition keyhole and turning it on. 11 Complaints: 2003 Nissan Altima Steering Problems Brake light Nissan Altima stays on, what to do ? If the above method doesnt work, try jiggling your key in the ignition and/or taking it out about, . Its a basic part of your cars safety attributes. That's because a wide swath of Nissan vehicles have gas gauges that never read full even after filling up, stop working below 1/4 of a tank, or show a low fuel warning even when there's plenty of miles to go. Resist the temptation to wildly rock your wheel back and forththat can make the problem worse. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If you have an extra key, see if that will work to unlock the ignition. When I push the start button, nothing happens; when I press the lock, the steering wheel lock light illuminates. Both will move the wheel slightly when you pull in the right direction. How to turn on the air conditioning on a BMW 4 Series ? In 1996, the Sentra sedan is available in four variants: (Base) Sentra, XE, GXE, and GLE. Next time I purchase a car I definitely will be giving every dealership a visit and test driving everything before purchasing. "A snowy morning on my way to work, stopped at the convenience store, came back out and tried to start the car, a key light was flashing on the dash, brake was hard to press. 2009 Nissan Altima Steering Wheel Lock Failure: 467 Complaints The majority are from owners who intermittently cannot start their vehicles for no apparent reason. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Signup for free email alerts for your vehicle over at CarComplaints.com. Which direction do I pull to be precise? Problem with power steering system: Your power steering pump can get stuck or . The Most Important Thing You Need for Safe Winter Driving, According to Ice Road Truckers Star Alex Debogorski. While it's not a recall, as part of the "service campaign" Nissan has agreed to replce the originaly steering lock with a new electronic steering column box for free: The electronic steering column box will replace the ESCL assembly but will no longer lock the steering wheel when the car is parked and turned off. Leo561 said: I have a 2019 Nissan Altima that steering wheel locked up while I was driving. Reverse your motion when the disc is secured and pull the wheel downward. The extension bumped up the 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty to 72 months and unlimited miles. Use canned air to clean out the lock cylinder if this method worked. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. A transponder located in the remote controls the steering lock, which can be electrically controlled. If there is debris inside the ignition, it is possible that the key will not turn because the steering wheel will not turn. Try each key whether you have upwards of one for your car. Your aim should be to get off the road, out of traffic, as soon as you can. You cant turn the steering wheel because the Nissan engineers have designed it so that even if a car thief started your car without a key, they wouldnt be able to drive it off. 7 Reasons Why Your Car Shuts Off While Driving and What To Do, The Effective Ways to Use the Overdrive in Automatic Car.