Won't Start! Won't Turn Over! Nothing! Like Dead Battery

[Elton Noway]

Yesterday my wife called me at work. "The Rogue won't start!" She said she turns the key but hears nothing but silence. No cranking sounds, no engine not turning over, no clicking sounds... no nothing. I immediately suspected a dead battery so I told her to try the headlights. She said they came on full bright. Hmmm... okay... now I'm thinking a loose battery cable etc. (Keep reading... the fix, solution follows below)

Anyway... I get home and it was just like she said. I turn the key and "nothing" happens. Dead Silence. The only indicator light that comes on, on the entire dashboard, is the "red key" symbol in the speedometer area. To rule out the easy stuff... I decided to eliminate the Intellikey system (keyfob) I removed the physical key from the keyfob, inserted the key into the ignition switch... turned it... same results. Nothing! At first I'm really bummed. This is a new car, its not supposed to be giving me problems already.

Before getting too serious with trouble shooting... I called the Nissan service department and described the symptoms. The guy knew what the problem was immediately! He said: "Your steering wheel is hard locked!" (Say what?) He said, "With the ignition on, try turning the steering wheel and you will find it will turn one way fairly easy but won't turn at all the other direction. He continued; "Continue turning the steering wheel in the direction that it turns easily... and at the same time keep trying the ignition switch. BINGO! The steering wheel clicked, all the dashboard lights came on and the car started.

So what caused this problem to happen in the first place? Our Rogue has "never" done this before. Well... last night, after pulling into the garage when I got out of the car I noticed the tire on the drivers side was turned to the far right. We have a small garage. It's already kind of tight walking between our two cars without having a tire protruding out into the walkway. So... (I was lazy)... rather than climb into the car and start it so I could straighten the wheel I simply opened the door, (ignition off) grabbed the wheel and gave it a good hard turn, enough to move the tire out of the walkway. (Note to self: "Don't ever do that again")

Basically I put the steering wheel into a hard lock condition. (i.e., well past where it was when it locked when the car was turned off.) He said they get the same panic phone call several times a week. Now that I think about it, it seems rather obvious... DUH! ... but my "left brain" kicked in! I immediately started thinking about all electronics, computer circuits, fuses etc. that could be causing the symptoms without ever trying to turn the wheel.

This may be obvious to many of you... but just in case someone comes searching this forum for the symptoms / solution... I thought I would share the experience.

[Pescakl1]

It is a safety feature in case someone tries to steal your car (without the ignition key): First time they turn the wheels, the steering wheel locks and he cannot go anywhere.

It is a common feature in Europe, is it not in North America?
Thought it is a worldwide feature.

[kerrton]

Regardless, thank you Elton for taking the time to post your experience and a solution. This could help someone avoid the stress, anger, inconvenience/time lost and cost of a tow to the dealer unnessesarily. Thank you!

[Elton Noway]

It is a safety feature in case someone tries to steal your car (without the ignition key): First time they turn the wheels, the steering wheel locks and he cannot go anywhere.

It is a common feature in Europe, is it not in North America?
Thought it is a worldwide feature.

Yes... its also a common feature in the US as well. Its been installed in US cars for many many years. But ... with the Rogue, we've never had to turn or move the steering wheel at all... we always just jump in, turn the key, and it starts. Over a year of flawless starts everyday... first time, every time. Because of this... (and because "I forgot" I turned the steering wheel the night before after shutting off the ignition)... it never occurred to me the next day. We just turned the key and when "nothing" happened... I (being the alarmist) immediately jumped to the conclusion it must be something serious... instead of the obvious.

To make matters worse... (or even more embarrassing) I'm a licensed A&P mechanic as well as having ASE and I-CAR automotive certifications. Over the years I've built and or rebuilt numerous cars Chevy’s, Fords, Jaguars and Mercedes etc. Even completed several ground up restorations (both cars and planes) for show and/or resale purposes. But, with the Rogue, being my newest and most computerized car I've ever owned... as well as my very first Nissan... it was a stupid knee jerk reaction. ( Couldn't see the forest for the trees )

Regardless, thank you Elton for taking the time to post your experience and a solution. This could help someone avoid the stress, anger, inconvenience/time lost and cost of a tow to the dealer unnessesarily. Thank you!

Yep... No problem... Thats why I posted it. Embarrassing as it was ... I figure if it could happen to me with my mechanic background... it could happen to anyone. (egg on my face )

[Pescakl1]

Elton, I hope you did not take it as a bashing, that was definitively not the intention.

I was just surprised that you were surprised by that feature, therefore my question.
I bang in my steering wheel so often when it is garaged and I forgot something in it, that I believe I will never have the time to forget about it.

In your case, I believe, in English, it is called "brain fart" or something along this line .

Have a good day.