Hello all,

I have searched this forum and the internet for a bit of advice as to how to proceed with this very frustrating problem. I wonder if anyone out there can help please.

This problem started around a week ago and is very intermittent (but increasingly frequent) whereby pressing the key fob to open the car fails to release the steering lock. On pressing the starter button, the 'Steering Column Locked' message appears - but, rotating the steering wheel (which is what the message suggests doing) has no effect.

Strangely, repeated pressing of the starter button/brake sometimes releases the steering lock. It also freed off (once) when I pressed the door lock release button. That said, we have been stranded for over 30 minutes (blocking a friend's drive!) and, again, the period of lockup seems to be getting longer.

Here's what I've tried:
> Fully charged the main battery (I don't think my model has an auxiliary battery but, rather, it was changed for a capacitor I gather - model is 2017 Range Rover Sport, V6 300bhp Supercharged ),
> Tried both ignition keys - both of which have new batteries,
> Changed the key to only open the driver's door (getting desperate at this stage).

As it happens our other car has had to be picked up on a trailer this morning (what a week! - long story) and the collection guy is a motor vehicle electrician - he connected his diagnostic tool and there were some fault codes relating to the column lock - it was inconclusive however with them suggesting that it was a 'authorization problem' (presumably communications between the key and the module) or it could be a component failure. He also mentioned that these issues are notorious for being related to something that is apparently nothing to do with the problem that is manifesting itself.

I'm clearly going to have to book the car in to a specialist - but, it would be great if anyone has had similar experience of this, not least so I can prepare myself for what is to come (the car is not under warranty - but I think it will be once I get this issue sorted0!

Many thanks in anticipation for any help (or sympathy) you can offer.



Kind regards

Ian

Did you ever get to the bottom of this, I saw you had no replies despite a well constructed post. I've just bought a used 2016 L405 and this message just popped up after owning it since Good Friday now Easter Monday, should I return it as a big issue to the used car dealer I bought it from or did you find an easy fix?

Could it be possible that the solenoid in the lock mechanism is starting to fail / not actuating as well as it should ?

This could explain the symptoms you're having. i.e. if there is friction against the lock pin, it's not got enough power to overcome that and move it out of the way to unlock. Or, it's just not moving out of the way with enough power / speed when activated.

I imagine that when the solenoid actuates, it moves the lock out of the way, but also makes it hit up against a switch that senses that it has moved far enough. If the car is saying 'move', but doesn't get a responding switch signal, it would then be able to identify the fault.

The rotary gear selector has a known issue of the solenoid failing, and preventing the gear knob from rotating to select gear. Given that can happen, then it's entirely possible the steering lock could fail the same way.

A quick trawl of eBay shows a variety of used and new parts available at varying prices.

I think the unit is on the underside of the column. So you *may* be able to get access to it without too much hassle. V8 or else ...

Hi fisha/SJ1971 ... a bit of a long story ... but, hope it helps ...

I'm no expert at all - but I suspect that fisha is on the right lines.

Original Problem (June 2024):

Booked the car into a (recommended) specialist Land Rover garage - they put in a new battery and that 'solved' the problem. My friend/garage owner surmised that the original battery (that was testing OK) just lacked the 'umph' to release the steering lock ... that may have been sticking.

Anyway ... the issue went away ... or so we thought ...

Fast forward to February 2025.
Out of the blue, the original issue reoccurred ... just the same as before. Booked the car into the original garage and they could not replicate what was an intermittent fault. Went to collect the car ... and it reoccurred when we got in! A lot of head scratching ... but they could not diagnose a fault (they reckoned that they asked a Land Rover dealer to check codes and there was an 'ECU code' occurring at the time that we went to collect the car - but I didn't get anything in writing); so, I dropped the car off at my friend's garage (as it was too unreliable to use as a daily drive and he lent me one of his cars).

Over the next couple of weeks, my friend did a bit of googling and suggested that we try a steering lock bypass device - desperate for a solution, we really had no choice but to try it. Mechanic fitted it - and car tested OK. Fantastic!

I set off to pick up the car and, on the way, got a phone call. The garage had tried to start the car ready for me to pick it up and the steering lock would not release - so, problem not solved. .

(He ordered another (just in case the first one was faulty) but same issue) - as others were reporting that this (very simple) fix had worked for them, we wondered whether a Range Rover software or firmware update in my model may have negated this working - only guessing though).

Just to say, the car was starting more times than it failed ... but totally impractical to use it as who knows where we might get stuck.

I should add that, on one occasion when the lock had stuck, the mechanic gave the column a good thump and reckoned that he could hear the steering lock disengaging. All very speculative and none scientific though.

A more strategic approach.

With nowhere else to go and on my friend's advice, he ordered a replacement steering column from Land Rover at 'mates rates' (I suggested that we try a new battery but he pointed out that this may just mask the issue). My friend had located a specialist approved fitter on the business park where he operates who could replace it for us and recode it ... also at 'mates rates'.

FYI, it was £1700 for the part.

Part arrived from Range Rover - it was the wrong one ... and, on checking back with them, they could not give us a date when a new one might be available - and, possibly, never! Essentially, I was stuffed!

(Something for you to consider SJ1971 - because the 'solution' may not appeal to you).

What happened next - a hail Mary.

So ... my friend (who has looked after my V8 for years and has some brill' engineers working for him) suggested that I let him have an 'experiment' with a second hand column ... so, he ordered one from eBay (£60) and practiced stripping it down. His conclusion was that replacing the small 'motor' in the column (that he surmised was the issue) was not a big deal. With nothing to lose I said go ahead.

Dramatic finale!


It worked!!!! All that was done was to replace the small motor from the donor steering column.

Interesting ... so its a motor rather than solenoid. I guess its possible that an old one just starts to fade and not work, or teeth get stripped, or just needs a clean etc etc. V8 or else ...

Great post, Ian. Glad you’ve got it sorted.

Thank you for the kind words - looks like I’m writing a book!

fisha wrote:

Interesting ... so its a motor rather than solenoid. I guess its possible that an old one just starts to fade and not work, or teeth get stripped, or just needs a clean etc etc.

That’s what we were thinking - nothing obvious though and no way to test it. I have the remains of the donor steering column (and old motor) if anyone wants it.

Looks like it could have come out of a scalextric car!!!

Thanks for such a detailed reply Ian, you've definitely persevered, it only happened to me this afternoon once but after wiggling the steering wheel it cleared the fault so perhaps it was just caught and needed a wiggle. I had a 14 plate L494 RRS before this one for the past 5 years and never had this problem and that one had 125k miles on it, this one only has 61k on a 16 plate.

It's possible where the car has been sitting at the dealer for a few months before selling to me it needs to be regularly driven again and it's just a bit sticky, but then again why did the previous owner sell it, they had it from new and looks like they parted with it in August/September last year. I'm just weary of being sold a lemon and the warranty provided only covers engine and gearbox (not an approved used) so I either need to return it within 14 days if I feel it's not fit for purpose.

I've got it booked in with main dealer to get it's 64k service done so they can give it and expert once over and I'm sure they will report any issues to me. Just out of interest are there any markings/part numbers on the motor?

It does look like you can order a replacement motor from good old eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135670122414

Is it relatively simple to get at it though do you know from your friend?

Hi,

I’d hesitate to give advice based on my experience - as it was a bit of a Hail Mary and experimental.

However, I would imagine that there are a few on here who will absolutely know if it’s possible to replace the motor without the removal of the column.

In my case, removing the column was part of the investigation (and solution) - and, because of security bolts etc, it’s not a trivial task I understand.

Best of luck,

Ian

That looks like a Mabuchi motor, as used in high-end Nakamichi cassette decks, but I can’t say which model  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?