Just starting a new thread with regards to my ongoing heavy steering issues with my 2010 3.6 TDV8 L322

Items replaced/tried so far:

Recon rack (fitted by dealer at time of purchase)
New genuine LR servotronic valve
Used tested power steering pump from a car which had done 68k
Clean reservoir filter screen
Flush system with fresh land rover cold climate fluid
Set tyre pressures 33 psi (set cold)

After fitting the new pump the steering was great for a couple of days before going heavy again.

I then decided to fit a new OEM Dayco auxiliary belt thinking the belt might be slipping.

Steering was great for around 3 days right up until the auxiliary belt tensioner failed!! (Possibly because of new belt tightness?)

I have now fitted a brand new tensioner and re newed the 3 idler pulleys (all parts are genuine LR) and the steering is heavy again!

Im thinking this might be a belt tension issue now but everything is new and the tensioner is automatic?

Could also be electrical or a pipe restriction but this wouldn't explain why messing with the belts when changing the pump and renewing the belt would have helped.

All suggestions welcomed

Here's the link to the list I compiled originally from info elsewhere + the Jag workshop manual (which is lot more useful than a Range Rover manual !).
See whether it gives you any extra thoughts.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic50551.html

All the best, Paul Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

I've just had a read through Pawl and I feel most of the items mentioned have been covered.

The electrical side remains unknown until I can get a connector to provide permanent 12v to the servotronic valve but given I can see the output to the valve in JLR SDD decreasing when increasing road speed and increasing when slowing down I feel the control side should hopefully be working. I have also manually checked every fuse in the car for continuity with my multi meter all good.

I am thinking belt tension now as everything seemed to be going well after replacing the aux belt up until the tensioner failed. (I am thinking this was caused by the new belt being so tight)

And when I replaced the pump I of course messed with the belt so I'm thinking this is perhaps what provided an improvement making me think my pump replacement was a success.

Hopefully this makes sense ?

I noted when refitting the belt after fitting all new tensioner and pulleys etc that it wasn't as tight as when it was initially fitted with the original tensioner/pulleys in place. (I could cause the water pump pulley to slip against the belt much easier when I refitted with the new parts)

Went ahead and replaced the dayco belt with a genuine land rover belt Sunday just gone.

Steering hasn't been too bad since but it's definitely still heavier than other examples

And frustratingly, revving the engine to 3k rpm still lightens up the steering. At least whilst stationary.

This along with the absolutely CVD suspension system are really making me want to trade this in.

If I'm not breaking my wrists trying to steer the thing then I'm loosing all my fillings over bumps!

Has it been looked at by a decent independent LR/RR specialist? Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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Hi Dr Rob,

No not been to a specialist yet as I prefer to do all my own work although If you check out the list in the initial post I feel that I have replaced everything now except the hoses so it may be time to try and find a suitable place to take a look. ( I haven't had much luck previously)

Thanks

Rovertune in Reading Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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Thanks for the suggestion but I'm in Cheshire/Manchester areas so a bit far away.

A possible interesting note, just ohmed out my old servotronic valve that I removed from the car and it measures under 1 ohm.

I tried hooking up a 9v battery just out of interest as this is something I planned on doing on the car and I got arcing.

Is my old servotronic valve shorted out?

That's definitely not near spec. so would have been doing something odd to the steering.
I wonder if that could have damaged the BCU due to excess current. If it has, the new Servotronic won't be getting the voltage it should to provide full assistance.

Have you tried putting 12v across the new servotronic valve yet to see if the steering gets full assistance ? Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

Hi Pawl,

I havent yet no. I need to go to the scrap yard and get a connector from a bmw. Will take the old valve with me.

Off to ireland for a few days.. sadly looking forward to driving my skoda rapid hire car.

I know what you mean about the hire car - lol.
While the steering was playing up on ours I preferred to drive our Disco 2 - as I knew I could manoeuvre it in car parks ! Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

Ended up with a new ish toyota Corolla hybrid. Not a fan of the drive train but loving the light steering and surprisingly compliant ride.

It's a sad day when a small Toyota drives better than ones RR.

Forgot to mention that I also have the following permanent codes stored in the BCM. (Picture attached)

From what I gather these are something to do with the battery management?

Can a battery management issue cause servotronic issues?

I am working on getting a hold of a servotronic connector from a breaker so that I can try permanent 12v to the valve.

Really curious to see the results of this test.