L322 Steering Column

[careyba]

Hi guys,

I have managed to negotiate a settlement with the car dealership to fix my steering column reach motor. I have taken it in to a local mechanic (Land Rover specialist) and he seems to think I need a complete new column to fix the reach function.

Does anyone here know if it is possible to hav the existing column reconditioned or is there a company who sells reconditioned columns. I believe from the mechanic a new column is about $1200 and about $300 to fit. The amount I got back from the dealer only covers half of this so I am hoping to try and reduce this cost.

Any help or guidance would be very appreciated!

Cheers, Brad

[Laurie]

Brad
Is it definitely the motor or it just doesn't move ? sometimes the 13mm nut at the end of the drive comes off, just undo the 3 torx screws on the column surround and manually turn back onto the shaft or it could be the tabs see below.

fullfatrr.com - View topic - Steering Column Tilt Broken (http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic5754.html?highlight=steering+column)

or

fullfatrr.com - View topic - Steering column adjuster (http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic4144.html?highlight=steering+column)

Laurie

[careyba]

I can hear the motor operating but the column does not move. The diagnosis from the mechanic (without pulling everything apart) is that it is most likely a stripped nut within the column.

I have only recently purchased the car so I will need to (learn to) pull apart the dash it seems to get to the column to take a bit of a look.

[Laurie]

Brad
Hopefully that the motor is still working, the nut has come off :D If you do inspect the shaft make sure it has plenty of grease as lack there of has caused others to stop working.

Laurie

[Homestar]

If it has stripped the nut, then it is a new column. Hopefully it has just come off...

[BRUMMY]

Hi All
I have a similar problem.
I recently tried to adjust the steering and heard what sounded like a nut, fall into the steering plastic surround.
The steering, forward and back adjustment has now ceased...
Does this sound familiar, to anyone out there ???
Cheers Paul

[Laurie]

Paul
It does sound like the nut has dropped off ! I hope for your sake it's not stripped. Just grease the shaft and tighten the nut back on and all should be good.

Laurie

[BRUMMY]

Thanks Laurie
Pulled off the panel that sits above the pedals, half of a white bracket fell out and something that looks like a cylinder, with wires attached, was resting on the panel.
Any ideas ?
Paul

[Laurie]

Paul
It sounds like your describing the bracket that holds the motor has broken in half and the cylinder you see is the motor itself. That second link I posted above shows this and hold the motor in with some cable ties will hold it in place.

Laurie

[BRUMMY]

Hi Laurie
Yes that link was a great help, and the plastic bracket has indeed broken in two.
Tried getting to it from the drivers footwell, but really need to remove the whole panel to get better access...
The plastic wire ties seem like an easy fix. Do you know if that bracket has a part number ?
Cheers Paul

[Laurie]

Paul
I can't help you with a part number ; best advise is to ring the local LR spares shop and try there. Knowing LR if it is available, it will be either a very reasonable or a ridiculously overpriced :D

Laurie

[harlie]

Given the life expectancy of the column motors/drive systems and the fact that 95% of their running time is spent retracting when the key is turned off and returning back into position when turned on, I have disabled the easy access column function.

There are two settings in the Driver Seat ECU one for Axial and other for Radial movement. Turn them off and the column mechanisms will last heaps longer. The column still moves for different seat position settings and when different keys are used, it just doesn't move out of the way for you to get in and out.

[careyba]

Ok, I have received a new steering column from Ebay (UK) luckily for the same price as the money I received from the dealer as compensation for the faulty mechanism ($750 shipped to my door).

Before I attack my lovely clean as new dashboard, I would like a fairly good idea of how to pull it apart without breaking clips etc and introducing rattles etc.

Does anyone here have any guides or even photos of how they have pulled apart their dash that I can follow. I guess I can just muddle my way through it but the panels look nice and tight and there are no obvious screws etc.

(I remember changing my heater in my 87 Rangie and photographing every step so I could get it all back together again).

Any help or guidance would be very appreciated (saves me 300 bucks having a mechanic do it)

[Homestar]

Ok, I have received a new steering column from Ebay (UK) luckily for the same price as the money I received from the dealer as compensation for the faulty mechanism ($750 shipped to my door).

Before I attack my lovely clean as new dashboard, I would like a fairly good idea of how to pull it apart without breaking clips etc and introducing rattles etc.

Does anyone here have any guides or even photos of how they have pulled apart their dash that I can follow. I guess I can just muddle my way through it but the panels look nice and tight and there are no obvious screws etc.

(I remember changing my heater in my 87 Rangie and photographing every step so I could get it all back together again).

Any help or guidance would be very appreciated (saves me 300 bucks having a mechanic do it)


If I was you, I would get yourself a copy of this - Dave's Interesting Things - RRMANP38A-L322 (http://www.davesitshop.com/davesitshop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=8)

The manual has a step by step guide on doing everything you will need to do on your car. Well worth the dollars.:)

[harlie]

Get that manual, read it, then do google search for youtube clips.

[careyba]

I have also found a broken plastic bracket (after summoning the courage to have a crack at my dash). The motor is fine (lying at the bottom of the foot-well) and the flexible shaft is still there and in good condition. The spindle for the reach system still moves freely so all looks good for an easy fix.

I have ordered a new one, part # QYH500030 (just search EBAY).

The cost is $75 delivered, expensive for what it is!

Now I just have to try and see if I can fit it without having to remove the entire steering column.

I also now have a spare steering column :)

[Homestar]

Good work. Spare column is a huge bonus. :)