Thread: MOST DANGEROUS 4X4 EVER MADE!

Originally Posted by drivesafe

As to the Steering lock, while it was definitely locked with the key still in the ignition, in the ON position, on the night the RR failed, I have since tried countless times to get it to lock again and it has not.

So I don’t really know what to do.

hey mate, i posted a while back, but it was many pages ago and i really can't be bothered going back and checking wether you answered my question or not.

is the steering lock system designed to work in the same was as the park lock out solenoid? in that it runs 12V through the brake switch, to the locking solenoid, which locks the solenoid out in place. putting your foot on the brake pedal opens the circuit, unlocking the solenoid, which allows you to remove the transmission from park. disconnecting the battery also has the same result of removing voltage from the solenoid, which unlocks it.

what im trying to say, but which im not real good at doing, is that its a similar theory to a relay, 6V is not enough to close the relay, but it is enough to keep the relay closed.

IMHO what you have there fella is a dangerous piece of over-engineered crap !!

Were I you, I dump the thing asap and get your self a 'pre-computer' model and buy yourself some 'reliability..............and SAFETY

a mate of mine is a 'Rangie-holic' and had similar issues to yours with a late model Vague, spent thousands on 'fixes' that 'didn't'............and finally had enough & traded for a Holden Adventra to use as a work vehicle instead...........one word 'RELIABILITY'.

(He's since picked up a minty 86 Rangie.............NO COMPUTERS.....No Electronic any damn thing...............it chews the juice, but it GOES.............and STOPS !! and the doors open manually..............

there IS a reason why I won't touch 'new' anything !! All my vehicles can be serviced by ME !!...............NONE have 'electronics' let alone 'computer management'. ALL are 'low-tech' and none is younger than the 96 Defender....but I can RELY on them 100% to go when needed

doesnt the guy with the red flag get tired if the car goes every time?

Hi tomisawesome, I’m still not sure how the steering lock works or doesn’t work but just to give you an up date.

I am doing so little driving that the battery went flat on Monday after noon.

Monday morning, started the pussbox and moved it about 50m, with no problems.

That night ( the heap might be scared of the dark ) unlocked the doors, got in, put the key in and heard the steering luck unlock, turn the the key to start.

NOTHING.

No clicking starter motor, the display flashed a few times from black to grey and back again.

But the this time the steering lock stayed unlocked.

In all fairness, this time the flat battery is down to me. I have done less that 200km since I got the pussbox back and the battery did get a seriously discharged when the alternator shorted, plus it’s the original battery which is about 3.5 years old.

I’ve giving the battery a good charge and then a boost charge.

The battery has been sitting off the charger since last night, so I check it shortly and see if it’s any good.

Originally Posted by pathfinder

.and finally had enough & traded for a Holden Adventra to use as a work vehicle instead...........one word 'RELIABILITY'.

till the diff and clutch woes bite..

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

doesnt the guy with the red flag get tired if the car goes every time?

heheheh................. guess I'm just a 'simple man' eh................

I had a 54 Series I ragtop shorty back in the 70's, aaaaaaaaaaaaand, apart from the crappy Lucas fuel pump (which we solved by gravity feeding out of a motorbike tank swinging off the hood straps) and the odd broken axle (I carried spares) , about nothing ever went wrong with 'the auld bitch'.......

Flat battery?? No problemo.........out with the crank handle (remember those??).......or roll start. 'Locked out of vehicle'?? Wot door locks?? (in any case you could just climb in over the tailgate)

wiper motor dies?? just move the little manual wiper lever a few times...........

hell, I didn't even have a 'wireless' in the thing..............did have a 'recovery winch' though..............a Trewhella Tree puller............weighed a coupla hundred pound with all the 1 inch wire rope and the big cast iron cogs and sprockets, but hey.....it DID THE JOB !!

plus..............I could speed up to at least..........ummmm.............45 miles-per-hour goin downhill with a tail wind now goin THAT fast I probly shoulda had a fella in front with a red flag??

Originally Posted by drivesafe

the battery did get a seriously discharged when the alternator shorted

I'm surprised the battery still works at all.

I imagine it would be difficult to replicate the dramatically discharging battery scenario. As well as the voltage dropping right down, the rate at which it dropped and the resultant ability of some circuits to continue to function as others failed probably requires the various system design characteristics to be analysed to work-out just why the steering column lock was engaged. However because it happened, LR should be determing what is necessary to prevent such an occurance, however rare the circumstances are.

I noted recently that the D4 CCF has a "steering lock fitted" option. One day I might have a play to see if its just a record of the build or whether it is used in controlling the steering lock, but changing the CCF speedo correction parameters didn't change the speedo behaviour.

Originally Posted by Graeme

I noted recently that the D4 CCF has a "steering lock fitted" option. One day I might have a play to see if its just a record of the build or whether it is used in controlling the steering lock, but changing the CCF speedo correction parameters didn't change the speedo behaviour.

I would be very interested to hear what you come up with.

Cheers and thanks, Tim.