Range Rover Sport SC 2017 - Column Lock Authorisation Error

[IanLWarrington]

Hi all,

I posted a few days ago looking for an answer to my intermittent steering column lock issue - on occasion (not always) when unlocking the car, the steering lock fails to disengage - and, when this happens, it can be 20 minutes of pressing this, that and the other that, magically, disengages the steering lock. (The car won't start of course until this happens).

Yesterday, after 20 minutes, I desperately pressed the 'door unlock' key (situated on the driver's side) ... and the column lock immediately disengaged! Tried that again today when the car wouldn't start - and it didn't work. :-(

A friend just ran a diagnostic for me and there are error codes that relate to a Column Lock Authorisation error - one was around 'communications' (I have asked him to send me the actual codes), He reckons it's either a problem with the module itself (I can hear it 'buzzing' when I sit in the car and listen to the car attempting to unlock) or an electrical fault. I have charged the main battery fully ... and, after searching for the auxiliary battery in the boot, I believe that my model may have a capacitor instead of the telemetrics battery.

I've also tried both keys which both have new batteries. I also set the key to open only the drivers door.

Spookily, whenever I try something new (like reprogramming the key for single entry or pressing the door unlock) the car encourages me by working - once!

(It's almost as if I have a Ghost alarm fitted (which I've not BTW))

We've had the car for over 12 months and, up to this time, it's been perfect.

Any thoughts or ideas as to the best way forward would be very welcome.

My friend advises against main Range Rover dealer (the car is not under warranty) but I'm struggling to know what to do next to get it properly diagnosed - and sorted! He's an electrical engineer but doesn't have the necessary equipment to reprogrammed any new parts etc.

I am in the North West,

Kind regards

Ian

[Jordie Barretts sock]

I don't know why you wouldn't take it to the main dealer when you mate can't fix it.

They will have all the correct stuff to diagnose and offer a fix.

[IanLWarrington]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

I don't know why you wouldn't take it to the main dealer when you mate can't fix it.

They will have all the correct stuff to diagnose and offer a fix.

Hi - thank you for the quick reply.

I think he's had some bad experiences (he has a Range Rover himself) and I've read myself that people report that 'solutions' tend to be over engineered (replace as opposed to repair) at the main dealers.

I've found a couple of alternatives locally but need to check out their testimonials - I'm only seeing bad things for the main dealers near me. :-(

At the moment I guess I'm looking for ay suggestions as to what I could do to discount any of the more obvious causes - or learn what others have dome (including going to main dealers) to resolve any similar issues. In a nutshell, while I clearly need to pay to get this sorted, I don't want to waste money.



Thanks again,

Ian

[Jordie Barretts sock]

In my experience, sometimes only a main dealer will do. I agree about not chucking money away, but if it is a module or ecu issue, the main dealer is probably the best option.

Get yourself over to FFRR.com and see if there are any options/answers there. Knowledgeable crowd.

[IanLWarrington]

Will do - thank you for the suggestion.

Best,

Ian

[bakerstreet]

The last place I would take it to is a main dealer on on the grounds of cost. We are taling £150 for them to look at it and its well known that they have a big backlog at the moment.....because Land Rover.

'Up North' is a big place. I have know idea how far you are from JAS Land Rover or AllTrack 4x4. Both are well regarding in Land Rover circles and been fixing the Green Ovals screw ups for years

[IanLWarrington]

bakerstreet said:

The last place I would take it to is a main dealer on on the grounds of cost. We are taling £150 for them to look at it and its well known that they have a big backlog at the moment.....because Land Rover.

'Up North' is a big place. I have know idea how far you are from JAS Land Rover or AllTrack 4x4. Both are well regarding in Land Rover circles and been fixing the Green Ovals screw ups for years

Thank you for the input,

The latest ...

I spoke to a locally recommended non-main dealer - but they advised me that they are no longer able to do any work that may involve the Range Rover locking system as Range Rover are refusing (policy was implemented in January) to provide them with the necessary codes. They reckon that they could have sorted it (do them regularly) but could no longer. (In other words, and being a bit cynical, we are forced to go to a main dealer and pay their prices to resolve manufacturer invoked issues).

Anyway, I have it booked into a main deal for the end of June - and, as you say, they want £150 for the diagnosis.

However, the guy who owns the garage that looks after my car (Monaro VXR) recommended that I get in touch with the people he used when they need specialist work doing - and, having spoken to them, they suggested that it sounded like it was the solenoid playing up and, they would get a price for replacing it - but, if it was too expensive, they would be able to "program out" the steering lock - and the problem 'would go away'. :-)

At the moment the car is with them (as evidenced by my tracker) and I have everything crossed.

Footnote:
As part of my experimentation and trying to understand why the column lock sometimes released and sometimes did not, I seem to have discovered a 'solution' (but maybe this was just wishful thinking and coincidental).

For those occasions where I discovered that pressing the smart key had not released the steering column lock (car would not start, error meseage displayed) , I: -

1. Locked the car (by pressing the Lock button),
2. 'Reprogrammed' the key (held the Open button and Lock button simultaneously for 3 seconds),
2. Unlocked the car using the Open button ...

I followed this procedure 3 times - and, each time, it opened the car *and* disengaged the steering column lock!!!!

How bizarre - and,. also frustrating.

It was time to get the car to the garage though (hence why I needed to start it) so didn't get chance to experiment further.

This might mean something to the gurus out there I guess,

Best wishes,

Ian