land rover steering column So if you own a Range Rover you hopefully have not experienced a common problem which requires the replacement of the entire steering column. The entire job take approximately three hours to complete, so labor expense is not a big deal, but parts can be quite costly. To make the situation even worse for some owners, the columns for older models are no longer being manufactured.

The problem: The steering wheel lock ECU has a physical locking bolt driven by a motor and cam assembly which over time becomes stuck and does not provide it’s position to the ECU. Since the Steering lock ECU does not know if it is locked or not (hazardous if locked and driving) then it does not command the ignition switch to unlock. The majority of the time, this scenario is caused by the lubrication drying out on the steering lock actuator.

The solution: 1) replace the steering column or 2) lubricate the actuator.

So if your steering column lock is slow to unlock, I would recommend bringing it in for lubrication BEFORE it fails completely because after it gets stuck simply lubricating it may not bring it back to life. Why do you need preventative lubrication, you might ask? Because they can cost over $5000 just for the part. So be aware and have an educated mechanic help you save money. Come by or call The Las Vegas Car Fixer for more information.

In the Las Vegas Valley we see a lot of lean codes causing check engine lights. What does this mean? Simply put it your vehicle is requiring more fuel from the fuel injectors than is normal. The why is a little more complicated. It can be from many reasons.

Fuel pressure could be low, requiring a fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator, or even a plugged fuel filter. More common in our hot climate is vacuum leaks. On the majority of cars we service here, there is a metering device for the air that enters into the engine, called an air flow meter. If any air enters the engine un-metered (through vacuum leaks) then this will cause more air than is needed to correctly combust the fuel that your vehicle is programmed to give. Thus the check engine light will illuminate.

There are many other failures that can cause these codes also: valve timing, oxygen sensors, catalytic converters, MAF Sensors, bad gas, etc. This is why getting it checked professionally will always be cheaper than guessing as to the problem. So don’t just get your car worked on, get it fixed. Call 702-608-4227.

-BJ

Category Archives: Jaguar/Land Rover

Land Rover – Range Rover Key Won’t Turn

Lean Codes P0171 P0174