2006 Land Rover Defender 110 - Power Steering Failed, something ‘sheered’ off !!

Had since new and no real problems as such. Done 196k in it and suddenly my power steering has failed. Local Land Rover garage had a look and said something had ‘sheered off’ from the power steering unit. It’s going in on the 18th. They also said NOT to drive it as I could cause other issues. So, it’s been sitting looking at me for two weeks.

I don’t off road it, just use it in construction (building) work.


Additionally, the battery ( new battery about 2 years ago ) is also loosing charge rapidly. It’s connected to an after market radio Sonichi SB50-DAB that was fitted in 2011. It doesn’t seem to either turn on or turn off and hasn’t been used for a couple of years. I ‘think’ some wiring issue at the rear that is causing a ‘drain’ of power. In the last two weeks when the car has not been in use I have lost complete charge from the battery.

I’ve got it on a trickle charge so I can get it to the garage. I’m going to ask them to remove it as I don’t have the special ‘tool’ to do this.


Any thoughts on the either the milage and the ‘sheering’ of something to do with the power steering and also the loose of charge in the battery.

I don't know about 'shearing off', but power steering pumps do go wrong occasionally. They seem more vulnerable than the steering boxes themselves in that respect. It's easiest to fit a new one - I changed mine over a few years ago when the steering became very stiff and it made a big difference. I can't remember the exact procedure but it didn't take too long to do. The main thing to make sure is that you get some Loctite on the pulley bolts and do them up nice and tight because they tend to undo themselves - or at least mine did.

The battery drain I'm less sure about. I'd begin by taking one fuse out at a time for a little while and seeing what made the most difference. Or maybe switching everything off and trying an ammeter on each fuse bay in turn to see what was still drawing current. It would probably be less than 10A, which is what most budget meters are rated to, so is unlikely to do any harm.

Over 12 years I have had the pas pump shear its shaft twice on my 200tdi.
Never come across the fault before in 35 years on the spanners.

Brown said:

I don't know about 'shearing off', but power steering pumps do go wrong occasionally. They seem more vulnerable than the steering boxes themselves in that respect. It's easiest to fit a new one - I changed mine over a few years ago when the steering became very stiff and it made a big difference. I can't remember the exact procedure but it didn't take too long to do. The main thing to make sure is that you get some Loctite on the pulley bolts and do them up nice and tight because they tend to undo themselves - or at least mine did.

The battery drain I'm less sure about. I'd begin by taking one fuse out at a time for a little while and seeing what made the most difference. Or maybe switching everything off and trying an ammeter on each fuse bay in turn to see what was still drawing current. It would probably be less than 10A, which is what most budget meters are rated to, so is unlikely to do any harm.

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Disconnected the radio. Yep, keeps charge now. I don't use the radio as I use noise cancelling ear phones and listen to podcasts. Makes the defender a much nicer place to be !