Ok, the fact you are getting a clicking from the steering lock means your transponder in the key is ok.
The three clicks I hear coming from somewhere's behind the dashboard I assume is steering lock. Although
the steering wheel doesn't remain unlocked. In fact, just tried moving steering to the next steering lock position and although I could feel the physical lock engage the steering wheel did not stay there, it sprung back to the previous steering lock's position
Dont worry about anything alarm related now, i was just trying to ascertain if your transponder is communicating and the steering lock noise and the cancelling the alarm sounder by putting the key in the ignition is good,
The alarm sounder does not sound. It did when everything was working alright and I used the key that did not cause start to unlock. Then (when everything was working alright) I used the "good" key into IGN lock to stop the alarm sounder
Your main concern is the key transponder is communicating with the coil around the ignition barrel. Do you have diagnostics that can look at the steering lock ECU?
The only diagnostics I have is iCarsoft's i930 that is not just plain OBD2 codes but has a section for Land Rover, Range Rover, 2002-2005, petrol. It does not have a selectable module in its list for Steering Lock ECU. It has "Immoboliser", "Security". The problem here is that the CAN bus is only partially alive. Under Security there is shown two faults: "Security Magnet Fault" and "Locking Operation Error". I've cleared them both. Most of the other modules I can't get access to. Although when key used to be in position 1 I could read every module listed.
The steering lock ECU or physical solenoid is a fairly common fault which the fuse 18 trick can sometimes overcome but not always.
I tried the Fuse 18 again, this time in Park and no difference. I just don't either feel or hear any solenoid around the ignition barrel clunking. Trying with keeping Fuse 18 out means there's no clunking from solenoids around / behind the instrument panel either -- just silence
I found a Fuse 59 (20A "independent heater" was in the fuse box. So I removed it in case that FBH for a petrol engine was elsewhere than shown on a diesel. I then checked Fuse 60 (30A listed as Central Locking and Electric Windows Rear) just in case. But that's as far as I got as contortion is difficult for me besides which that freezing wind was whipping up, and into the cabin, and dummies out on their Sunday afternoon drive were expecting me to shut the door so they could get past every time
Other fuses I expect to check are:
20 30A Steering Column
23 15 Steering Column
25 5 IMMO
31 5 IMMO
33 5 Transmission
39 5 IMMO
54 15 Transmission
then there are a few options to try...
Fast coming to the conclusion that there's no clunk or noise at all coming from the ignition barrel, so whatever
solenoid's there isn't either receiving its oats, or is stuck out, or is o/c.
I'll try removing the steering column bottom cowl once I've sussed out whether it's just that far-up single recessed screw holding it in place or I need pullers to avoid damage
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