mpage23

Member
Morning all, has any one swapped over a complete ignition barrel unit in a series 3. I have a second hard one to put on but just wondered if its an easy job. due to my old one having electrical problems where the cables connect. it looks like it clamps on to the steering column but wondering if there will be more to it! ( wish it did not have a steering lock as brought the other barrel fist and very small and looks easy!!!)

thanks

martin
 
It's a pretty easy job but access isn't great. You will probably need to drill the retaining bolts and then remove with an eeziout, just take your time and your patience will be rewarded
 
It's a pretty easy job but access isn't great. You will probably need to drill the retaining bolts and then remove with an eeziout, just take your time and your patience will be rewarded
Thanks for a speedy answer. I did wonder if I could just use the new smaller barrel unit with out the steering lock and connect the wire to it and fit it in the dash somewhere so as not to have to worry about fixing the replacement unit as the snail unit is new and the bigger steering lock unit is second hand....
 
You would still need to remove the old barrel in case it engaged the steering lock whilst you were driving. When I did mine, I was lucky in that the one on it still had the clamp bolt nuts still attached. Normally, the bolt heads shear off when tightened up to prevent unauthorised removal. When I fitted the new one, I left the heads intact again. The rest of the job is a bit fiddly but not as bad as I was expecting.

Col
 
Disconnect the battery before you start just in case. My barrel is on located on the dash so easy (too easy for tinkers) access. I'm going to change mine too as it takes a certain technique to get it to work plus only one key and getting another key cut isn't too different to a new barrel. Plus it an american barrel and I'm putting a Lucas one (or hopefully it is) back on. I'm going to put a section (maybe 3 inches long) of bicycle inner tube over the connections to protect them from unwanted issues as the brown feed is permanently live.
 
that's for all the help I have a Land Rover Series 2a & 3 Petrol Ignition Switch and Keys - lucas 551508 but can not find the wiring diagram showing which connections are which. the steering lock on the old barrel does not work anyway. so wondering if the wires on the back will just connect to this small lucas 551508 will work......... just want to get the thing through the mot but if I move the wires too much and go over a bump the indicators stop working and its a night mare as can not find a loose wire anywhere.....
 
the barrel should be easy enough to wire up as there is a sequence which each turn on the key, ie the first is usually auxilliary and the last turn which should then click back to the previous is starter motor. If its diesel there will be one point which the glow plugs will be warming. Should be easy enough to find a wiring diagram. When you say indicators do you mean all of them? If so try either fuse box or the flasher unit connections. If its left or right side just put a temporary feed in sections until you isolate the problem - maybe just a stretched cable making a poor connection. Have you checked the earthing?
 
the barrel should be easy enough to wire up as there is a sequence which each turn on the key, ie the first is usually auxilliary and the last turn which should then click back to the previous is starter motor. If its diesel there will be one point which the glow plugs will be warming. Should be easy enough to find a wiring diagram. When you say indicators do you mean all of them? If so try either fuse box or the flasher unit connections. If its left or right side just put a temporary feed in sections until you isolate the problem - maybe just a stretched cable making a poor connection. Have you checked the earthing?


thanks again for reply. I have had a auto electrician looking at it with me most Saturdays!!! it was a real mess. the ignition barrel connection unit at the back was sooo loose that if you coughed it would loose connection!! as for the indicators. we put a new reply in and all was fine. then I move the bunch of cables up a little while I put the steering column cover back on and after that it was dead but just on both direction indicators. on the stork the head ligh flasher works etc. I move a few cables and the relay started clicking very fast but with no flashing indicators. now all dead again. its got to be a loose connection somewhere. but there can be that many connections for the indicators I would have thought. I will check the earth as you say incase its simple as that.
 
May be helpful:
http://www.wellnessarticles.net/a8e34e0b6add0d66-land-rover-series-3-wiring-diagram.html
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/new-owner-needs-a-little-help.37226/
https://www.google.de/search?q=land...dicator+wiring+diagram&*&imgrc=Z7isxd8RILk11M:
For indicators you're looking for green cable with a red tracer for left side indicators and white tracer for right hand side indicators. looking at the diagram there should be a feed out the fuse box to the flasher unit, then to the stalk and then direct out to each corner. Should be easy enough to follow. Each corner could be earthed separately on the bulb unit (if metal or plastic backed with a metal barb) or feed back to a common earth either front and back or all 4 together depending upon what mods have been done. I'm just doing bits on mine and its easy as long as you're logical and patient. I've got some test wires I can feed off the battery with croc clips on the end which are useful for testing. Just rewiring an old towing plug and took out quite a few redundant wires at the back end which I've no idea what they were for. Just waiting for my Rubbolite box to appear to complete.
FFG
 
I don't want to sound like a nagging health and safety officer but seriously, don't leave your old barrel in place without the key, even if the ignition lock doesn't work. It is surprising how going over a bump or pothole makes things suddenly work again when you least expect it. I'm a natural risk taker, I even got married for a second time but I wouldn't risk a dodgy steering lock

Col
 
thanks again for reply. I have had a auto electrician looking at it with me most Saturdays!!! it was a real mess. the ignition barrel connection unit at the back was sooo loose that if you coughed it would loose connection!! as for the indicators. we put a new reply in and all was fine. then I move the bunch of cables up a little while I put the steering column cover back on and after that it was dead but just on both direction indicators. on the stork the head ligh flasher works etc. I move a few cables and the relay started clicking very fast but with no flashing indicators. now all dead again. its got to be a loose connection somewhere. but there can be that many connections for the indicators I would have thought. I will check the earth as you say incase its simple as that.

Could be a break in the cable ....
 

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