Range Rover steering column motors

[Rockingit]

So this is the wiring schematic for a RR Vogue steering column - in itself nothing spectacular, just two motors making it go up/down and in/out. Except, looks to me that each motor has a PL and effectively a single SL coming from off a digital controller (it links in with memorised seat positions). My question is, with only one SL to a motor, how do we reckon they're made to move in both rotations?? Because, I need to make one work manually as the switch/ECU is fried. Or, is it likely that there's actually an embedded controller within the motor that's just not drawn that is processing a digital signal? If the latter then I'm probably screwed.....

 

[UNG]

Have a look here fullfatrr.com - Index - https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/ if you can't find the answer to your queastion I'm sure there will be someone who knows

 

[buzzlightyear]

Have you spoken to land rover over you problem, recantly went looking at the new RR vouge, nice car until I found, out it's the most wonder full car to Nick. I could make a advert for them.

 

[Rockingit]

Have you spoken to land rover over you problem, recantly went looking at the new RR vouge, nice car until I found, out it's the most wonder full car to Nick. I could make a advert for them.

They are! And almost impossible to insure because of it. Mine is a 20yr old project that I got for a song to do up and be of use when we're underwater down here but even so they're still phenomenal machines and superb to drive. I've the 4.4v8 supercharged engine and that thing will shift 2.6+T of vehicle from 0-60 in pretty much the same time as hot hatch material!!

As UNG said, at this age they're now into 'enthusiasts' realm - I got the schematic off of another Land Rover forum!!

 

[buzzlightyear]

Mine is a 20yr old project that I got for a song to do up and be of use when we're underwater down here but even so they're still phenomenal

May you should have bought a submarine on wheels then.

 

[Rockingit]

I've seen YouTube of people doing just that with them!

 

[littlespark]

its DC.... to move in both directions we just reverse the polarity, dont we?

There must be something in the ECU that sorts that out.

 

[Moley]

its DC.... to move in both directions we just reverse the polarity, dont we?

Not necessarily. With canbus control there could be a permanent supply to the motor and the ECU sends a data signal to the motor to tell it what it should do. The motor control board will send a position signal back to the ECU and by talking to each other they decide the position that the motor should stop. Reversing the polarity will just fry the control board. It's the same with model railways. Used to be a case of just connect 12v one way and the train goes in one direction. Reverse the polarity and it goes the other way. Now with what's called DCC there's a permanent voltage to the track and you can control various trains at the same time, turn on/off loco lights, add sound etc.

 

[Rockingit]

Not necessarily. With canbus control there could be a permanent supply to the motor and the ECU sends a data signal to the motor to tell it what it should do. The motor control board will send a position signal back to the ECU and by talking to each other they decide the position that the motor should stop. Reversing the polarity will just fry the control board. It's the same with model railways. Used to be a case of just connect 12v one way and the train goes in one direction. Reverse the polarity and it goes the other way. Now with what's called DCC there's a permanent voltage to the track and you can control various trains at the same time, turn on/off loco lights, add sound etc.

I think it's exactly that! But next job is stripping out airbags in order to remove the steering wheel itself to hopefully then ditch the cowlings the hard way (they need replacing anyway) and get some light on the subject. Believe it or not, I need to do all this to fix an ABS issue!!!

 

[Moley]

But next job is stripping out airbags

Ooohhhh.....Any chance of filming that, just in case

 

[brianmoooore]

Motors have a 12V supply and a chassis connection, so a 6 volt motor and a 6V control signal could enable turning in both directions.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I think it's exactly that! But next job is stripping out airbags in order to remove the steering wheel itself to hopefully then ditch the cowlings the hard way (they need replacing anyway) and get some light on the subject. Believe it or not, I need to do all this to fix an ABS issue!!!

Ensure you disconnect the battery before you remove the air bag, otherwise you will never get the airbag warning light to go out, even LR could not get it to go out on my LSE.

 

[Rockingit]

Ensure you disconnect the battery before you remove the air bag, otherwise you will never get the airbag warning light to go out, even LR could not get it to go out on my LSE.

Absolutely already done! The comedy of this situation was me explaining (with aid of a wipeboard, naturally) to the OH last night that in order to fix the brakes I first need to fix the drivers seat controls. Because clearly someone in the LR engineering design dept had been smoking crack that day.

 

[littlespark]

You guys are giving a good argument for me to trade in my Evoque.

 

[Mike Johnson]

You guys are giving a good argument for me to trade in my Evoque.

I didn't know you where a hairdresser.

 

[Marvo]

According to your diagram both motors are fed with a permanent positive supply directly from fuse number 20. They also have a permanent negative (ground) connection. They then have a CANBUS data connection with the seat memory ECU which will send them instructions on this bi-directional data link. The motors themselves have some kind of onboard intelligence that will control the direction they run in, stop and start the motor and monitor a top and bottom limit sensor to turn it off when the position limit is reached. It may also send motor speed and column position data back to the seat memory ECU as well I'd guess.

Unfortunately to know the exact sequence of operation and communications you'd need to find a mechanic who has paid for access to manufacturers service data.

 

[littlespark]

I didn't know you where a hairdresser.

i meant... its the wife's car.... but i do drive it sometimes when towing the caravan.

 

[snowhead]

Looking at the photo below, assuming yours is like this or similar, looks like they have a connection box with wizardry and Canbus (or similar) to it and a pair out to the motor and probably position sensing on the end of the motor.

It should be as simple as a double pole double throw centre off switch for each motor, with Pos and Neg in and motor out.
I won't explain how, it's pretty straighforward, as I don't want R.R pinching the idea

 

[pirate]

I'm glad that in my car, if i want to move the steering wheel, I just use a lever on the side of the column...