Hi Group,

My 03 Discovery won't let me turn the key in the driver side. I don't know if it had to due because the battery was removed for a while and the car has been immobilized. Maybe the key slot is damaged. I can turn the key in the ignition and my instrument panel turns on but i can't turn the car on. The alarm goes off so i disconnected the horn. Im currently waiting for a new driver door handle i purchased from the Land Rover dealership. They say it takes up to one month for it to be made. I should have asked here for help before ordering the handle.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Step 1: If you didn't pre-pay for the door handle don't get it at the dealership you will pay way too much. There are a ton of them available in the used market.

Make sure the lock cylinder in the door handle is properly lubricated by spraying a bit of WD-40 in there. Let it sit for a short while then gently insert the key a few times to get the slide tumblers and springs lubed and see if that frees things up.

If the key lock is working okay and you still cannot open the door it is probably due to the electronic lock mechanism and not the handle itself. The mechanism has electric assist when you turn the key and if that's malfunctioning the door can be quite difficult to open with the key. You can even break the aluminum rod that goes between the handle and the mechanism if you force it.

Suggest you take things apart before ordering anything else to see what's happening inside.

 

Thanks for the info Fast951,

Unfortunately i already did purchase and pre-pay the handle at the dealership and like you said it did cost a few. I should have done my research more because i saw i could have ordered that same part for half the price at another site. Lesson learned. Ill take your suggestion and spray some WD-40 and check the lock mechanism to see if that works.

I really do appreciate the help. Ill keep you posted once i get it fixed and how i got it work eventually.

 

Is this a lock that has worked with that key before?

 

Okay, best of luck. If the lock cylinder turns out not to be the problem you'll probably need to replace the actuator inside the door. Bit of a PITA but you can do it.

Atlantic British has a video showing door panel removal on YouTube.

We have a write-up on changing the actuator.
https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...nt-tips-32321/

 

It's not an electric assist, it's an electric lock. Period. All that turning the key in the lock does is turn a switch mounted in the actuator. The switch signals the BCU to either lock or unlock one or all doors.

If central door locking works using the switch on the dash or the keyless entry handset (fob) the problem is with the lock cylinder in the handle.

I had exactly the same problem a few months ago, and repaired the lock cylinder using parts from a donor truck. The thread about that adventure is linked below.

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...-wafers-85353/

There is no mechanical link between the lock cylinder and the lock mechanism. If the battery dies while the truck is locked there is no way to unlock it without electric power. There is a workaround if that happens - you can crawl under the truck and connect a jumper cable to the battery lead terminal on the starter and to the frame. That should get power to the BCU to allow the truck to be unlocked.