When I start from cold in the morning, if I turn the steerign wheel side to side it feels like it's 'sticky' almost like it's rusted or something overnight.
This quickly goes away and all is fine.

Is this just cos the steering pump/engine is cold?

Anyone else experienced this?

Did you try to do the same during the day?
It's allways more sticky to do it while the car is not mooving. Also the tyres are still cold and more, say resistant then warm tyres.
Did you wait at least untll the radio comes on as the FL2's systems have to power on? FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE (XS UK) IZMIR BLUE SIDE STEPS COLD PACK BI-XENON TINTED WINDOWS - AND PROUD OF HER

No it's not like that.

It feels like it's something actually stuck, which comes unstuck quite easily....

It's hard to explain.

Try it when your car is cold.

No it's fine when it's warm, just happens after starting from cold.

It's maybe the caravanners under the wheels waking up.......

So it does it only once when the car is cold. Say first time you start the car in the morning.
Tried this morning andmine was fine. But there were abt 16 degrees outside and it was not cold over night.
Sound like a hydraulical steering mechanism problem to me. Maybe something to do with the steering power pump.
You are not loosing any steering hydrsulic liquide ? The tank is filled? - Stupid question. Sorry FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE (XS UK) IZMIR BLUE SIDE STEPS COLD PACK BI-XENON TINTED WINDOWS - AND PROUD OF HER

Hi Snappa,
did you find out the exact cause of the sticking steering;
Mine also started to become heavy to steer so flushed out old fluid and replaced Reservoir/integral filter; better but still that initial stuck feeling when starting up , goes away quite quickly though when fluid is warm!
Best regards ,ps vehicle has covered 115000 miles so am planning to change serpentine belt.

It’s a 10 year old post he may be long gone.

Ah should have gone to spec savers;

topped the fluid level right up and it may have helped will see how it is first thing on a cold morning.

Well my 07 has this sticky rusted type feeling on the steering.

I know previous owner has changed the steering column together with pump and Reservoir.

My local non LR garage have checked it over and asked me to look on here for help. They have never come across it, the boss there says its the like power steering being slow to move to the column.

They don’t want to go down a rabbit hole changing parts without knowledge that it will fix the issue.

Its just passed its MOT no advisory's with engine oil plus gearbox oil changes plus new brake fluid and secondary earth strap all at my request.

When l get the car back l will open the Reservoir to see there’s a volcano in there .

Otherwise its a great car 111k miles , slight rust above rear door handle , amazing really.  2008 Freelander2 SE Black SOLD
2010 Mini Cooper auto SOLD
2001 Mercedes SL500 Silver makes the above look slow 0-60 6.1 secs. 😃
2018 Mercedes GLA200 Premium Plus, got every gadget under the sun.

Strange rust above the rear door handle.

Hi solved my steering problem with a reconditioned rack, and new reservoir, from a very helpful company in Bristol, was not too expensive, Good luck

What sort of hours did they charge out of interest? Thinking that's where the main cost would be...

The replacement rack was under £200, with the new reservoir, the company is western power steering, had a local mechanic change the racks over for £300, then tracking as well. havn't had to change the pump , and all going well so far.
All the best.

So £500 squid.

I’m not ,doing many miles , maybe 6,000 pa, the sticking is not so annoying or dangerous to justify paying that kind of money.

Obviously if it gets really bad l will get it done though l think l would want to renew all the pipework to ensure zero crud remains.

With regards to the rusty boot door , it is a strange place to go, but it has l treated with some rust prevention stuff. The car is the workhorse all the tip runs and when weather is really bad.

Still think its a very understated model Most probably the best Land Rover ever made, though of course it was made under Ford ownership.

Was not impressed with Discovery Sport HSE l tried. Seat was very uncomfortable, and that was just doing a qtr mile. 2008 Freelander2 SE Black SOLD
2010 Mini Cooper auto SOLD
2001 Mercedes SL500 Silver makes the above look slow 0-60 6.1 secs. 😃
2018 Mercedes GLA200 Premium Plus, got every gadget under the sun.