Steering lock (jamming) fix
OK, 2 weeks on and its been 100%. The fix I decribed above worked. The problem is simply the metal components in the lock binding, they need DRY lock lubricant (graphite powder). I can not stress enough how bad this was before, but the graphite has sorted it. I think trying to get it into 'internals' of the lock is the key.... I forced some in with a can of compressed air.
I did have another fault too..... The keyless entry had not worked since I got the car, and the previous owner had a replacement remote installed (a seperate key fob). Anyway. last week the car battery went 100% flat and when I got in (via the passender door clip off ket access) and recharged the battery, hey presto the keyless entry works again (via the rubber door mounted micro switchs of the nissan keyless fob buttons) Interestingly, the '3rd party' key rob that the previous owner supplied no longer works. Clearly, the flat battery has resolved the original keyless & remote control problems he was having before I purchased the car.... RESULT!