Electric tilt wheel

[BlackMark8]

My electric telescoping tilt failed recently, it worked before, up and down worked but i had to wiggle the switch to get it to move up or down,now it don't work at all. The telescoping part (front to back) never worked. - I thought maybe it was my key switch that tells it to telescope, but the seat still scoots up when i put the key in, so i don't think its that. Anyone know anything about this switch or how to take it out safely, and an idea of how much a new one costs? Thanks

 

[whiplash15]

Each function has a potentiometer to control function. If they quit moving either way it is likely that you need a new potentiometer, or both. They do not make either one any more.
Wont hurt to ck your dealer, but dont be surprised when they say " A what? ". I have seen a very few on e-bay.

 

[jamies98lsc]

check any dealer in the country you'll get a big fat " sorry cant help ya" the part is long gone obsolete and your only hopes is to find a whole used column for sale, or find the potentiometer which will involve taking a column apart to get to it, or someone on ebay may suprise you with just a potentiometer. good luck your searching for a needle in a haystack now!

 

[M Darrah]

There's likely nothing wrong with the potentiometer except for it being dirty.

I managed to get my telescope working again a few years ago just by opening up the column and moving the slider on the potentiometer back and forth a few times like you would a dirty volume control on a stereo. Not so sure the tilt slider is as easy to manipulate without completely disassembling the column.

Best bet would be some contact cleaner. The potentiometer is accessible by taking the cover off of the steering column, and has two sliders, one for tilt and one for telescope. Spray the contact cleaner in each slot and move the sliders back and forth a few times to work it in. The telescope slider is easy to move since the piece that links it to the column just pops right off and it's then free to slide. Not so sure about the tilt slider. Even if you can't move it, spraying the cleaner in there should help. Then reinstall the column and run the tilt up and down and few times.

To do that, you need to hold the multiswitch in one position and then try pulling the steering wheel the direction you want it to go until it works "loose". It usually will without too much force. I've found for some reason that pulling up or down from the BOTTOM part of the wheel works better than from the top. No idea why. Just don't pound on the wheel! There are plastic rails in there that can be damaged from too much brute force. Likewise, wiggling the switch itself back and forth is pointless and could eventually damage the switch.

I'm not saying this is foolproof solution, but it worked for me.

 

[gravelguy]

Tilt Column - Does not tilt up or down.

My tilt column quit working recently. It telescopes in and out fine. The tilt function does not work. It looks like I should disassemble it and clean the potentiometer? Any other tips?

 

[budpytko]

I would just have another column (known good) standing by and re-install it and be done with it. Changes are the pot is bad! No known replacement available!

 

[jamies98lsc]

you can clean the switch but once you tear into the column to get that switch out you will wonder why you took it apart. i have taken a few apart and put back together but its not for the average joe, its very tricky to get the column apart and back together correctly. usually the switch is just dirty and thats why it stops functioning, but getting it out of the column means tearing the whole column apart, if you try it, take your time and be very alert at what you are doing its a pita!!!