Telescoping steering column won't telescope

[fhturner]

Anyone else run into this or have any repair tips? When I move the adjuster knob toward me, I hear a slight click or similar noise like the motor is trying to engage. When I move the slider away from me, I hear nothing. Either way, I get no movement from the steering column. I don't have a Tech2 scan tool to go through all of the steps in the service manual, but it does seem like the proper signal is being relayed electrically (since it sounds like it is trying to do something).

Also, I've noticed that when I get in and the Memory function engages, sometimes the seat doesn't want to go all the way forward to where I've set the memory for it. And the Memory light on the door flashes at me. I press the Memory button a time or two more, and the seat inches forward each time. Could these two behaviors be related?

Thanks,
Fred

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Actually, they could definately be related, due to the fact that the telescopic is also controlled by the seat control module.
I would ask for any codes in the SCM.
Please keep us posted, c4c5

[sbright]

I had the same problem. Heres what fixed mine:

Pull on the lever back and forth rather quickly 6 times. This resets it.

Hope it works.


-Stan
2000 C5

[fhturner]

Originally posted by c4c5specialist
Actually, they could definately be related, due to the fact that the telescopic is also controlled by the seat control module.
I would ask for any codes in the SCM.

Oh, right. Forgot to mention that part. The codes that are in the system don't seem to be SCM-related. They are:

B2578H (BCM, I think-- it has to do with one of the turn signals)
U1096H (Radio)
B2252H (LDCM)
U1064H (LDCM)
U1064H (RDCM)

And that's it...

Originally posted by sbright
Pull on the lever back and forth rather quickly 6 times. This resets it.

I've tried this a couple of times, but I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly. By "back and forth...6 times", do you mean to rock it forward/back, forward/back, and so on, with each "round trip" being 1 "time"? I'll try some more combinations, but if there's a trick to it, please let me know.

Thanks guys,
Fred

[fhturner]

Okay, it appears that previously I didn't cycle the switch 6 times vigorously enough! Actually, when I tried again this afternoon, I made sort of an oval motion with the switch, instead of simply moving it forward and backward. While it only really travels forward and back, there is a slight bit of play perpendicular to that in the up/down plane. Once I made a half dozen circular/oval "loops" with the switch, the steering column finally started responding and moving again! Thanks, sbright, for "forcing" me to give it another try! And, as always, thanks, c4c5 for your response!

L8r,
Fred