What would cause the telescopic function to not lock in place? It tilts just fine, but the telescopic part doesnt lock into place, just keeps going in and out, what am I missing here?

 

G'day,
If you pull the wheel off and look in there, you will find a fitting that the tele locking lever moves. You just have to tighten it up a little. Sorry to sound so vague, but it's a while since I did mine, but it's not difficult. Should take you all of five minutes.

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

 

If you rotate your telescope locking lever all the way clockwise and your steering shaft does not lock securely in that position, it is possible that the lever just requires adjustment. The hollow upper steering shaft is locked and prevented from telescoping by a wedge and a rod that is inside the shaft. The rod is pushed down by a special "star" screw. The "star" screw is attached to the locking lever that is just under the horn button.

Carefully pry the horn cap assembly (3952780) from the steering wheel using a small, thin bladed screwdriver. If you merely yank on the horn cap it can be damaged. The cap assembly consists of three pieces that are all staked together. At this time, you might want to check that the three stakes are secure. You may even want to add some JB Weld to the stakes for insurance.

Unfasten the three screws (9) that hold the upper horn contact (10) in place and remove it along with the loose shims that are right under it. With the horn cap removed, you will see that the telescope lever is attached to the special “star” screw (3949135) with two small phillips head screws. Remove the two screws. The locking lever will be loose but trapped under the “star” screw.

Use a large phillips screw driver to tighten the star screw. Does that now lock your steering wheel from telescoping? If it does, then all you have to do is adjust it properly and you are done.

Adjustment Procedure
Using a large phillips head screwdriver, rotate the “star” screw clockwise until it is tight. This should cause the telescoping feature to lock in place. Position the locking lever under the “star” screw such that the thumb tab is approximately at the 1 o’clock position. Attach the locking lever to the “star” screw with the two small screws. (The telescope lever has numerous tapped holes in it, allowing it to be attached in multiple positions.)

Try applying and releasing the telescope feature several times using the locking lever. It should telescope freely with the thumb tab on the lever at the 11 o’clock position. It should be locked securely in place when you rotate the tab to the 1 o’clock position. If it is operating correctly, replace the shims and fasten the upper horn contact in place with three screws. Note that the upper horn contact has a leg that extends down from it. The contact must be oriented so that the leg sits on the horn contact sticking through the steering wheel hub. Snap the horn cap assembly into place.

If tightening the star screw with the phillips screwdriver does not cause the telescope feature to lock, it is possible that you might be missing a critical part.

Remove the “star” screw and use a small magnet to reach inside the hollow upper steering shaft to try and remove a quarter inch diameter rod that is behind the star screw. Many people have removed their T&T steering columns from their cars and the small rod falls out of the upper shaft without being detected. It is possible that yours may still be laying on the floor. Otherwise, you are going to have to replace the rod in order to lock your telescoping feature.

Reinstall the rod and the “star” screw and adjust as previously explained.

Jim

 

You will probably find that there is only one position in which the adjustment 'wheel' can be placed that will allow it to freely move when "unlocked" and be completely tight when "locked". Mark one of the tangs on the adjustment wheel and on the plate behind it to know where you started. Your first try should be to move the wheel just one increment tighter than it presently is. It is probably just a bit worn.