Power telescoping steering column died!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
Power telescoping steering column died!!
Went to a car show tonight. Got back in and steering column did not telescope out like it normally does when the key is put in. The switch on the side of the column wouldn't do anything either.
Looked in the owner's manual for a fuse/relay to check but none listed for the power telescoping steering column.
No codes set either.
Anyone know what fuse I should check or anything that should be looked at?
Thanks.
Looked in the owner's manual for a fuse/relay to check but none listed for the power telescoping steering column.
No codes set either.
Anyone know what fuse I should check or anything that should be looked at?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
Never Mind!!!
I tried the search function again with "telescoping" instead of "adjustable steering column". Found this:
"Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
My telescoping Steering Column all of a sudden (3 months ago) would only extend out about 3/4 inch. Being 6'1" and driving with the seat all the way back, I like having that wheel out to it's furthest position.
I decided to let it go until the car had a "better" reason to see the dealer.
Well, for the heck of it last week I emailed a friend about this problem who is also the Corvette Technician at the dealer where I take my Corvette.
He emails back to try this 3 step process for.
Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
1) Turn the ignition to the "ON" position but with the engine not running
2) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "inward" position then hold the button in the INWARD position for 5 seconds
3) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "outward" position then hold the button in the OUTWARD position for 5 seconds
I'm reading that and suddenly remembering my Boy Scout days of sending the Tenderfoot boys out looking for Left Handed Smoke Shifters and Skyhooks and crazy things like that.
But.......... IT WORKED.
My Telescopig Streering wheel now works as it did when it was new with the full extension. Apparently this trick resets it. The column had somehow memorized this 3/4" outward position as it's furthest extension and that was all I was going to get. (until this reset trick of course)
Amazing.
The Tech that taught me this trick.
Steve Spencer, Corvette Technician
Bryner Chevrolet
Jenkintown (Philadelphia) PA"
This solved my problem!!
Is this forum great or what!!!
"Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
My telescoping Steering Column all of a sudden (3 months ago) would only extend out about 3/4 inch. Being 6'1" and driving with the seat all the way back, I like having that wheel out to it's furthest position.
I decided to let it go until the car had a "better" reason to see the dealer.
Well, for the heck of it last week I emailed a friend about this problem who is also the Corvette Technician at the dealer where I take my Corvette.
He emails back to try this 3 step process for.
Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
1) Turn the ignition to the "ON" position but with the engine not running
2) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "inward" position then hold the button in the INWARD position for 5 seconds
3) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "outward" position then hold the button in the OUTWARD position for 5 seconds
I'm reading that and suddenly remembering my Boy Scout days of sending the Tenderfoot boys out looking for Left Handed Smoke Shifters and Skyhooks and crazy things like that.
But.......... IT WORKED.
My Telescopig Streering wheel now works as it did when it was new with the full extension. Apparently this trick resets it. The column had somehow memorized this 3/4" outward position as it's furthest extension and that was all I was going to get. (until this reset trick of course)
Amazing.
The Tech that taught me this trick.
Steve Spencer, Corvette Technician
Bryner Chevrolet
Jenkintown (Philadelphia) PA"
This solved my problem!!
Is this forum great or what!!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 25
From: Rochester Minnesota
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
The voodoo fix posted above sounds like it won't work...but low and behold it actually ended up working for me as well. It's also been previously posted that the blue connector under the driver seat is probably all gunked up. Disconnecting the plug and cleaning it out then reconnecting and that may work for you.
If this doesn't work you need to go see a voodoo priestess and have him throw some chicken bones on the car!
If this doesn't work you need to go see a voodoo priestess and have him throw some chicken bones on the car!
Last edited by Johnny Hardcore; May 28, 2010 at 09:00 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH
I tried the search function again with "telescoping" instead of "adjustable steering column". Found this:
"Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
My telescoping Steering Column all of a sudden (3 months ago) would only extend out about 3/4 inch. Being 6'1" and driving with the seat all the way back, I like having that wheel out to it's furthest position.
I decided to let it go until the car had a "better" reason to see the dealer.
Well, for the heck of it last week I emailed a friend about this problem who is also the Corvette Technician at the dealer where I take my Corvette.
He emails back to try this 3 step process for.
Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
1) Turn the ignition to the "ON" position but with the engine not running
2) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "inward" position then hold the button in the INWARD position for 5 seconds
3) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "outward" position then hold the button in the OUTWARD position for 5 seconds
I'm reading that and suddenly remembering my Boy Scout days of sending the Tenderfoot boys out looking for Left Handed Smoke Shifters and Skyhooks and crazy things like that.
But.......... IT WORKED.
My Telescopig Streering wheel now works as it did when it was new with the full extension. Apparently this trick resets it. The column had somehow memorized this 3/4" outward position as it's furthest extension and that was all I was going to get. (until this reset trick of course)
Amazing.
The Tech that taught me this trick.
Steve Spencer, Corvette Technician
Bryner Chevrolet
Jenkintown (Philadelphia) PA"
This solved my problem!!
Is this forum great or what!!!
"Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
My telescoping Steering Column all of a sudden (3 months ago) would only extend out about 3/4 inch. Being 6'1" and driving with the seat all the way back, I like having that wheel out to it's furthest position.
I decided to let it go until the car had a "better" reason to see the dealer.
Well, for the heck of it last week I emailed a friend about this problem who is also the Corvette Technician at the dealer where I take my Corvette.
He emails back to try this 3 step process for.
Resetting the Telescoping Steering Wheel
1) Turn the ignition to the "ON" position but with the engine not running
2) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "inward" position then hold the button in the INWARD position for 5 seconds
3) Tap the telescoping button 8 times in the "outward" position then hold the button in the OUTWARD position for 5 seconds
I'm reading that and suddenly remembering my Boy Scout days of sending the Tenderfoot boys out looking for Left Handed Smoke Shifters and Skyhooks and crazy things like that.
But.......... IT WORKED.
My Telescopig Streering wheel now works as it did when it was new with the full extension. Apparently this trick resets it. The column had somehow memorized this 3/4" outward position as it's furthest extension and that was all I was going to get. (until this reset trick of course)
Amazing.
The Tech that taught me this trick.
Steve Spencer, Corvette Technician
Bryner Chevrolet
Jenkintown (Philadelphia) PA"
This solved my problem!!
Is this forum great or what!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,514
Likes: 0
From: Si Vis Pacem Habeatis Filios Vestros, Ad Bellum Parare Modo
Unbelieveable! This trick actually works! 
My steering column refused to budge more than an inch today. I found this thread in the forum, followed the procedure, and voila! It's functioning again!
My steering column refused to budge more than an inch today. I found this thread in the forum, followed the procedure, and voila! It's functioning again!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
For those that don't magically come back to life, the telescoping steering wheel power and position feedback goes through the blue 7-pin connector under the driver's seat. Those male/female pins will slowly get lose and cause the failure. Usually just reseating the connector will get it going again, but eventually they will have to be cleaned or the connector replaced.
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Cruising
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
It worked!
[QUOTE=Lango;1605112185]Worked for me, too! Mine quit probably a year ago, and I've been putting off chasing a fix. This worked before I was even through