C5 tilt column question. My knobs gone all floppy.

[Adetuono]

Anyone in the C5 collective had this happen? The tilt lever seems to have become disconnected somehow. It's sprung to the forward position (you normally have to pull it forward to adjust the column) and won't allow the wheel to move up and down. At present, the wheel is in the fully 'up' position, and I can't see the DIC display without peering over the top. Not only that, it's not very comfortable.

I've removed the lower trim panel and the bottom column shroud. I can see where the lever pivots in the column but have no idea where the other end goes, or what it is or isn't attached to. Any ideas anyone?

[vetteheadracer]

Sorry to hear about your lever problem......sounds like either you broke the plastic handle off of the lever that pivots the steering wheel hence it is stuck in the up position, or the other possibility might be something to do with the steering column lock has engaged and you need to free that to free the lever.

[adetuono]

vetteheadracer said:

Sorry to hear about your lever problem......sounds like either you broke the plastic handle off of the lever that pivots the steering wheel hence it is stuck in the up position, or the other possibility might be something to do with the steering column lock has engaged and you need to free that to free the lever.

The handle is still attached to the pivot lever, which is still attached to the column assembly. No problems with the column lock; I've been driving for the last couple of days. I'm pretty sure that something's come away inside the column. I can see a toothed quadrant; I assume that there's a corresponding pawl that locks off on this.

Don't really want to mess too much, as I don't want to get into issues with the column lock. I don't think that my car has had the mod done. Maybe that's the route to take, however, and get both jobs done at the same time. Does the lock recall apply to this country as well, and if so, who would be qualified to do it. I don't fancy having to go to BM, so any info would be appreciated.

[te51cle]

Column lock recall applies to this country too but you have to go to BM... I haven't had mine done and so far no problems.

[Adetuono]

te51cle said:

Column lock recall applies to this country too but you have to go to BM... I haven't had mine done and so far no problems.

Has anyone here had any problems with the column lock, or anyone got any idea of the percentage of vehicles it affected? As I don't use it every day, I figure I'll leave it well alone.

BTW, got the tilt problem fixed. It appears that one of the toothed quadrants had jammed in the closed position. Little bit of persuasion, and all's well again.

[yellowshark454]

75K miles with my 2001 has proved no problem with my column lock. So on current sample of 2 that makes 100% no problem in the UK