DIY: Telescoping Column Motor Removal/Repair

[csabi]

Trying to avoid creating a new thread and hope someone can help me out. Has anyone ever tried to clean up the threads on the tilt motor hole for the spindle? Was taking out my old motor today and noticed that threads are destroyed in one section, now I can't get the new motor back in straight, wants to crossthread when it gets about halfway.

Trying to figure out the dimensions on that hole or i'll just have to buy this part and replace it I suppose.

View attachment 3878050

I just replaced the tilt motor. Old one came out super easy. Attempted to install the new one. Thread started easy enough but stopped at less than one revolution, same for the old one. Apparently each time it was cross threaded (given thr fine thread)

After a number of attempts, I did see the shaft was slightly out of plane/plumb. Focusing on starting it in perfectly vertical plane, and not using the threads for feel, it threaded up nicely. Working fine now.

 

[cqhall]

This was the hardest "small job" I think I've ever done.

The tilt motor was easy-peasy. The telescoping motor was a bear. I have big hands and it took me waaaaaay to long to get the top one of the two bolts holding the telescoping motor off. I tried every manner of wrench known. Socket wrenches (manual and power), open box, closed box, ratcheting, crows foot, knob style, flexy extensions, jointed extensions, tilting, stubby, stubby tilt ratcheting.

I kept saying, "It shouldn't be this hard...", yet there I was...hours later, hands cramping and tongue cursing.

But, I got it done. I got it done.

 

[cqhall]

Oh, and thanks to everyone in this thread sharing their experience. This helped a lot. Old school forums are certainly where the deep knowledge is.

Pro Tip:

As mentioned in this thread, make sure that you coordinate where the telescoping motor is and where the telescoping nut is on the spindle (or whatever the proper name is). It seems that the motor came from the factory in the "retracted" position. I needed it to be in the "extended" position.

The way I did this was to:

1. Get the nut to the end of the spindle (not necessary if it's already there):
   1. Unscrew the spindle nut bracket
   2. Using your fingers, unwind the nut to the end of the spindle
   3. Reattach the spindle nut bracket
2. Plug in the new motor that's hanging loosely (NOT installed in place)
3. Ativate the button in the manner that would fully extend the steering column. The motor will spin then stop at the end of its run.
4. Then unplug the motor to set the position
   1. Do not remove the key before unplugging. Removing the key will make it spin back again.

 

[Pulgasari]

Tried tackling this job yesterday but ended up a bit stuck.

Tilt/telescope both worked when I got my truck 4 years ago and stopped working at some point afterwards, I just adjusted it once and didn’t touch it later. Would not go in/out when starting the vehicle, but the previous owner had disabled it via TechStream. Only noticed it was broken when I tried adding the rear diff lock bulb to my instrument cluster and couldn’t actually get the cluster out. No loud noise coming from the steering column, the button just wouldn’t do anything.

Yesterday, I pulled all the trim, and before installing the new motors, figured I’d just unplug the old ones and plug the new ones in without fully installing them to make sure the new ones were good.

• When adjusting with the knob, the new tilt motor makes a sad whining noise, moves about 1/10 of a revolution, and then stops
• When adjusting with the knob, the new telescoping motor makes a very quiet click but does not spin at all

I then went and unplugged the new motors, plugged the old ones back in (which are still installed) and they both make the very quiet click when I try adjusting with the knob, but I don’t see anything moving or trying to move.

After that, I pulled the ECU-B fuse (seems like this is for the ECU memory), and observed the same behavior as before even without the fuse inserted. Originally, I wanted to unplug the ECU, but it seems like a major PITA to get to so I held off on that.

At this point, I don’t think it’s likely to be the motors, but I put the FSM and EWD into Claude so I have a plan to test them with my multimeter.

Seems likely that it’s one of the following issues:

• ECU or wiring from ECU is bad
• ECU is not calibrated after I swapped out the motors several times
• Sensors are bad (haven’t seen lots of info on this here)

My next step was going to be to disconnect the battery for 15-30 mins, then try undoing the hex bolts to manually adjust the steering column a bit and swap the new motors in, reconnect the battery, and see if that somehow fixed things. But I’m not sure if I could get the motors extended to the point the truck expects.

One thing I noticed is that my telescoping motor seems to be absolutely maxed out - maybe it’s out of spec? Is it supposed to go this far out?

 

[Pulgasari]

At this point, I don’t think it’s likely to be the motors, but I put the FSM and EWD into Claude so I have a plan to test them with my multimeter.

Turns out it was the motors... I forgot I had a spare broken tilt motor my friend pulled from his truck and that one wasn't working, the brand new one I intended to install was still sitting in its box in my basement. The telescoping motor I had was also busted, so I ordered a new one.

I was going crazy over nothing.