Outkasted24

I have my seat and steering wheel preset, and the dash option is set to return the steering wheel to up and in so I can get out easier.

So Last night when I got home, I parked the car in the garage and shut her down.
I pulled out the key, opened my door, and the seat went back, the steering wheel went in towards the dash and all the UP, but a motor kept running behind the wheel.
I tapped the steering wheel adjustment lever and the running sound stopped.

I turned the car back on and hit my preset, but the wheel would not go down.
I tried tilting the lever manually but also no movement.
So now.... The steering wheels is stuck in the up position at all times and I feel like I'm driving a Mac Truck.

What could be wrong?
Has this happened to anyone before?
Did you get it fixed or fix it yourself?

Please Help Me

samaritrey

I have heard of the motor going out so that would be my guess. I use to have my seat and steering wheel go to the easy out mode but my seat motor died and I had to drive the car with the seat way to far back one or twice and decided that I am skinny and young and the feature was stupid for someone like me so I turned it off.

Outkasted24

at first that's what I thought, but it sounds like the motor in the steering column is running when I joggle the lever, but nothing happens.
The column goes in and out, just not up and down.

MBfinatic

Its the motor. It happened to my C55. A real PAIN to get to...

FrankW

the dogbone that attach the motor to the adjustment gear probably broke. it's a 3 dollar part. takes 5 min when you remove the cover under the steering wheel. you'll have to reach in there to remove it. you can probably ask glyn for more info.

MountainStone

If you can hear the motor running but the wheel doesn't move, it is likely a broken plastic 'dogbone' as stated by Frank. There are a few threads on this failure. The part is literally $3-$4 but the dealer quotes several hours of labor to replace it, since you have to remove the center console, center stack and many of the driver-side dash pieces to unbolt and lower the steering column to get to this tiny little plastic connector. Check out this thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...e-up-down.html

Mine has been broken for a long time and I have been waiting for someone to post the repair DIY that doesn't involve removing most of the interior. To my knowledge, nobody on this forum has ever successfully replaced the dogbone by just removing the cover under the steering wheel.

Frank, do you know of someone who has accomplished this feat? Are you saying you think glyn has done it?

Outkasted24

Wow, That's a pretty intense job for a $3 part replacement.

Thank You for the replies, I'll keep everyone posted if I tackle it myself.

FrankW

i don't think you need to remove all that.

i watched my mechanic did this within 5min of getting the cover under the dash off and reach in there to replace the dogbone, but then again he did this numerous times and knows what to look for when he reach in there.

MountainStone

Frank,
You watched your mechanic do this? Can you state for sure what panel(s) he removed for access, and what tool(s) he used to accomplish the replacement? I have to assume he used at least a pair of long, thin needle-nose pliers but I can't guess what length or if they are a specialty plier with angled jaws or maybe something he modified himself?

Can you clue us in? Thanx!

FrankW

There is only one panel directly under the dash. I think he did use a long neck plier and of course you will have to stuck you head and body under the dash facing up. There is no special tools. You will have to look for yourself as i did not look under the dash. By the looks of thing you from the other thread you will need to loosen four bolts thats holding the verticle adjustment assembly so you can slide the new dog bone in.

Outkasted24

Well, I've decided to dive right into this one myself.
Called Mercedes Benz of Tampa Bay this morning and they located the last Dog bone they had in stock.

This weekends To do list is pretty full already, So I plan on tearing into this project next Friday.
I'll take pics and do a DIY write up for my fella MBWers.

MBfinatic

This project is a pina if I remember correctly.

MountainStone

I look forward to seeing/hearing your results. Hopefully Frank is correct that his mechanic didn't use some hard-to-find specialty pliers or pliers he modified himself just to accomplish this PITA job. If you really got the last part available in your town, go slowly to ensure you don't crush/tear the new part while installing it (I think you have to bend it to fit).

I got my fingers crossed for you...

Glyn M Ruck

Sorry - I do not have the R&R on this. I have everything else including the Steering Angle sensor replacemnent but not this. Please keep a record of what you do.




5 A 209 460 03 16 STEER. COLUMN JACKET TUBE [009], [031]
Code: 275
001 L
5 A 209 460 04 16 STEER. COLUMN JACKET TUBE [009], [032]
Code: 275
001 R
20 A 203 460 06 25 TRANSMISSION
FORE AND AFT ADJUSTMENT Code: 275
001
30 A 002 990 59 12 .SCREW
TRANSMISSION TO JACKET TUBE
M5X16 Code: 275
002
40 A 002 990 99 12 .SCREW
TRANSMISSION TO JACKET TUBE
M5X10 Code: 275
002
45 N 000007 7003114 CYLINDRICAL PIN Code: 275
004
50 A 220 460 02 23 .END PIECE
INSIDE STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE IN OUTSIDE STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE Code: 275
002
60 N 910113 3005001 .NUT
TRANSMISSION TO JACKET TUBE
M5 Code: 275
001
70 A 004 990 47 51 .NUT
STEER. COLUMN JACKET TUBE
M8 Code: 275
001
80 A 211 462 00 05 .CONSOLE [035], [036]
Code: 275
001
90 A 203 460 03 25 .TRANSMISSION
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT Code: 275
001
100 N 910143 3006005 .SCREW
M6X35 Code: 275
004
110 A 203 462 06 78 .COUPLING COLLAR
BETWEEN ELETRIC MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION Code: 275
001
120 A 220 540 02 88 .ELECTRIC MOTOR
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT Code: 275
001
130 A 211 462 00 39 .HOLDER
ELECTRIC MOTOR [035], [029]
Code: 275
001
140 A 002 990 59 12 .SCREW
BRACKET TO CONSOLE
M5X16 Code: 275
002
150 A 220 462 01 50 BUSHING
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE Code: 275
002
160 A 007 990 28 04 SCREW
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE Code: 275
001
170 A 220 462 00 50 BUSHING
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE Code: 275
002
180 A 220 462 07 74 PIN
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE Code: 275
001
190 A 168 462 03 72 CLAMPING NUT
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE
M8 Code: 275
002
200 N 000912 2005010 SCREW
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE
M5X18 Code: 275
002
210 A 203 460 01 22 SPACER TUBE
STEER. COLUMN JACKET TUBE Code: 275
001
220 N 000000 0003120 SCREW
SPACER SLEEVE AT JACKET TUBE
M8X16 Code: 275
002
230 A 203 462 00 95 COVER
SPACER TUBE Code: 275
001
260 A 002 990 60 12 .SCREW
LOWER STEERING SHAFT TO UPPER STEERING SHAFT 001
265 A 203 460 02 09 .STEERING SHAFT
STEER. COLUMN JACKET TUBE [417]
001
300 A 352 990 46 01 SCREW
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO BODY
M8X45 003
305 A 001 990 84 91 NUT RETAINER
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO BODY 001
310 N 910112 2006003 NUT
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE
M6 002
320 A 007 990 29 04 SCREW
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE Code: 275
001
340 A 001 990 90 54 NUT
STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE TO CONSOLE Code: 275
002

MountainStone

Did you ever tackle this job? Love to hear how it went...

LILBENZ230

Stupid feature.. I have it disabled because it seems to just be excess wear on those parts.

I would like to know if the OP got it fixed or not, though!

johnand

Psssttt, I really love the feature and it has been enabled since day 1. If it ever craps out, I will deal with it. I find it asinine to disable options just for the fear of failure, but that is me

I too would love to see the OP's results, that why I subscribed to this thread.

LILBENZ230

I agree with you about it being asinine to disable options for fear of failure. I really should have elaborated that yes, I think of it as excess wear on the parts but the main reason I have it disabled is due to my opinion of it as a "stupid feature" . The seat and wheel move too slowly to make the useful, at least for me. I was already out of the car before they had stopped moving. The IS350 has the system but only moves the wheel.. it moves fast. The Benz just sort of slowly powers the wheel up and the seat back, I found myself just sitting there waiting on it to be done. Disabled it immediately.

BTW I can enable and disable mine in the IP, the 07s require STAR?

johnand

You just get out of your car too fast I find the wheel moves pretty fast, and the seat moves moderately fast. Since I sit pretty far back, the seat doesn't move a whole lot, like it does on my wife's setting. In fact, I am on the hairy edge of the feature working with the seat. If your driving seat position is too far back, it doesn't work at all. But, it is not even close to the end of travel

The 07's can enable and disable in the IP as well, the difference is the easy entry/exit feature only moves the steering wheel and NOT the seat. You need to enable the the seat for easy entry/exit in STAR developer for both to operate. Once enabled, the pair can be enabled/disabled, in the IP.

Outkasted24

Sorry MBWers, I have been so busy with life and work lately that I haven't even had a solid hour of free time to tear into the steering column.
Next weekend looks very promising though........., I'll keep everyone posted.

LILBENZ230

Ah, okay. On the 05s you can select "steering wheel" or "seat + steering wheel" in the IP.

My driving position is not too far back as I'm pretty short, but like I say it doesn't move fast enough for me. Maybe I do get out of the car too quickly!

LILBENZ230

So you've been driving it like a bus? That's not just inconvenient.. having the airbag pointed at your face is dangerous.

MountainStone

I don't use the 'easy exit' feature, but I use the memory option all the time. The wife drives the car to work daily and I drive it whenever we take it anywhere together. Pressing the memory button moves the seat/mirrors/steering wheel/stereo presets and prolly some other stuff to my driving position (or hers when she gets back in the driver seat).

I look forward to your results, and I hope you have a good camera with flash. I also bet you'll need a long pair of needle-nose pliers, but I'll wait to let you tell us what tool(s) you found necessary. Good luck - I'm rooting for ya!

MountainStone

Didja ever tackle this?

Outkasted24

I just finished this DIY ....... and What a PITA!!
It took a total of 5 hours from start to finish, however I did run into some issues.
First... I couldn't find my Star Key set, So I had to run to The Auto parts store.
They didn't have what I was looking for, So it was off to Home Depot.
Second.... After I got back, The first screw that I went to take out ....under the radio, got stripped.
I had to break out the Dremel and slice a line into the head in order to back the screw out with a flathead.

Everything else went pretty smooth except pulling the lower dash down.
I'm not really sure how I got it to come loose, but after a fight and some select words... I got it!

I couldn't have done this DIY without all of my Fellow MBWers.
Thank You for the Help and DIY Links.

If you need to do this FIX, Please follow these links like I did.

1. https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...dashboard.html

Then
2. https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...e-up-down.html

Here are a couple of pics that I took as I went along.
I was going to do a step by step, but I didn't realise the pics I was taking through the day were not coming out clear.
Sorry!


Here is the $7 culprit

And Here is The Dogbone broken and still installed.