abqhudson

Please share any thoughts/experiences:

2016 C300 4 Matic with 36000 miles.

Steering wheel will not adjust up and down
Rattle sound in the column on start - sounds like motor is turning?
Rattle sound in the column on engine off - sounds like motor is turning?
Rattle sound when adjuster attempts to move wheel up.
Rattle sound when adjuster attempts to move the wheel down.
Wheel does move in and out.
Rattle sound when memory button is pushed. to change position.

What might be the problem?
DIY or will it have to go to the dealer?

Thanks for any comment.

bbirdwell

Plastic connector most likely broken. DIYs are on this forum. A couple of hours labor. Dealer repair is an option.

abqhudson

For others who have this problem:

This is what I found so far - my best guess is - wonderful and cheap plastic part failure

There is a utube video - "how to fix steering wheel not tilting"

Looks like my 85 year old body would not be pliable enough for this to be a DIY.

abqhudson

Can anyone help with a source for the broken connector or a part number?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

abqhudson

mistake tried to delete

abqhudson

Video above lists two part #s for reference - neither fits my 2016. I will visit Dealer tomorrow to see if I can get a part number.

abqhudson

Update.: The coupler is no longer available for 2016+ You now have to order a repair assembly - about $225.
Dealer wanted to charge me $180 for estimate.
Indie estimate for part and labor was $550.
Part ordered - will let you know the outcome.

Trappers101

PLEASE post updates... I have the exact same problem with my 2016 C300 and it happened right about at the same milage. Its the only thing wrong with the car and I've just been living with it until now.

abqhudson

will do.

Cosworth2000

Hey, there was a update for the this and I think it was an important upgrade to fix. For me they fix it out of warranty but is was something that had to be done.

Trappers101

So a little backstory. About a year and half ago is when this problem happened. I'd hear a click click click thunk as the wheel moved. Then one day it just went thunk and that was the end of the wheel going up and down. Pushing on the lever manually in and out works just fine, but up or down...nothing. I tried using my knee and lifting up on the wheel while pushing the lever up...nothing. I tried banging on the top of the wheel using the palm of my hand while pushing down on the lever, the last pound was hard enough to where I was starting to get concerned about the airbag going off...still nothing. Fortunately the wheel was at the right height when it stopped working so I just left it alone and turned the auto exit function off.

I had some free time yesterday, so I pulled the drivers side fuse cover off and checked all the fuses except for the big square metal one as it was hard to pull and assumed it wouldn't show me anything if it had blown. All the fuses looked good so I put the cover back on. Maybe its human nature but when something is 'broken' we always try it again to see if its still 'broken' only this time I heard that same thunk noise it made before it stopped working and now everything is working just fine! Smooth operation with no noise at all and the wheel goes up and out of the way to exit just like its supposed to. I live just outside of Detroit and the roads here remind me of the craters I've seen after a bombing run. That not a joke either they really are that bad. Now I'm thinking that maybe the devastating shockwaves from the many pot holes that eventually claimed two rims fixed whatever was wrong. What do you guys think???

abqhudson

Indie ($260 for labor - Dealer wanted $190. for diagnosis) replaced a defective part in the steering column. 231-460-77-00. Everything now works fine.
YMMV