toddwallace

My wife's ML500 (2007) had a steering column cover that moved around. Before I got to taking a look, it has rotated down a few degrees where the blinkers are slightly lower than they were. Taking a look, there was a screw hold that I loosened but that probably made things a bit worse although I did get it tightened back. I slide the cover forward and the clips came out which is a challenge in itself. I can't get it rotated back and I can't get the column flush against the steering wheel again. I can't find any videos on YouTube that are helpful. I'm thinking I will need to remove the steering wheel. She did get a few alarms a while back that was a steering wheel position sensor that I think is related to this column cover moving. It has not done that in a while.

Any suggestions or help here would be greatly appreciated. Trying to get this fixed this weekend..

Maj. Dundee

Under the right side of the steering column cover, you will see a large access hole. There is no need to remove steering wheel.

At the top of the hole is a bolt which keeps the combination sw. in place. You will need an extended T27 Torx 1/4" drive socket as pictured.

Loosen the bolt slightly and center/level the column cover. Then tighten the bolt, but don't over do it.

toddwallace

That "almost" works. Definitely loosens the plastic cover, but ca't rotate it so the sifters are back level. It's like it's locked in placed. The plastic cover itself moves, but the wiper, tilt and shifter will not rotate.

Thoughts?

Maj. Dundee

Did you first loosen the bolt slightly?

toddwallace

Here are 2 pictures showing the column that is off and the hole I loosened the Torx screw in. I did loosen and try to shift the cover to have it centered.


Here is a picture that shows the column tilted a few degress to high


Here is the hole I put the torx into to loosen

Maj. Dundee

With the bolt loosened enough, but not removed, grab the cover with both hands and give it a quick jerk downwards.

That bolt is supposed to sit in a concave bore hole drilled into the steering column and the bolt is convexed at its tip.

flybd5

That looks awfully familiar. It's how the wings are locked in torsion on a BD-5 aircraft.

toddwallace

When you say a quick jerk downwards, are you talking about a rotate motion on the shaft cover or a literal motion downward. When I loosen the set screw, the cover does appear to loosen, but the entire assembly feels locked in place somehow. Maybe, I need to loosen more but real afraid for that set screw to come out and make things much worse.

Maj. Dundee

Then leave everything alone I don't want to be responsible.

Maj. Dundee

Todd, how did the snifter lever get out of place/higher up? Do the gear selections show properly on the I.C.?

Is the signal lever also out of place?

toddwallace

Missed this one so sorry about the slow response.

The whole column rotated up but everything works fine and shows properly on the I.C.. It's just rotated..