SpencerT

95 ls400
Over the past few months I have noticed my steering wheel was not coming all the way to the previous position I set it at when I insert the key. It has been within a few millimeters but not exactly where it was last.

Today when I shut the car off, the wheel retracted only 10% of what it should have and then barely moved when I started the car later.

I can still move the wheel to any position with the control **** and it doesnt sound like a gear is slipping or anything.

Is this a computer problem or is my telescoping motor dying?

matchesLS

Mine does the same exact thing and from my research, the motor is activated when the key is inserted. I've concluded that the switch inside the cylinder gets dirty and just needs a good cleaning to make good contact with the key. If I position the key just right the wheel moves like it is supposed too. I havent cleaned mine up yet because it's been low on my priority list.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

please search in the faq. a couple big threads n this. the gear probably skipped a couple teeth.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

my 96 acts just like matches, and yours T , but it is not something I want to fool with at this time because the **** moves it all around.. so dont worry, just move it.

SpencerT

Thanks Billyd. I just drove the car again and it is back to moving to 95% of what I last set it at.
How long has your been doing this?

This morning when the wheel barely moved it was raing pretty hard, so I feel the humidity might have effected it.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

ever since I bought it, about a year or so now. about 1 in 5 times it does just right, the other times I just move it, out or down, which ever it needs to make it fit me...

SpencerT

Oh ok. Well I'll take your word for it and leave it alone.

matchesLS

Next time, play with the key and I bet you can get it to work properly. The contact in the key cylinder just needs to be cleaned.

SpencerT

I am going to try spraying the key hole with some compressed air keyboard cleaner tomorrow and see if that does anything.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

let us know T and maybe I can fix mine too

SpencerT

I used the keyboard cleaner this morning and a surprising amount of dirt and bits of grass came out.
After that the wheel went to the exact position I had set it at previously.

But then this afternoon it was back to being withing a few millimeters of the correct position.
I have inserted and removed the key about 10 times to test it and it is much better than it was yesterday.

It is deffinatly worth a try but I doubt you will be able to fix it 100% without some form of solvent to remove any oil than is in the key hole. But I would never do that without removing the key hole assembly, and that hardly seems worth the risk and effort.