Telescoping working but not tilt
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10th Gear
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Telescoping working but not tilt
Hello all,
My steering wheel will move forward and backward (telescoping) but not up and down (tilt). So I went and got another part and swapped it out but that is not working either. When I bought the car a few months ago, the steering wheel moved down but did not move back up which is why I tried swapping out the motor. Even with the different motor not installed, when I plug it in, I get no response.
Is the next step to replace the black switch that moves it up/down and in/out?
The fuse looks good and since telescoping I don't think that's the problem. Your help is very much appreciated.
My steering wheel will move forward and backward (telescoping) but not up and down (tilt). So I went and got another part and swapped it out but that is not working either. When I bought the car a few months ago, the steering wheel moved down but did not move back up which is why I tried swapping out the motor. Even with the different motor not installed, when I plug it in, I get no response.
Is the next step to replace the black switch that moves it up/down and in/out?
The fuse looks good and since telescoping I don't think that's the problem. Your help is very much appreciated.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 704
Likes: 233
From: UT
Yep, I think there is one fuse for both, so not a fuse issue. Did you buy a used motor? I always say that while I respect budgets, you buy the unknown since you cannot see wear on used electrical equipment.
I don't know a lot but one of mine went, and I pay for labor, so I figured nail both. I paid $400 each on a Bell Lexus sale, then labor, but this is an amazing offering:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16804693219...Bk9SR7afjOfwZg
I don't know about the switch except that I don't ever hear about that being the problem. These motors just croak.
I don't know a lot but one of mine went, and I pay for labor, so I figured nail both. I paid $400 each on a Bell Lexus sale, then labor, but this is an amazing offering:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16804693219...Bk9SR7afjOfwZg
I don't know about the switch except that I don't ever hear about that being the problem. These motors just croak.
Last edited by CA2WALS430; Jan 3, 2026 at 04:45 PM.
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 39
Likes: 12
From: TX
Yep, I think there is one fuse for both, so not a fuse issue. Did you buy a used motor? I always say that while I respect budgets, you buy the unknown since you cannot see wear on used electrical equipment.
I don't know a lot but one of mine went, and I pay for labor, so I figured nail both. I paid $400 each on a Bell Lexus sale, then labor, but this is an amazing offering:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16804693219...Bk9SR7afjOfwZg
I don't know about the switch except that I don't ever hear about that being the problem. These motors just croak.
I don't know a lot but one of mine went, and I pay for labor, so I figured nail both. I paid $400 each on a Bell Lexus sale, then labor, but this is an amazing offering:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16804693219...Bk9SR7afjOfwZg
I don't know about the switch except that I don't ever hear about that being the problem. These motors just croak.
I second this, locate a new motor either dealer or for better pricing checkout ebay
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 15
Likes: 3
From: Indiana
This write-up is the bible - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-3rd-gen-2001-2006/757395-diy-the-step-by-step-telescopic-steering-write-up.html
Telescoping was squeaky and making noise when I acquired my LS430, turned out to be a bad bushing shown in post #67 - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...m_content=post
Luckily, the motor still worked fine, and you can test it by disconnecting the jackscrew from the steering column (just 2 10mm bolts). After replacement, I must have bumped the telescope button before tightening things down and did not properly index the motor. As a result, telescoping was limited and I thought the motor was, in fact, bad. Turns out I just needed to properly locate the jack screw nut.
Telescoping was squeaky and making noise when I acquired my LS430, turned out to be a bad bushing shown in post #67 - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...m_content=post
Luckily, the motor still worked fine, and you can test it by disconnecting the jackscrew from the steering column (just 2 10mm bolts). After replacement, I must have bumped the telescope button before tightening things down and did not properly index the motor. As a result, telescoping was limited and I thought the motor was, in fact, bad. Turns out I just needed to properly locate the jack screw nut.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 704
Likes: 233
From: UT
@Commuter , that is amazing. I think you may ultimately end up replacing the motor still, but heck, not for now, nice job! I mean, they don't all go bad.
You can do those things when you do your own labor. If you ask a dealership to do that they will say "We don't repair, only replace.", which used to infuriate me until I saw the logic behind it, they just can't afford to guess at things and have people coming back and saying it didn't work, and they have 100 cars waiting for service-plan oil changes. They operate on mfr-supplied manuals for replacement and can't deviate.
You can do those things when you do your own labor. If you ask a dealership to do that they will say "We don't repair, only replace.", which used to infuriate me until I saw the logic behind it, they just can't afford to guess at things and have people coming back and saying it didn't work, and they have 100 cars waiting for service-plan oil changes. They operate on mfr-supplied manuals for replacement and can't deviate.
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