Oh man, I can't tell you how glad I am to find this. My GS300 steering wheel whines every time it retracts. Now I know how to get to the mechanism and ensure that the gears are centered and re-lube the gears as well. I had posted a thread on the GS Forum and nobody ever responded. A lot of "lookie-loos", but no help. Now I can direct visitors to this thread so they can get answers as well.

 

Awesome and easy fix. I just used 2 big washers on the backside to shim out the gear... and its as good as new. It looks like there was a paper washer or something that degraded over time that causes the issue.

 

My power tilt went out recently on my 95 SC3. Very grateful for this guide - I couldn't fix it because I had no good way of clamping the screw that the retaining nut is on, and I couldn't remove that nut as it was just turning the worm gear when I applied a wrench. I was at least able to push enough of the yellow grease (which was still thick & not crumbly) back onto the worm gear & cog to get it to mesh, and tilt back down. The 110+ degree summer we've had this year in Nashville has causing the grease to melt out. If next summer isn't like this or worse I'm just gonna have a Lexus shop re-grease it, since the cog & gear appear positioned properly, or close enough.

 

I just utilized this fix on my son's '99 SC300 using the bottom half of a water bottle cap as a spacer and it worked like a champ. I want to thank the OP for this helpful DIY write-up.

Meanwhile, I am stunned that no one has come out with a replacement blue gear and washer spacer as a simple DIY kit. The replacement gear would be nice insurance.

 

I ran into this problem today, glad I came here. Yep, the dealer wanted to keep my car overnight for this easy fix. Does anyone know the size of the washer, or is it just a garden hose gasket?

 

i have a similar problem. i took it apart and the blue gear inside isnt moving at all. is this a dead motor?

 

I don't know about some of you guys with this problem, but mine is a chewed up gear..I ordered the gear off ebay and we will see if it works by the end of the weekend.

 

It worked like a charm! This was my first experience with CL. I bought the car with it stuck in one position that was all the way up! Well done!

 

I installed the new gear and it was too narrow so I used two metal washers to center it and boom works like a charm

 

Well, I gave this one a shot on my 1992 model. In my case the screw is not spinning at all, even though in and out still works fine. Any ideas what I can try next?

 

Yeah, I remember a few years ago when I first joined CL...this one one of my very first bookmarked D.I.Y.s simple solution that saved me hundreds! This is why I love this forum!

steve

 

Genuis!!! My telescopic works on my 93 but not my tilt. It grinded and never moved for a while then it just stopped, no noise...I hope this is the problem. I will be cracking this open tonight wish me luck!

 

Does this also fix the telecoping feature?

 

Ok, so got home and tore it down. Of course the gear was misaligned with the worm gear. Took it out, cleaned it all up and something strange happens. Before I put anything back I gave the mechanism a spin to see if it turns. It only turns in up direction then stops, hit it again it goes up and it stops, it keeps doing this until it looses power until I let it sit for a while then it has power again. Did it with the car on as well and still the same symptoms. Have not tried it with the gear in there yet but is this normal?

 

Thanx! I'm doing this tomorrow!