Telescopic/Tilt Steering Wheel Adjustment 2009 Hyundai Genesis

[bwalters58]

I have a 2009 Hyundai Genesis that the Telescopic/Tilt will work on three adjustments. Goes Down, Extends, Retracts, but will not go up. How difficult is to replace the switch?

 

[mikec]

Are you sure it is the switch? The 2009s went through 3 different steering wheel tilt/telescope controller boxes if I remember correctly. Early production 2009s used a controller that required two "at end of travel" detection limit switches; later 2009s used a different controller that didn't need the limit switches. A TSB was released to convert early 2009s to this updated controller.

As a quick test: move the steering wheel all the way down... and then HOLD the tilt switch in the down position for another 20 seconds or so. On the 2nd controller modules, the controller tries to "remember" where the tilt and telescope motion is relative to the physical stops. When that memory does not match the actual tilt/telescope positions, the steering wheel travel is incorrectly limited. Holding the switch for a long while gets the controller memory and physical tilt/telescope mechanism back in sync.

Still not working? Is your car an early 2009 production model? Then you have the limit switches. They're known to get jammed with dirt/dust/hair/whatever. In fact, that's why the revised controller (and the TSB update) exists: to remove those problematic switches. With a Phillips screwdriver, remove the "knee panel" (bottom panel of dash assembly) and use a small flashlight to peer into the innards. If you have an early 2009 model you will see two black plastic bumps - one for each switch - surrounded by small metal pieces with rectangular holes in them. Those plates move back and forth with the tilt and telescope; when the tilt up or down limit is reached, one plate moves the switch to tell the computer "at the limit. Cut power to the motor." Same for the telescope plate and switch. If the switch sticks/jams in that position...then you can't tilt/telescope in that direction. Use a small wood or plastic stick (a chopstick works) to wiggle the switch bumps to free them up. See if that cures your bug.

The switches on my early-production 2009 tended to stick every couple months. I finally got sick of the issue and unscrewed the two plates. That way the switches never moved away from their center "tilt & telescope are not not at the limits" position and I never had issues again. Just remember to not hold the tilt/telescope switch too long against a stop when the motors are trying to run to avoid burning them out. This fix works on the early production 2009s with the limit switches. The later controllers are smart enough to remove power to the motor when at a limit.

Note for others reading this post: the power seats have similar limit switches. The ones that monitor forward/aft motion can get jammed from crud collecting underneath the seats. From the back seat area, shine a flashlight under the front seats and you'll see the limit switches. Clean out any obvious debris, wiggle them with the chopsticks, and restore your seat motion.

edit: the factory service manual does not have good pictures of the tilt/telescope control switch. The upper and lower steering column covers have a few screws accessed from below, then the covers snap apart to get to the switch. At least that's how I remember it...

mike c.

 

[bwalters58]

Are you sure it is the switch? The 2009s went through 3 different steering wheel tilt/telescope controller boxes if I remember correctly. Early production 2009s used a controller that required two "at end of travel" detection limit switches; later 2009s used a different controller that didn't need the limit switches. A TSB was released to convert early 2009s to this updated controller.

As a quick test: move the steering wheel all the way down... and then HOLD the tilt switch in the down position for another 20 seconds or so. On the 2nd controller modules, the controller tries to "remember" where the tilt and telescope motion is relative to the physical stops. When that memory does not match the actual tilt/telescope positions, the steering wheel travel is incorrectly limited. Holding the switch for a long while gets the controller memory and physical tilt/telescope mechanism back in sync.

Still not working? Is your car an early 2009 production model? Then you have the limit switches. They're known to get jammed with dirt/dust/hair/whatever. In fact, that's why the revised controller (and the TSB update) exists: to remove those problematic switches. With a Phillips screwdriver, remove the "knee panel" (bottom panel of dash assembly) and use a small flashlight to peer into the innards. If you have an early 2009 model you will see two black plastic bumps - one for each switch - surrounded by small metal pieces with rectangular holes in them. Those plates move back and forth with the tilt and telescope; when the tilt up or down limit is reached, one plate moves the switch to tell the computer "at the limit. Cut power to the motor." Same for the telescope plate and switch. If the switch sticks/jams in that position...then you can't tilt/telescope in that direction. Use a small wood or plastic stick (a chopstick works) to wiggle the switch bumps to free them up. See if that cures your bug.

The switches on my early-production 2009 tended to stick every couple months. I finally got sick of the issue and unscrewed the two plates. That way the switches never moved away from their center "tilt & telescope are not not at the limits" position and I never had issues again. Just remember to not hold the tilt/telescope switch too long against a stop when the motors are trying to run to avoid burning them out. This fix works on the early production 2009s with the limit switches. The later controllers are smart enough to remove power to the motor when at a limit.

Note for others reading this post: the power seats have similar limit switches. The ones that monitor forward/aft motion can get jammed from crud collecting underneath the seats. From the back seat area, shine a flashlight under the front seats and you'll see the limit switches. Clean out any obvious debris, wiggle them with the chopsticks, and restore your seat motion.

edit: the factory service manual does not have good pictures of the tilt/telescope control switch. The upper and lower steering column covers have a few screws accessed from below, then the covers snap apart to get to the switch. At least that's how I remember it...

mike c.

Thank you Mike. I will check it out.

 

[bwalters58]

Thank you Mike. I will check it out.

My Genesis's production date is Dec. 2008. I could not find the switches you mentioned. I have attached pictures of the problem steering wheel adjustment.

 

[mikec]

In side.jpg I can see one of the two switches and its plate. One of the motors is obvious in the picture - the large shape pointing towards 10 o'clock in the picture. At its base, almost dead-center in the picture, you can see its mounting screws. Exactly straight up from the lower mounting screw you'll see another screw on a black plastic thing: that thing is one of the limit switches I described. Just below that mounting screw is a thin metal piece that angles towards 1 o'clock in the picture: that is the plate with the rectangular cutout for that switch. The screw at the very top/right corner of the picture is the mounting screw for that plate. I removed that screw and the plate from my (former) car.

I suspect that is the telescope in/out limit switch. While looking at this area, use the telescope function and watch what moves in this area. I'll bet you'll be able to see the plate move back and forth relative to the black plastic switch.

The black wire bundle looping through the picture might be the wires going to the tilt limit switch. If so, the switch is where the 3 colored wires terminate.

mike c.

 

[bwalters58]

In side.jpg I can see one of the two switches and its plate. One of the motors is obvious in the picture - the large shape pointing towards 10 o'clock in the picture. At its base, almost dead-center in the picture, you can see its mounting screws. Exactly straight up from the lower mounting screw you'll see another screw on a black plastic thing: that thing is one of the limit switches I described. Just below that mounting screw is a thin metal piece that angles towards 1 o'clock in the picture: that is the plate with the rectangular cutout for that switch. The screw at the very top/right corner of the picture is the mounting screw for that plate. I removed that screw and the plate from my (former) car.

I suspect that is the telescope in/out limit switch. While looking at this area, use the telescope function and watch what moves in this area. I'll bet you'll be able to see the plate move back and forth relative to the black plastic switch.

The black wire bundle looping through the picture might be the wires going to the tilt limit switch. If so, the switch is where the 3 colored wires terminate.

mike c.

It worked thank for your help and detailed instructions

 

[G-598335]

Are you sure it is the switch? The 2009s went through 3 different steering wheel tilt/telescope controller boxes if I remember correctly. Early production 2009s used a controller that required two "at end of travel" detection limit switches; later 2009s used a different controller that didn't need the limit switches. A TSB was released to convert early 2009s to this updated controller.

As a quick test: move the steering wheel all the way down... and then HOLD the tilt switch in the down position for another 20 seconds or so. On the 2nd controller modules, the controller tries to "remember" where the tilt and telescope motion is relative to the physical stops. When that memory does not match the actual tilt/telescope positions, the steering wheel travel is incorrectly limited. Holding the switch for a long while gets the controller memory and physical tilt/telescope mechanism back in sync.

Still not working? Is your car an early 2009 production model? Then you have the limit switches. They're known to get jammed with dirt/dust/hair/whatever. In fact, that's why the revised controller (and the TSB update) exists: to remove those problematic switches. With a Phillips screwdriver, remove the "knee panel" (bottom panel of dash assembly) and use a small flashlight to peer into the innards. If you have an early 2009 model you will see two black plastic bumps - one for each switch - surrounded by small metal pieces with rectangular holes in them. Those plates move back and forth with the tilt and telescope; when the tilt up or down limit is reached, one plate moves the switch to tell the computer "at the limit. Cut power to the motor." Same for the telescope plate and switch. If the switch sticks/jams in that position...then you can't tilt/telescope in that direction. Use a small wood or plastic stick (a chopstick works) to wiggle the switch bumps to free them up. See if that cures your bug.

The switches on my early-production 2009 tended to stick every couple months. I finally got sick of the issue and unscrewed the two plates. That way the switches never moved away from their center "tilt & telescope are not not at the limits" position and I never had issues again. Just remember to not hold the tilt/telescope switch too long against a stop when the motors are trying to run to avoid burning them out. This fix works on the early production 2009s with the limit switches. The later controllers are smart enough to remove power to the motor when at a limit.

Note for others reading this post: the power seats have similar limit switches. The ones that monitor forward/aft motion can get jammed from crud collecting underneath the seats. From the back seat area, shine a flashlight under the front seats and you'll see the limit switches. Clean out any obvious debris, wiggle them with the chopsticks, and restore your seat motion.

fedit: the factory service manual does not have good pictures of the tilt/telescope control switch. The upper and lower steering column covers have a few screws accessed from below, then the covers snap apart to get to the switch. At least that's how I remember it...

mike c.

Really helpful. A couple of videos are available to help with removal of the knee plate. Follow the wires and you will see the black "limit" switches. I moved the wires and sprayed some carb cleaner into my vertical switch and viola, after 5 years of not working, it's perfect. Probably 20 minutes start to finish. Great post. Thanks