Steering Wheel Height Lock...Thing

#1

I took my TSIII for an MOT this week. I expected them to fail it because I never got around to replacing the sub frame, but instead they rolled it back out and the only issue they found was that the steering wheel height adjustment is broken. It wasn't broken when it went in, but the steering wheel now just bounces up and down joyfully while I drive.

I've looked inside, and it looks as though the teeth that are supposed to lock it in place just aren't moving. When I pull the lock lever thingy - to use technical terms - backwards, the mechanism lifts, but those teeth don't part any further. When I let it back, the teeth don't move together, and when I push it forward, nothing seems to happen anywhere.

Is this common, and can it be fixed without taking it into the dealership?

Thanks

#2

Usually just spray WD40 on it and wiggle the lever then smack it with a hammer a few times gets it moving. Sometimes a screwdriver as pry bar can help.

#3

I'd be happy to give that a go, but I'm not sure which part is the part that needs spraying and hitting - I can't see where in the mechanism something is stuck.

#4

It was obvious in the end which bit needed hammering, and that worked to get it locked again. Unfortunately, when I unlock it, it stays stuck open again. I've done it several times to see if just working it back and forth will get it loosened up, but it doesn't seem to be working.