1989 300e - trouble removing steering wheel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hope Remains · #1 01-08-2012, 08:55 PM

I'm trying to diagnose my 1989 300E's non-functional cruise control. Given the way the cruise control stick feels, I'm fairly sure it's broken.

I attempted to remove the steering wheel to check and was unable to do so. The part I got stuck on was unscrewing the countersunk screw. I couldn't get it to budge. I tried using some goose-neck pliers on the allen wrench for leverage and still had no success.

Any suggestions?

-Hope

sasquatchgeoff · #2 01-08-2012, 09:32 PM

I use a breaker bar, a 3" extension, and hex-head 3/8 drive socket wrench. I also put a piece of cut two-by-four under the cross member of the wheel and to the floor to keep the wheel from turning when I do the deed. FSM recommends replacing the bolt (dealer item) any time the wheel is removed. Don't forget to realign the splines as they were (usually marked) and torque to the value called out in the FSM. I bought my Meyle replacement switch from Fastlane (here). Replacing the switch didn't help me though. Those amps are notorious for burning out. Oddly, it is the little stuff that destroys them - like a cheap aftermarket replacement stop lamp.

Hope Remains · #3 01-08-2012, 09:45 PM

Thanks. What's the point of replacing the bolt anytime the wheel is removed?

I found stuff talking about the amp burning out, but in this case I'm pretty sure the switch is busted. The stick feels like it always returns to the bottom position when I wiggle it around.

-Hope

sasquatchgeoff · #4 01-08-2012, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hope Remains

Thanks. What's the point of replacing the bolt anytime the wheel is removed?

I found stuff talking about the amp burning out, but in this case I'm pretty sure the switch is busted. The stick feels like it always returns to the bottom position when I wiggle it around.

-Hope

I hope replacing the switch fixes your problem. My switch was pretty fargled-up as well. It was almost as if someone got angry at mine - maybe because the cruise was not working.

I guess MB figures the stress of removing a bolt that has factory-applied threadlocker on it in addition to the stress of re-torquing is liability that they do not want to assume considering the critical nature of the bolt's performance.