I have the reach motor problem in my '97 XK8. If set on auto, you can hear the motor running, but no movement. Currently, the wheel is in the most retracted position, which is fine for me.

I would like to take advantage of the auto up/down of the tilt on entry/exit, as I'm 6' tall and it makes it easier, but I hate to hear that other motor running. I will eventually get around to replacing the reach cable, but until then is it possible to just electrically unplug the reach motor, or will this screw up memory, set DIC codes, or otherwise make my day miserable??

Thanks

 

Unplug it if it bothers you!!

The harness connector is under the steering column.

bob

 

Thanks. May do that. Didn't want to damaged reach cable tearing up the "socket" to the point a new cable still would not fix the problem, and worried that a spinning "bad" cable might create that damage .

Thanks, as always, for the speedy response .

 

It may be more than a cable problem. Try pulling the steering wheel towards you. If it moves, it's not a cable.

 

I've tried to pull it out, but it will not move. Everything points to the cable- just not in a hurry to bury myself under the dash

 

The cable is not the issue but the symptom of a failed POSITION SENSOR.
The position sensor tells the motor when to STOP!
Apparently the sensor is faulty and let the motor run past the STOP POINT.
The motor drive damages the cable and the failed cable allows the motor to run without moving the reach.

Installing a new cable will not stop the motor electrically, only mechanically.
The new cable will likely fail when the motor keeps stressing it.

The sensor can be set to coincide with the ends of the REACH as it was when it was setup originally.

You can use the manual setting but the AUTO will not function correcly until the position sensor is calibrated.

The motor must stop AT or BEFORE the mechanical end is reached.

good luck

bob

 

Bob, I've seen you other posts regarding the sensor, and I agree that the sensor is probably the cause of the cables getting damaged. Something has to be causing this rash of failures. The complexity of getting the motor re-set after the cable install is one of the reasons I'm putting it off. I recognize that it's not as simple as a plug it in and go repair. I certainly don't want to have to do it more than once! I even looked yesterday before posting at purchasing a complete column so I could do this repair outside of the car, and then install.

I'll continue to learn more before I tackle this one!