2001 XK8. so my steering wheel telescoping stopped working. The motor makes a noise like it is working but there is no movement in and out. Up and down work fine.
I was able to pull the column out of the car. Note: be sure to remove the footwell light before doing this, it impeded the removal.





Now I think I can connect 12 v to the motor terminals of the green and grey wires to activate the motor but nothing happens

 

The drive cable is broken.
The reach position sensor is faulty so the motor did not know when and where to STOP.

When you get it repaired, you need to disable the AUTO feature so the reach motor won't run the gears to the mechanical stop and stress the cable AGAIN.

 

well there was not good contact to the terminal, so motor works and it spins but no movement. if I rotate the cable butt at the end of the motor, the long cable coming out the other side does not rotate.
Cable sheared off within the final gear.

 

broken pieces

 

I like the auto feature. so can I replace the position sensor and the cable?

 

Yes, looks looks like mine when same thing happened. Did a thorough write up and posted. Several procedures required to reset the limits and have it work correctly. A vendor on E Bay has the correct cable and not expensive. Search this thread by our repair

Reach Cable and Motor Removal and Install Part 1--- by kstevusa

 

I need to semi reinstall the column and connect electrical connectors to check out whether the potentiometer still stops the motor at its' limits

 

The LIMITS were reset with a DVOM and turning the white nylon end piece. Lowest is 1 stop and the highest is the other stop. Just bac kit up 1 turn and you are not at the limit then. That part was also covered and shared to us by another member. Please do not leave control on AUTO until tested manually.

 

understood, but I need to know if the potentiometer still is working

 

so the motor will stop after 4 seconds, but if I again move knob in same direction, it will again go for 4 seconds. what is up? shouldn't it know it is at its limit ?

 

I thought I might pull pot off end clean up any residue and to see how it operated. Could not move more than a few mm.

 

I measured the total resistance for the potentiometer across blue/white to green/white wire as 9.6 K ohms
in retract position. the measured resistance from blue/white to blue line was 808 ohms. the voltage across blue to green/white wires is 3.9 v
in extend position. the measured resistance from blue/white to blue line was 8.9 k ohms ohms. the voltage across blue to green/white wires is 0.8 v
the voltage applied bye/white to green/white wires is 4.1 V.

So I think my potentiometer is fine and I will buy a new cable and install it so motor stops before hard stop on slider.

 

That appears to indicate your Pot. is OK. Reassemble and test it in manual mode prior to final assembly.Just reconnect the electrics and test.