The tilt/telescoping steering column has a four-position switch which may be used to adjust the position of the steering wheel in or out which is telescope and up or down which is tilt. The position of the column may be changed as follows:

The steering column module (SCM) receives inputs from the tilt/telescope switch to manually move the column to a desired position. Pressing the control switch sends an input to the SCM. The SCM receives an input and actuates the corresponding column motor.

Pressing the switch momentarily in either the UP or DOWN, or IN or OUT position, and releasing within 0.5 seconds, causes the column to advance slightly in the corresponding direction then stop. This feature allows fine control of the steering column position in each direction. If the switch is pressed and held for longer than 0.5 seconds, the column advances slightly in that direction, pauses, then resumes movement as long as the switch is held.

Both the tilt and telescoping motors are reversible. For example, the tilt motor moves the column both up and down. When the SCM receives an input to move the column up, the SCM supplies battery positive voltage and ground to the tilt motor in order to move the column up. When the SCM receives a column down input, the SCM supplies battery positive voltage and ground to the same motor, but with a reverse polarity. When the voltage polarity is reversed, the motor runs in the opposite direction and moves the column down.

Two position sensors are used by the SCM to store column positions in memory and to return the column to the stored memory positions. The SCM provides a 5-volt reference voltage and a ground to both the tilt and telescoping position sensors. The sensor feedback circuit voltage varies from 0.25-4.75 volts. Each sensor is mounted to its corresponding motor cable assembly. When the motor rotates its cable, the resistance of the sensor varies. The SCM monitors the feedback voltage to determine the column position via the tilt and telescoping position sensor input circuits. When an entry or exit position is saved, the SCM stores the column positions by recording each position sensor's feedback voltage. When an entry or exit position is commanded, the module moves the motors until all the position sensor feedback voltages equal the feedback voltages stored in memory.

Memory settings and the personalization of steering wheel positions are available with the tilt/telescoping steering column. The data stored consists of entry positions and exit positions. The entry position is the position that the steering column moves in when the ignition is turned ON. The exit position is the direction that the steering column moves in when the ignition is turned OFF and the driver's door is opened.

An initial memory setting is set in the SCM at the assembly plant. This setting may be changed to suit the customer at the time of purchase or at anytime in the future.

If park input from the PCM is not seen from the SCM, the SCM will not recall or exit. The PCM times out in 21 seconds. If customer is in vehicle longer than this, with the key out of the ignition, prior to opening a door, i.e. turning key off and removing key from ignition, the SCM will not get the park input and steering wheel will not move to the exit position. This is a normal condition.

The SCM stores personalization information. The driver information center (DIC) is used to enable and disable the personalization feature in the SCM. A Class 2 message is sent to the SCM, by the DIC, which specifies that the SCM enable the personalization feature until disabled again using the DIC.

The steering column control module can store 6 possible positions: 3 entry positions and 3 exit positions.

When the driver door switch assembly (DDSA) receives inputs from the memory function switch, the steering column personalization positions may be recorded for one or two different drivers. Once a steering column driving entry or exit position is adjusted by the driver it must be set in memory. To record a position, the driver must press the SET MEMORY button, which is followed by a chime to acknowledge that input. Within 5 seconds, either the MEMORY 1 or MEMORY 2 button must be pressed. When the DDM receives these inputs, it sends a Class 2 message to the SCM. The SCM records the feedback voltages from the column position sensors for that driver. A single chime is sounded to acknowledge that the position was recorded.

To record a second position, the second driver must press the SET MEMORY 2 button, after they have made the appropriate adjustments, and the process continued.

When the driver presses the MEMORY 1 or MEMORY 2 button, the DDSA receives the input and a single chime is sounded. The DDSA sends a Class 2 message to the SCM indicating which driver memory setting has been selected. The SCM applies both battery positive voltage and ground to the column motors until all the column position sensor feedback voltages equal the feedback voltages stored in memory for the appropriate driver.

When a keyless entry transmitter is used to unlock the vehicle doors, the remote function actuator (RFA) module communicates which driver key fob performed that command. The SCM receives the unlock command via a Class 2 message from the RFA module.

The energy absorbing and locking steering column includes three important features in addition to the steering function.

1. The steering column is energy absorbing and is designed to compress in a front-end collision which will lessen the chance of injury to the driver.
2. The steering column has a tilt/telescoping control system that consists of an electronic control module capable of Class 2 serial data communication, a steering column power assembly with positioning motors and sensors, and a steering column control switch.
3. The multi-function lever provides for the control of the headlamp high beams, and the windshield washer and wiper.