After this past weekend's autocross, it's become painfully obvious that I have to solve this problem (the tilt steering not staying locked).

I've never seen this topic discussed. Is this a simple fix like an adjustment, or a major PITA like replacing the whole assembly?

Thanks.

(edit) this is on an '89 ITA CRX Si

 

Pretty quick fix:

There's an adjustment plate on the passenger side of the steering column. Get under there with a 10mm wrench (of course), loosen and slide that end of the plate up or down (can't remember which) to put more tension on the column lock. If there's not enough additional tension at the far end of adjustment, you need to remove the adjustment plate (12 or 14mm wrench), and relocate it on the knurled shaft to put the adjuster's range in the sweet spot. If none of this makes sense, just grab the three wrenches and get your *** up under there until it does. If it takes longer than five minutes, you will henceforth be considered "just a driver" in the Carroll Smith meaning of the term and will now be forced to find enough money so you never have to work on a racecar yourself ever again. I hope it won't come to that.

 

And the quick trackside fix is a big fat zip tie wrapped around the column.

Scott, who says "Don't leave home without big fat zip ties."

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And the quick trackside fix is a big fat zip tie wrapped around the column.
Scott, who says "Don't leave home without big fat zip ties."</TD></TR></TABLE>
Amen, brother. Aside from the nomal asortment box (3"-10") I carry two bags of BIG zip ties: Battery-hold-down size & Bumper-attachement size..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thawley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Bumper-attachment size..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bingo!
Give that man a prize.

 

ummm, yep. that's what is holding my steering column up - a big-*** fat zip tie. That reminds me that I should go buy a bag of spares, I should change it regularly, as those ***** get brtittle with age.

 

same thing happened to me in my first season. The lever kept slipping down during the race. I one-upped these other guys though, in that I zip tied the lever up in such a fashion that I could still slip the zip tie off, adjust the tilt if I wanted, then slip the zip tie back on to secure the lever. It's been fine for the last 4 years.

That said, I never have actually adjusted the tilt heh

 

Just duct tape under the colum out the window across the roof in the passenger window and back under the colum. give it about 3 or 4 wraps. Anyway mine has never slipped.

 

Thanks for the suggestions...
zip-ties and duct tape forever!!!