Steering System: Column: Removal
Before proceeding, review Warnings and Cautions. Refer to COLUMN, WARNING .
When an undeployed airbag module is to be removed from the vehicle, first disconnect the battery ground cable and isolate it. Allow the system capacitor to discharge for a minimum of two minutes before starting any removal.
- Disconnect negative (-) cable from battery and isolate it.
- Remove lower instrument panel steering column cover. Refer to COVER, STEERING COLUMN OPENING, REMOVAL
.
1 - DRIVER AIRBAG 2 - HORN WIRING CONNECTION 3 - LEFT WIRING CLIP 4 - RIGHT WIRING CLIP 5 - STEERING WHEEL 6 - SQUIB WIRING CONNECTION - Remove three screws securing driver airbag (1) to steering wheel (5).
- Tip driver airbag (1) outward, then disconnect two squib wiring connectors (6) and horn wiring connector (2). Remove driver airbag.
- Remove squib wiring routing clips (3, 4) from steering wheel.
- Place front wheels of vehicle in STRAIGHT-AHEAD position.
1 - STEERING WHEEL 2 - CLOCKSPRING 3 - STEERING COLUMN 4 - UPPER SHROUD 5 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT EXTENSION 6 - BEARING 7 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT 8 - LOWER SHROUD - Holding steering wheel (1) firmly in place, remove steering wheel retaining bolt from steering column (3) shaft in center of steering wheel.CAUTION:
When installing a wheel puller on the steering wheel, be sure the puller bolts are fully seated in the threaded holes on the steering wheel. If the bolts are not fully seated in the threaded holes, the threads may be stripped out of the steering wheel when attempting to remove the steering wheel. Take care not to over-thread the puller bolts such that they contact the clockspring possibly damaging it.
Also, threading the retaining bolt back in the end of the shaft until approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.) of thread is showing between the wheel and the head of the bolt allows a safe reaction surface for the puller to work against.
- Thread wheel retaining bolt back into end of steering shaft until approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.) of thread is showing between wheel and head of bolt.
- Install steering wheel puller on steering wheel.CAUTION:
Do not bump or hammer on the steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing the steering wheel.
- While holding steering wheel firmly in STRAIGHT-AHEAD position, remove steering wheel from steering column shaft using puller. Remove puller, wheel retaining bolt and steering wheel.
1 - STEERING WHEEL 2 - CLOCKSPRING 3 - STEERING COLUMN 4 - UPPER SHROUD 5 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT EXTENSION 6 - BEARING 7 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT 8 - LOWER SHROUD - Remove two screws attaching lower shroud (8) to steering column (3) and upper shroud (4). After removing screws, unclip the shrouds from one another by applying hand pressure along seams where shrouds connect, then remove lower shroud from upper shroud and column.
- Remove upper shroud (4) from steering column.
- At base of steering column (3), remove intermediate shaft extension (5) pinch bolt. Discard the pinch bolt.
Separate the intermediate shaft extension from the steering column shaft.NOTE:
If same steering column is to be reinstalled, clamp tilt lever to lock column in place so that it can be easily reinstalled in same location.
- Remove two lower mounting nuts attaching steering column to instrument panel.
- Remove two upper mounting nuts attaching steering column to instrument panel.
1 - STEERING COLUMN 2 - CLOCK SPRING 3 - CLOCK SPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - Disconnect wiring harness electrical connector (3) from clockspring (2).
1 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 - WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - Disconnect wiring harness electrical connectors (1, 2) from multi-function switch and windshield wiper switch.
- Remove steering column from vehicle.NOTE:
If steering column is being replaced, perform following steps:
1 - CLOCK SPRING 2 - LATCH HOOKS 3 - STEERING COLUMN - Disengage latch hooks (2) on back of clockspring by lifting clockspring (1) slightly to clear column housing with top latch hook. Next, lower clockspring slightly to do same for lower latch hook. Remove clockspring from column.
1 - MOUNTING SCREWS 2 - MULTI-FUNCTION/WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH ASSEMBLY - Remove two screws (1) securing multi-function/windshield wiper switch (2) to steering column. Pull switch straight away from column to remove it.