Steering Column Removal

WARNING: Safety goggles should be worn at all times when working on steering columns.

Fig. 5:

Fig. 6:

1. Remove remote ground cable from ground stud on shock tower. Then correctly isolate ground cable from vehicle by installing isolator on stud.
2. Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before starting to remove airbag from steering wheel. This will allow the airbag system capacitor to de-energize.
3. Before beginning removal of steering column assembly from vehicle, be sure front wheels of vehicle are in the straight ahead position.





4. Remove fuse panel cover from left end of instrument panel. Then remove the screw behind fuse panel cover, attaching the instrument panel top cover.





NOTE: When removing the center bezel, only use a soft tool such as a trim stick to pry the center bezel from the dash panel. Use of a hard tool will damage dash panel.

5. Remove center bezel surrounding radio and climate control panel from top cover of dash panel.

Fig. 8:

6. Remove the 3 screws attaching the top cover to the dash panel.





7. Remove the top cover from the dash panel. Removal of the top cover is required to gain access to the screws attaching the top of the knee bolster to the dash panel.
8. Remove screws attaching the knee bolster to the instrument panel.

WARNING: When an undeployed airbag assembly is to be removed from the steering wheel, disconnect battery ground cable and isolate. Allow system capacitor to discharge for two minutes, then begin airbag removal.





9. Remove the speed control switches from the steering wheel. The speed control switches are mounted to the steering wheel using 2 mounting screws in the side of each speed control switch.
10. Remove both speed control switches from the wiring harness in the steering wheel.

WARNING: When handling an undeployed airbag module during servicing of the steering column the following precautions should be observed. At no time should any source of electricity be permitted near the inflator on the back of the airbag module. When carrying a live module, the trim cover should be pointed away from the body to minimize injury if module accidently deploys. If airbag module is placed on a bench or other surface, plastic cover should be face up to minimize movement in case of accidental deployment.





11. Remove the 2 bolts, 1 on each side of the steering wheel, attaching the airbag module to the steering wheel.
12. Remove the airbag module from the center of the steering wheel.





13. Remove the locking tab from clockspring airbag electrical lead connector. Locking tab is removed by pulling it straight out of the airbag connector. Do not twist the locking tab when removing it from the connector.





14. Disconnect the electrical connector from the back of the airbag module. Connector is removed by pulling it straight out of the airbag module. Do not twist the connector when removing it from the airbag.





15. Remove the wiring lead for the horn switch in the airbag module from the wiring lead coming from the clockspring.
16. Turn the lock cylinder to the off position and remove the key from the lock cylinder.





17. Turn the steering wheel to the left 1/2 a turn (180°) until the steering column lock is engaged.
18. Remove the steering wheel attaching nut from the steering column shaft.

CAUTION: When installing Puller, Special Tool C-3428-B, or equivalent on steering wheel be sure puller bolts are fully seated in threaded puller holes on steering wheel. If bolts are not fully seated in threaded holes, threads may be stripped out when puller is tightened to remove steering wheel.





19. Install Puller, Snap-On CJ2001P or an equivalent on steering wheel.

CAUTIONS: Do not bump or hammer on steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing steering wheel from steering column.

20. Remove steering wheel assembly from steering column shaft using Puller, Snap-On CJ2001P or an equivalent.





21. Remove the 2 screws attaching the upper and lower shrouds to the steering column. First remove upper shroud from steering column, then release tilt lever and tilt steering column to its highest point. Then remove lower shroud from steering column.

Wiring Harness Connection To Clock Spring:

22. Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from the clockspring.








23. Remove the trim ring for the key cylinder from the lock cylinder housing.
24. Remove the 2 wire wiring harness connectors from the back of the ignition switch. Then remove the 2 wiring harness connector from the multi function switch.





25. Depress the locking tab on the shifter/ignition interlock cable and remove the cable from the key lock housing.
26. Remove routing clip holding wiring harness to jacket of steering column.

Smart Key Immobilizer Module:

27. If the vehicle being worked on is equipped with the optional Smart Key Immobilizer System, remove the smart key immobilizer module from the steering column.





28. Remove retaining pin in steering column coupler pinch bolt. Loosen the upper to lower steering coupler pinch bolt retaining nut and remove pinch bolt from steering coupler. Pinch bolt nut is caged to coupler and is not removable. Then separate steering coupler from Steering gear.

CAUTION: Before loosening the upper and lower steering column mounting bracket attaching nuts, the following procedure to lock upper steering column mounting bracket from moving must be done. If upper steering column mounting bracket is not locked in its proper position before loosening the mounting nuts, the tilt steering column will not operate correctly when installed back in car. This is due to the alignment of the upper mounting bracket assembly slipping when the mounting bolts are loosened.





29. Place steering column so it is positioned in the middle of its tilt range. Place the steering column assembly tilt lever in its fully locked position. Then insert a 5/32 inch drill bit in each locking pin hole on the upper steering column mounting bracket.





30. Remove the 2 upper steering column assembly mounting bracket to support bracket nuts. Then remove the 2 lower steering column assembly mounting bracket to support bracket nuts.
31. Remove steering column assembly from vehicle through the drivers door of the passenger compartment. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or interior trim.