Steering Column Removal and Installation
WARNING: SAFETY GOGGLES SHOULD BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING ON STEERING COLUMNS.REMOVAL
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.
Instrument Panel Top Cover Attaching Screw:
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.
Knee Bolster Attaching Screw Locations:
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.
Speed Control Switches:
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 PLACED ON A BENCH OR OTHER SURFACE, PLASTIC COVER SHOULD BE FACE UP TO MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT.
Airbag Module Attaching Bolts:
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.
Airbag Module Electrical Lead Locking Tab:
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.
Airbag Module Electrical Lead 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.
Horn Switch Wiring Lead:
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.
Steering Wheel Attaching Nut:
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 wheel puller on steering wheel, be sure puller bolts are fully seated in the threaded holes in the steering wheel. If bolts are not fully seated in the threaded holes, threads may be stripped out when removing the steering wheel.
Puller Installed On Steering Wheel:
19. Install a steering wheel puller on the steering wheel.
CAUTION:
- Do not bump or hammer on steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing steering wheel from steering column.
- Do not bump or hammer on steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing steering wheel from steering column.
20. Remove the steering wheel using the puller.
Steering Column Shroud Attaching Screws:
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.
Wiring Harness Connections To Ignition And Multi-function Switch:
Wiring Harness Connection To Multi-Function Switch:
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.
Shifter/Ignition Cable At Lock Cylinder Housing:
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.
Sentry Key Immobilizer Module:
27. If equipped with the optional Sentry Key Immobilizer System, remove the SKIM module from the steering column.
Intermediate Shaft Coupler Attachment To Steering Gear:
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.
Locking Pins Installed In Steering Column Bracket:
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.
Steering Column Upper And Lower Mounting Bracket Nuts:
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.
INSTALLATION
1. Install steering column on the studs in the steering column support bracket. Loosely install the 4 steering column assembly attaching nuts.
Steering Column Upper And Lower Mounting Bracket Nuts:
Mounting Studs Correctly Positioned In Plastic Capsules:
2. Tighten the 2 lower steering column assembly mounting nuts to hold the steering column in place. Be sure both breakaway capsules are still fully seated in the slots of the upper steering column mounting bracket and the mounting studs are centered for and aft in the plastic capsules. Then equally tighten both steering column upper mounting nuts, until upper steering column mounting bracket is seated against support bracket. Tighten the 4 steering column bracket to support bracket nuts to 12 Nm (105 inch lbs.).
CAUTION: Be sure drill bits are removed from steering column upper mounting bracket.
Locking Pins Installed In Steering Column Bracket:
3. Remove the 2 drill bits from the steering column upper mounting bracket. If a new steering column is being installed in the vehicle, remove the shipping pin from steering column upper mounting bracket.
Intermediate Shaft Coupler Attachment To Steering Gear:
4. Assemble the lower intermediate shaft coupler to the steering gear input shaft. Tighten the coupler pinch bolt nut to a torque of 27 Nm (240 inch lbs.). Be sure to install steering coupler pinch bolt retaining pin.
Sentry Key Immobilizer Module:
5. If equipped with the optional Sentry Key Immobilizer System, install the SKIM module on the steering column.
6. Install wiring harness connector on SKIM module.
Shifter/Ignition Cable At Lock Cylinder Housing:
7. Install the shifter/ignition interlock cable in the lock cylinder housing.
8. Route wiring harness on steering column and install routing clip in bottom of steering column jacket.
Wiring Harness Connections To Ignition And Multi-function Switch:
Wiring Harness Connection To Multi-Function Switch:
9. Install multi and 2 wire wiring harness connectors on the back of the ignition switch. Then install the 2 wiring harness connectors on the multi function switch.
Wiring Harness Connection To Clock Spring:
10. Install clockspring on switch housing. Install the 2 wiring harness connectors on the clockspring.
11. Install the trim ring for the key cylinder on the lock cylinder housing.
Steering Column Shroud Attaching Screws:
12. Install the upper and lower steering column shrouds onto the lock housing of the steering column assembly. Install and securely tighten the 2 upper to lower steering column shroud to lock housing attaching screws.
CAUTION: Clockspring centering procedure MUST be performed prior to installing steering wheel assembly. If clockspring is not centered it may be overextended, causing clockspring assembly to become inoperative. The yellow centering indicator must be present in the centering window of the clockspring and the arrow on the clockspring rotor must be pointing at the centering window.
13. Center the clock spring using the following procedure.
- Depress the 2 plastic locking pins to disengage clockspring locking mechanism.
- Keeping locking mechanism disengaged, rotate the clockspring rotor in the CLOCKWISE DIRECTION to the end of the travel. Do not apply excessive torque.
- From the end of clockwise travel, slowly rotate the rotor in the counterclockwise direction until yellow appears in the centering window of clockspring. When yellow appears in the centering window the arrow on the clockspring rotor will be pointing at yellow window on clock spring.
- Engage the clockspring locking mechanism.
CAUTION: Do not install steering wheel onto shaft of steering column assembly by driving it onto the shaft. Pull steering wheel down onto steering column shaft using ONLY the steering wheel retaining nut.
Steering Wheel Attaching Nut:
14. Feed clockspring wiring leads through hole in steering wheel. Position steering wheel on shaft of steering column assembly, making sure to fit flats on hub of steering wheel with formations on inside of clockspring.
15. Install steering wheel to steering column shaft retaining nut and tighten until steering wheel is fully installed on shaft. Tighten steering wheel retaining nut to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
16. Turn the key cylinder to the unlock position, unlocking the steering column shaft.
17. Correctly route the speed control switch wiring leads from the clockspring to the speed control switch openings in steering wheel.
Horn Switch Wiring Lead:
18. Connect the horn switch wiring lead from the clockspring to the airbag module horn switch wiring lead.
Airbag Module Electrical Lead Connector:
Airbag Module Electrical Lead Locking Tab:
19. Install the airbag electrical lead into connector on back of airbag module. Insert locking tab into back of airbag connector. Be sure electrical connector from clockspring is securely latched into airbag module connector.
CAUTION: The fasteners, screws, and bolts, originally used for the airbag components are specifically designed for the airbag system. They must never be replaced with any substitutes. Anytime a new fastener is needed, replace only with correct fasteners provided in service packages or fasteners listed in the parts book.
Airbag Module Attaching Bolts:
20. Install airbag module into center of steering wheel. Install only the 2 original or correct replacement airbag module attaching bolts. Torque the 2 airbag module attaching bolts to 10 Nm (90 inch lbs.).
Speed Control Switches:
21. Connect the clockspring electrical leads to the speed control switches. Install the speed control switches in the steering wheel. Install and securely tighten screws attaching the speed control switches to the steering wheel.
Knee Bolster Attaching Screw Locations:
22. Install lower instrument panel knee bolster onto the lower instrument panel. Install and securely tighten the knee bolster to instrument panel attaching screws.
23. Install the instrument panel top cover.
Instrument Panel Top Cover Attaching Screw:
24. Install screw behind fuse panel cover holding dash panel top cover. Install fuse panel cover on left end of dash panel.
Fig. 8:
25. Install the 3 screws holding dash panel top cover to the center dash panel.
Installing Center Bezel:
26. Install center bezel surrounding radio and climate control.
CAUTION: When reconnecting battery on a vehicle that has had the airbag module removed, ensure no occupants are in the vehicle and the following procedure is used.
27. Reconnecting of the battery negative cable is to be done using the steps in the procedure listed below.
- Remove forward console or cover as necessary.
- Connect DRB scan tool to ASDM diagnostic 6-way connector, located at right side of the ASDM module.
- Turn ignition key to ON position. Exit vehicle with the DRB scan tool. Install the latest version of the proper diagnostic cartridge into the DRB scan tool.
- Ensuring that their are no occupants in the vehicle, connect negative cable to negative post of the battery.
- Using the DRB scan tool read and record active fault codes. Also read and record any stored fault codes. Refer to Air Bags if any faults are found.
- Erase stored faults if there are no active fault codes. If problems remain, fault codes will not erase.
- From the passenger side of the vehicle, turn ignition key to OFF and then ON observing instrument cluster airbag lamp. It should go on for six to eight seconds, then go out. This will indicate that the airbag system is functioning normally.
28. If airbag warning lamp fails to light, blinks on and off or goes on and stays on, there is an airbag system malfunction. Refer to Air Bags to diagnose the system malfunction.
29. Test the operation of the horn, lights and any other functions that are steering column operated. If applicable reset the radio and the clock.
30. Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation of the steering system and the speed control system.