Steering Column Removal and Installation
REMOVAL1. Disconnect the negative (ground) cable from the battery and isolate cable.
2. Before beginning removal of steering column assembly from vehicle, be sure front wheels of vehicle are in the STRAIGHT-AHEAD position.
Steering Column Cover:
3. Remove the 4 screws attaching steering column cover, to lower instrument panel. Then remove the trim panel from the instrument panel.
Steering Column Cover Liner:
4. Remove 3 screws attaching the steering column cover liner to the instrument panel. Remove the liner from the lower instrument panel.
Speed Control Switches:
5. If vehicle is equipped with speed control, remove the speed control switches from the steering wheel. If vehicle is not equipped with speed control, remove the trim covers from the sides of the steering wheel.
WARNING: When an undeployed airbag assembly is to be removed from the steering wheel, disconnect the battery ground cable and isolate. Allow the system capacitor to discharge for a minimum of two minutes, then begin the airbag removal.
Air Bag Module Mounting Bolts:
6. Remove the 2 fasteners, 1 on each side of steering wheel, attaching the air bag module to 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 the module should accidently deploy. If the airbag module is placed on a bench or other surface, the plastic cover should be face-up to minimize movement, in case of accidental deployment.
Air Bag Module Electrical Connection:
7. Remove the air bag module from the center of steering wheel. Then disconnect the clock spring electrical lead from the back of the air bag module.
8. Disconnect the wiring lead for the horn switch in the airbag module from the wiring lead coming from the clockspring.
9. Turn the ignition key lock cylinder to the OFF position and remove the key from the lock cylinder
10. Turn the steering wheel to the left 1/2 a turn (180°) until the steering column lock is engaged.
11. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut, from the steering column shaft. If equipped, remove the damper weight from the 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.
12. 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.
13. Remove steering wheel from the steering column.
Key Lock Cylinder Access Hole In Steering Column Shrouds:
14. Remove the ignition key lock cylinder from the steering column. The lock cylinder is removed as follows: Insert the key and turn the key lock cylinder to the RUN position. Through the hole in lower shroud, depress lock cylinder retaining tab and remove lock cylinder.
Upper And Lower Steering Column Shrouds:
15. Remove the three screws attaching the upper and lower shroud to the steering column. First remove the lower shroud from steering column, then release the column tilt lever and tilt the steering column to its lowest point. Then remove the upper shroud from the steering column. Lock the tilt lever in place.
Upper To Lower Steering Column Coupler Disassembly:
16. Remove the retaining pin from the pinch bolt in the steering column upper coupling.
17. Loosen the steering column upper coupling pinch bolt retaining nut and remove the pinch bolt from the steering coupling (The pinch bolt nut is caged to coupler and is not removable.). Separate the steering column upper coupling from the lower steering coupling.
18. Remove the two nuts attaching the lower mounting bracket of the steering column to the steering column mounting bracket of the Instrument Panel (I/P).
Steering Column Upper Support Bracket Attaching Nuts:
19. Remove the two nuts mounting the steering column upper bracket to the I/P steering column support bracket.
20. Lower the steering column in the steering column access opening of the lower instrument panel.
Steering Column Wiring Connections:
21. Remove the routing clip holding the wiring harness to the jacket of steering column. Then remove wiring harness connectors from the multifunction switch and the windshield wiper switch.
Steering Column Wiring Connections:
22. Remove the vehicle wiring harness connectors from the ignition switch and clock spring.
23. Remove steering column from vehicle through the drivers door of the passenger compartment. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or interior trim.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: When installing a tilt column, do not release the tilt lever from the locked position until after the column is installed on the instrument panel.
1. Install the steering column into steering column access opening in the lower instrument panel.
2. Install the vehicle wiring harness connectors into the ignition switch and clock spring assembly.
3. Install the vehicle wiring harness connectors into the multi-function switch and turn signal switch on the steering column. Install the routing clip holding the wiring harness to the jacket of the steering column.
4. Install the studs in the steering column support bracket into the slots in the aluminum capsules in the upper mounting bracket of the steering column. Partially install the 2 upper steering column assembly mounting bracket to support bracket attaching nuts. Do not tighten the two mounting nuts at this time.
5. Install and securely tighten the two nuts mounting the steering column lower mounting bracket to the steering column support bracket.
6. Install the upper and lower steering column shrouds onto the lock housing of the steering column assembly. Install and securely tighten the three upper-to-lower steering column shroud to lock housing attaching screws.
7. Be sure both breakaway capsules are still fully seated in the slots of the upper steering column mounting bracket. Equally tighten both steering column mounting nuts until the upper steering column mounting bracket is seated against the support bracket. Then tighten the two steering column upper mounting bracket nuts to a torque of 17 Nm (150 inch lbs.).
8. Tighten the steering column lower mounting bracket nuts to a torque of 17 Nm (150 inch lbs.).
9. Assemble the steering column upper coupling to the steering column lower coupling. Install a new steering coupling pinch bolt. Torque the pinch bolt nut to 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.). Install the retaining pin in the nut end of the pinch bolt.
10. Install the lower instrument panel steering column cover liner onto lower instrument panel. Install and securely tighten the three liner to instrument panel attaching screws.
11. Install the lower instrument panel steering column cover on the lower instrument panel. Install and securely tighten the 4 screws attaching steering column cover to lower instrument panel.
CAUTION: If there is any question as to whether the clockspring is in the centered position, the clock spring needs to be recentered before installing the steering wheel. If the clockspring is not centered, it may be overextended, causing the clockspring to become inoperative.
12. Center the clockspring using the following procedure:
- Using your fingers, rotate the clockspring rotor in the CLOCKWISE DIRECTION to the end of the travel. Do not apply excessive torque.
- From the end of travel, rotate the rotor two full turns and an additional half turn in the counterclockwise direction. (The horn wire should end up at the top and the squib wire at the bottom.).
CAUTION: Do not install steering wheel onto shaft of steering column assembly by driving it onto the shaft. Align the steering wheel's wide mounting serration with the steering column shaft missing serration and push the wheel onto the shaft. Pull steering wheel down onto steering column shaft using only the steering wheel retaining nut.
Steering Wheel Installation:
13. Feed the clockspring wiring leads through the hole in the steering wheel. Position the steering wheel on the shaft of the steering column matching the serrations on each. Make sure to fit the flats of the hub on the rear of the steering wheel with the formations on the inside of the clockspring.
14. Install the steering wheel retaining nut and tighten it until the steering wheel is fully installed on shaft. Tighten the steering wheel retaining nut to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
15. Connect the clockspring electrical leads to components such as horn switches and speed control switches located in the steering wheel.
16. Install the air bag electrical lead from the clock spring, into the connector on the back of the air bag module. Be sure electrical connector from clockspring is securely latched into air bag module connector.
CAUTION: The fasteners, screws, and bolts, originally used for the air bag components are specifically designed for the air bag system. They must never be replaced with any substitutes. Anytime a new fastener is needed, replace it with only the correct fasteners provided in the service packages or fasteners listed in the parts book.
17. Install air bag module into center of steering wheel. Align air bag module mounting holes with bolt holes in steering wheel. Install only the two original or identical replacement air bag module attaching bolts. Torque the two air bag module attaching bolts to 10 Nm (90 inch lbs.).
18. Install the ignition key lock cylinder into lock housing. The lock cylinder is installed by positioning the key cylinder in the run position (with the key in it) so the retaining tab can be depressed and then pushing the key cylinder into the lock hosing until the retaining tab locks into key lock cylinder.
NOTE: When reconnecting the battery on a vehicle that has had the air bag module removed, the following procedure should be used.
19. Reconnect the ground cable to the negative post of the battery in the following manor:
- Connect a scan tool (DRB) to the data link diagnostic connector located below the steering column.
- Turn the ignition key to ON position. Exit the vehicle with the scan tool leaving the scan tool harness plugged in.
- Ensuring that there are no occupants in the vehicle, connect the negative cable to the negative post of the battery.
- Using the scan tool, read and record any fault codes. Refer to Air Bags and Seat Belts if any faults are found.
- Erase any stored faults if there are no active fault codes. If a problem exists, the fault code will not erase.
- From the passenger side of the vehicle, turn the ignition key to OFF and then back ON while observing the instrument cluster air bag lamp. It should go on for six to eight seconds, then go out. This will indicate that the air bag system is functioning normally. If air bag warning lamp fails to light, blinks on and off or goes on and stays on, there is an air bag system malfunction. Refer to Air Bags and Seat Belts to diagnose the system malfunction.
20. Turn the key OFF and remove the scan tool from the vehicle.
21. Test the operation of the horn, wipers and any other functions that are steering column operated. If applicable, reset the radio and the clock.
22. Road test the vehicle to ensure proper operation of the steering system and the speed control system.