Steering Column Removal

WARNING: SAFETY GOGGLES SHOULD BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING ON STEERING COLUMNS.

REMOVE

Remote Ground Cable At Shock Tower:

Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable:

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 air bag 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.

Center Bezel:

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

Instrument Panel Top Cover Attaching Screws:

6. Remove screws attaching the instrument panel top cover to the instrument panel.
7. Remove top cover from instrument panel to gain access to knee bolster attaching screws.

Knee Bolster Attaching Screw Locations:

8. Remove screws attaching the knee bolster to the instrument panel.

WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIR BAG 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 AIR BAG REMOVAL.

9. Remove the 2 Torx-Head fasteners, 1 on each side of steering wheel, attaching air bag module to steering wheel.

WARNING: WHEN HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED AIR BAG 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 AIR BAG MODULE. WHEN CARRYING A LIVE MODULE, THE TRIM COVER SHOULD BE POINTED AWAY FROM THE BODY TO MINIMIZE INJURY IF MODULE ACCIDENTLY DEPLOYS. IF AIR BAG MODULE IS PLACED ON A BENCH OR OTHER SURFACE, PLASTIC COVER SHOULD BE FACE UP TO MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT.

10. Remove air bag module from center of steering wheel.

Air Bag Module Electrical Lead:

11. Remove lock from clockspring air bag electrical lead connector. Then disconnect clockspring electrical lead connector from the back of the air bag module.
12. Remove the screws on rear of steering wheel attaching the speed control switches to the steering wheel. Then remove speed control switches from steering wheel.

Steering Wheel Wire Routing And Retaining Nut:

13. Disconnect the clockspring, horn ground wire from airbag mounting bracket in steering wheel.
14. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut.

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

Puller Installed On Steering Wheel:

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

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

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

Steering Column Shroud Attaching Screws:

17. 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:

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

Wiring Harness Connections To Ignition And Multi-Function Switch:

Wiring Harness Connection To Multi-Function Switch:

19. Remove the multi and 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:

20. If vehicle is equipped with an automatic transaxle, rotate the key cylinder to the off position. Depress locking tab on shifter/ignition interlock cable and remove the cable from the key lock housing.
21. Remove routing clip holding wiring harness to jacket of steering column.

Intermediate Shaft Coupler To Steering Gear Shaft:

22. 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:

23. 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:

24. 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.
25. Remove steering column assembly from vehicle through the drivers door of the passenger compartment. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or interior trim.