Steering Column Removal

CAUTION: The steering column must be positioned and locked to prevent uncontrolled rotation of the steering column shaft, after steering column removal from vehicle. Use procedure below to correctly position and lock steering column prior to its removal. If steering column is not locked prior to its removal, damage to the clock spring assembly will occur.

NOTE: If vehicle being serviced is equipped with a floor shift and center console, center console will need to be removed before proceeding with steering column removal procedure. Refer to Body and Frame.





1. Lock the steering column by turning the steering wheel 1/2 turn (180°) clockwise from the straight ahead position of the front wheels. Turn the key to the lock position and remove the key from the lock cylinder. This will ensure that no damage occurs to clock spring when steering column is removed from vehicle.
2. Disconnect negative (ground) cable from battery, isolating cable from battery.





3. Remove the 2 speed control switches from the steering wheel, to gain access to the air bag module attaching screws. If the vehicle is not equipped with speed control, pry out the covers on sides of steering wheel for access.





4. Remove the 2 bolts attaching the air bag module to the steering wheel.





5. Lift the air bag module out of the steering wheel. Disconnect the wiring harness connections from the rear of the air bag. Remove the air bag module from the steering wheel.





6. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut from the steering column shaft.





7. Remove the steering wheel from the steering column shaft using Puller, Special Tool C-3428-B or an equivalent. Do not bump or hammer on the steering column shaft to remove the steering wheel.





8. Remove instrument panel left and right end covers.





9. Remove the 2 air bag fuses from the fuse panel.





10. Remove the left and right lower cowl area trim panels.





11. Remove the ash receiver from the center console.





12. Remove the lower center bezel from the lower knee bolster panel. Center bezel is removed from lower knee bolster panel, by carefully prying along edge of Bezel. Use care so as not to scratch lower knee bolster when removing bezel.





13. Remove the 5 screws attaching the radio and the heater A/C control to the lower knee bolster panel. Remove the radio and the heater A/C control assemblies.





14. Remove the center upper outlet bezel from the upper instrument panel. Bezel is removed by carefully prying right side of bezel out from upper instrument panel until bezel can be grasped by hand. Then pull bezel out from upper instrument panel by hand, until the 2 retaining clips are disengaged. If vehicle is equipped with traction control, disconnect electrical connector from traction control switch.





15. Remove the screw, attaching the lower knee bolster panel to the upper instrument panel.





16. Remove the vehicle wiring harness connectors from the cigar lighter and ash receiver assembly.
17. Remove the 2 nuts located at the rear of the ash receiver, attaching the lower knee bolster panel to the floor pan support bracket.





18. Remove 6 screws inside glove box attaching lower knee bolster panel to cowl panel. Access attaching screws by opening glove box and pushing sides inward allowing door bumper to pass lower knee bolster panel, allowing glove box door to open fully.





19. Remove the 6 bolts (3 each side) attaching the lower knee bolster panel to the cowl panel.





20. Carefully remove the lower knee bolster panel, from the upper instrument panel. Lower the knee bolster panel until the wiring connectors for the glove box light and trunk release button are accessible. Then disconnect the connectors from the light and switch.
21. Remove the complete lower knee bolster panel assembly from the interior of the vehicle. For ease of removal, the lower knee bolster panel should be removed from the passenger side door of the vehicle.





22. Remove the 2 under steering column, heat and A/C ducts.





23. Tilt steering column to its full up position to allow access to the shroud attaching screws. Then remove the 3 shroud to shroud attaching screws.
24. Tilt steering column to its full down position. This allows upper shroud to be removed easier thus avoiding damage to the upper shroud during removal.
25. Remove upper steering column shroud from steering column assembly.





26. Tilt the steering column to the full up position. Then remove the tilt lever, and the 3 lower steering column shroud to steering column attaching screws.








27. If the vehicle is equipped with a column shifter, the shift cable is removed from steering column using the following procedure. Ensure tilt steering column is in the full up position. Then remove the shift cable from shifter assembly by prying shift cable off attaching pin on shifter mechanism. Then remove shift cable retaining clip at shift cable support bracket, being careful not to bend cable bracket.

CAUTION: When ignition key is turned to the run position, do not rotate steering column shaft. If steering shaft is turned, damage to the clock spring will occur.





28. If the vehicle is equipped with a floor shifter, turn the ignition key to the run position unlocking the steering column. Depress tab and remove the floor shift interlock cable from the socket on the steering column.





29. Remove the retaining pin and the bolt from the coupler. Then separate the coupler from the intermediate shaft.





30. Loosen but do not remove the 2 bolts attaching lower steering column assembly bracket, to steering column mounting bracket.





31. Support the weight of the steering column, to prevent damage to the lower bracket and the plastic adapter tabs. Then remove the 2 nut/washer assemblies, attaching the upper steering column assembly bracket to the steering column mounting bracket.





32. Remove the steering column assembly from the mounting brackets and lay it on the floor of the vehicle.
33. Remove wiring harness connectors from the turn signal/multi-function switch and ignition switch.





34. Remove the wiring harness connectors from the halo light and clock spring. Carefully remove the steering column clip from the lower steering column mounting bracket.
35. Remove steering column assembly from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Use care when removing steering column to avoid damaging the paint or interior trim.