PROCEDURES THAT INVOLVES REMOVING THE
AIR BAG. REMOVE AND ISOLATE THE NEGATIVE
(-) BATTERY CABLE (GROUND) FROM THE VEHI-
CLE BATTERY. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO
DISABLE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO
THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR BAG
DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Fig. 1 Steering Column

1 - STEERING COLUMN
2 - UPPER MOUNTING NUTS
3 - LOWER MOUNTING NUTS
4 - MOUNTING STUDS

COLUMN

19 - 11

WARNING: THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE,
COMPLEX ELECTRO-MECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE, REMOVE OR INSTALL
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS YOU MUST
FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY
NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO
MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DIS-
CHARGE. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN
ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND
POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY. THE FASTENERS,
SCREWS, AND BOLTS, ORIGINALLY USED FOR
THE

AIR

BAG

COMPONENTS,

HAVE

SPECIAL

COATINGS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THEY MUST NEVER
BE REPLACED WITH ANY SUBSTITUTES. ANYTIME
A NEW FASTENER IS NEEDED, REPLACE WITH
THE CORRECT FASTENERS PROVIDED IN THE
SERVICE PACKAGE OR FASTENERS LISTED IN
THE PARTS BOOKS.

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

CAUTION: Disconnect negative (ground) cable from
the battery before servicing any column compo-
nent.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove the pivot pins
to disassemble the tilting mechanism. Damage will
occur.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STEERING
COLUMN

For diagnosis of conditions relating to the steering

column, (Refer to 19 - STEERING - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING).

REMOVAL

NOTE: Before proceeding, (Refer to 19 - STEERING/
COLUMN - WARNING) (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
RESTRAINTS/DRIVER AIRBAG - REMOVAL).

(1) Make sure the front wheels of the vehicle are

in the STRAIGHT AHEAD position before beginning
the column removal procedure.

(2) Disconnect and isolate the negative (ground)

cable from the battery. Wait at least two minutes for
the airbag system reserve capacitor to discharge
before beginning any steering column, instrument
panel, or airbag system/component service.

WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG IS TO
BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, FIRST DISCON-
NECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE
(GROUND) CABLE. ALLOW THE AIRBAG SYSTEM
RESERVE CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO
MINUTES BEFORE BEGINNING ANY AIRBAG SYS-
TEM

COMPONENT

SERVICE.

PERSONAL

INJURY MAY RESULT IF THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT
FOLLOWED.

(3) Remove the driver airbag mounting screws

(Fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Driver Airbag Mounting

1 - DRIVER AIRBAG
2 - MOUNTING SCREWS

19 - 12

COLUMN

COLUMN (Continued)

(4) Lift the airbag from its mount and disconnect

two airbag squib, speed control and horn connectors
(Fig. 3). Remove driver airbag. Properly store the
driver airbag out of the way. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRI-
CAL/RESTRAINTS - WARNING)

(5) Remove the steering wheel retaining bolt (Fig.

4).

(6) Remove damper (Fig. 4).
(7) If equipped, disconnect the remote audio con-

trol switch wiring from the clockspring (Fig. 4).

CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering col-
umn or steering column shaft when removing steer-
ing wheel from steering column shaft.

CAUTION: When installing steering wheel puller
bolts in steering wheel, do not thread bolt into
steering wheel more than a half inch. If the bolts
are threaded into the steering wheel more than a
half inch they will contact and damage the clock-
spring.

(8) Remove the steering wheel using a standard

wheel puller (Fig. 5).

(9) Remove the knee blocker/steering column open-

ing cover (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PAN-
EL/STEERING

COLUMN

OPENING

COVER

REMOVAL).

(10) Remove the parking brake release handle

link.

(11) Remove

the

knee

blocker/steering

column

cover plate (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PAN-
EL/KNEE BLOCKER - REMOVAL).

Fig. 3 Driver Airbag Wiring Connections

1 - DRIVER AIRBAG
2 - SQUIB CONNECTORS
3 - SPEED CONTROL/HORN WIRING CONNECTOR
4 - CLOCKSPRING

Fig. 4 Steering Wheel Mounting

1 - STEERING WHEEL
2 - REMOTE AUDIO CONTROL WIRING CONNECTOR (IF
EQUIPPED)
3 - RETAINING BOLT
4 - DAMPER

Fig. 5 Steering Wheel Removal

1 - STEERING WHEEL
2 - PULLER

COLUMN

19 - 13

COLUMN (Continued)

(12) Remove the upper shroud mounting screws

(Fig. 6). Using hands on each side of the column,
gently press inward at seams between the two
shrouds at points of contact to disengage inner lock-
ing tabs, then remove upper shroud. If the vehicle is
equipped with traction control, the lower shroud will
need to be removed once the upper shroud is unfas-
tened in order to disconnect the traction control wir-
ing connector and remove the upper shroud with the
traction control switch intact. Refer to the following
steps.

(13) If equipped with adjustable pedals, disconnect

the wiring connector for the switch (Fig. 7).

(14) Remove the lower shroud mounting screw

(Fig. 8), then remove the lower shroud.

Fig. 6 Upper Shroud Mounting

1 - UPPER SHROUD
2 - LOWER SHROUD
3 - MOUNTING SCREWS

Fig. 7 Adjustable Pedals Switch Mounting

1 - LOWER SHROUD
2 - ADJUSTABLE PEDALS SWITCH
3 - WIRING CONNECTOR

Fig. 8 Lower Shroud Mounting

1 - STEERING COLUMN
2 - LOWER SHROUD
3 - MOUNTING SCREW

19 - 14

COLUMN

COLUMN (Continued)

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