Dodge Dakota (R1). Manual - part 580

designed to be serviced as an assembly; less wiring,
switches, shrouds, steering wheel, etc. Most steering
column components can be serviced without remov-
ing the steering column from the vehicle.

To service the steering wheel, switches or airbag,

refer to Restraints and follow all WARNINGS and
CAUTIONS.

NOTE: When servicing the steering wheel after
removing the old bolt a new bolt must be used
when installing.

WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE,
COMPLEX ELECTRO-MECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE, REMOVE OR INSTALL
THE AIRBAG 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 AIRBAG AND
POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY. THE FASTENERS,
SCREWS, AND BOLTS, ORIGINALLY USED FOR
THE AIRBAG COMPONENTS, HAVE SPECIAL COAT-
INGS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE
AIRBAG

SYSTEM.

THEY

MUST

NEVER

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.

CAUTION: Do not hammer on steering column shaft
or shift tube. This may cause damage to the shaft,
shift tube or bearing.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove or modify the
park lock slider or link.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove the pivot pins
to disassemble the tilting mechanism. Do not
remove shaft lock plate or plate retainer. This will
damage the column.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STEERING
COLUMN

If the vehicle is involved in a front end collision/the

air bag has deployed the column must be inspected.
This inspection will determine if the Column has col-
lapsed. Inspect the column mounting capsules visu-
ally and manually push and pull them to check
separation or movement. (Fig. 1)

19 - 6

COLUMN

REMOVAL

WARNING: BEFORE SERVICING THE STEERING
COLUMN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM MUST BE DIS-
ARMED. REFER TO ELECTRICAL RESTRAINT SYS-
TEM FOR SERVICE PROCEDURES. FAILURE TO DO
SO MAY RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OF
THE AIRBAG AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Position front wheels straight ahead.
(2) Remove the negative (ground) cable from the

battery.

(3) Remove the airbag,(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/

RESTRAINTS/DRIVER AIRBAG - REMOVAL).

(4) Remove the steering wheel with an appropriate

puller.

CAUTION: Ensure the puller bolts are fully engaged
into the steering wheel and not into the clock-
spring, before attempting to remove the wheel. Fail-
ure to do so may damage the steering wheel/
clockspring.

(5) Remove the steering column opening cover and

knee blocker. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT
PANEL - REMOVAL). (Fig. 2).

(6) Remove tilt lever handle (if equipped) from col-

umn.

(7) Remove the lower and upper shrouds.
(8) Disconnect the shift cable by unsnapping the

shift cable clip from the shift lever and remove from
the cable bracket. (Fig. 3)

(9) Remove the turn signal multi-function switch

connector.

(10) Remove remaining electrical connections from

the column switches.

(11) Remove upper steering shaft coupler bolt and

slide the shaft down (Fig. 4).

(12) Remove steering column mounting nuts (Fig.

5).

(13) Remove column from vehicle.
(14) Remove clockspring, switches and key cylin-

der,

(Fig.

6)(Refer

ELECTRICAL/RE-

STRAINTS/CLOCKSPRING - REMOVAL) & (Refer
to 19 - STEERING/COLUMN/LOCK CYLINDER
HOUSING - REMOVAL).

Fig. 1 STEERING COLUMN

1 - Shift Lever
2 - Steering Column
3 - Mounting Crash Capsules
4 - Igntion Switch
5 - Tilt Lever/Cable Assembly
6 - Key Cylinder Housing

Fig. 2 LOWER COLUMN COVER/KNEE BLOCKER

1 - FUSE ACCESS PANEL
2 - KNEE BLOCKER
3 - LOWER COLUMN COVER

Fig. 3 SHIFT CABLE CONNECTOR

1 - Shift lever
2 - Cable Connection
3 - Overdrive Electrical Wiring
4 - Mounting Screws

COLUMN

19 - 7

COLUMN (Continued)

CAUTION: Failure to follow Restraints procedure for
clockspring removal, may damage the clockspring
plastic latches.

INSTALLATION

CAUTION: All fasteners must be torqued to specifi-
cation to ensure proper operation of the steering
column.

(1) Install switches, clockspring and key cylinder-

,(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/CLOCK-
SPRING

INSTALLATION)

(Refer

STEERING/COLUMN/LOCK CYLINDER HOUSING
- INSTALLATION).

(2) Position the column to the panel bracket and

attaching studs. Install, but loose assemble the
mounting nuts.

(3) Firmly slide steering column upward against

the studs in dash panel and hand tighten the nuts.

(4) Install steering shaft coupler on the steering

shaft and install a new bolt.

NOTE: Torque the upper left nut first then the lower
right nut. Then torque the lower left nut then the
upper right nut.

(5) Tighten column mounting nuts to 28 N·m (250

in. lbs.).

CAUTION: Ensure that the shift lever is in the PARK
position and snap the shift cable adjustment clip in
place.

(6) Install shift cable.
(7) Connect the multi-function switch wiring and

tighten to 12 N·m (105 in. lbs.).

(8) Install the wiring connections to the column

switches.

(9) Install the lower and upper shrouds.

Fig. 4 Steering Coupler

1 - COUPLER BOLT
2 - COLUMN
3 - COUPLER

Fig. 5 (TYPICAL) MOUNTING NUTS

1 - COLUMN MOUNTING NUTS

Fig. 6 STEERING COLUMN

1 - Steering Wheel
2 - Key Cylinder
3 - Gear Shift Lever
4 - Steering Column
5 - Tilt Lever Cable

19 - 8

COLUMN

COLUMN (Continued)

(10) Install the tilt lever handle (if equipped).
(11) Install the knee blocker and steering column

opening cover,(Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT
PANEL - INSTALLATION).

(12) Install steering wheel by aligning the D flat

on the wheel to the D flat on the column also use a
new bolt and tighten the bolt to 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.).

(13) Install airbag,(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RE-

STRAINTS/DRIVER AIRBAG - INSTALLATION).

(14) Connect the battery ground (negative) cable.
(15) Check operation of the automatic transmis-

sion shift linkage and adjust as necessary,(Refer to
21 - TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE/AUTOMATIC -
46RE/GEAR SHIFT CABLE - ADJUSTMENTS).

(16) Test the operation of the horn, lights and any

other functions that are steering column operated.

SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE CHART

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

DESCRIPTION

N·m

Ft. Lbs.

In. Lbs.

Steering Column

Steering Wheel Bolt

540

Steering Column

Mounting Nuts

250

Steering Column

Shaft Coupler Bolt/Nut

434

Steering Column

Multi-function Switch

Screws

105

Steering Column

Shifter lever Screws

105

IGNITION SWITCH

DESCRIPTION

The electrical ignition switch is located on the

steering column. It is used as the main on/off switch-
ing device for most electrical components. The
mechanical key lock cylinder is used to engage/disen-
gage the electrical ignition switch.

OPERATION

Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-

mission and a steering column mounted shifter:
an interlock device is located within the steering col-
umn. This interlock device is used to lock the trans-
mission shifter in the PARK position when the key
lock cylinder is in the LOCKED or ACCESSORY
position. If it is difficult to rotate the key to or from
the LOCK or ACCESSORY position, the interlock
device within the steering column may be defective.
This device is not serviceable. If repair is necessary,
the steering column assembly must be replaced.
(Refer to 19 - STEERING/COLUMN - REMOVAL).

Vehicles equipped with a manual transmis-

sion and a floor mounted shifter: on certain mod-
els, a lever is located on the steering column behind
the ignition key lock cylinder. The lever must be
manually operated to allow rotation of the ignition
key lock cylinder to the LOCK or ACCESSORY posi-
tion. If it is difficult to rotate the key to the LOCK or
ACCESSORY position, the lever mechanism may be
defective. This mechanism is not serviceable. If
repair is necessary, the steering column assembly
must be replaced. (Refer to 19 - STEERING/COL-
UMN - REMOVAL).

On other models, the ignition key cylinder must be

depressed to allow it to be rotated into the LOCK or
ACCESSORY position. If it is difficult to rotate the
key to the LOCK or ACCESSORY position, the lock
mechanism within the steering column may be defec-
tive. This mechanism is not serviceable. If repair is
necessary, the steering column assembly must be
replaced. (Refer to 19 - STEERING/COLUMN -
REMOVAL).

COLUMN

19 - 9

COLUMN (Continued)

Content .. 578 579 580 581 ..