has been designed to be serviced as an assembly; less
wiring, switches, shifter assembly, ignition park
interlock, shrouds and steering wheel, etc. Also, most
steering column components can be serviced without
removing the steering column from the vehicle.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

STEERING COLUMN

For diagnosis of conditions relating to the steering

column, refer to the steering system diagnosis charts
in the diagnosis and testing section at the beginning
of this group.

The steering column MUST be replaced when-

ever any of the following conditions exist:

Fig. 1 Steering Column

300M

STEERING

19 - 41

• The steering column must be replaced whenever

a vehicle is involved in a collision which deploys the
air bag, regardless of the extent of damage done to
the vehicle.

• If a vehicle is involved in an impact of the vehicles

front suspension or under carriage, which results in any
type of damage to the front suspension crossmember.

• Under any conditions which result in the steer-

ing column assembly or steering column shaft receiv-
ing a force great enough to move the steering column
or shaft forward of rearward in a vehicle.

STEERING COLUMN TO STEERING GEAR
INTERMEDIATE SHAFT

The steering column to steering gear intermediate

shaft has an integrated lower coupler and the assem-
bly MUST be replaced whenever any of the fol-
lowing conditions exist.

(1) Whenever a vehicle is involved in a collision

which deploys the air bag, regardless of the extent of
damage done to the vehicle.

(2) If a vehicle is involved in an impact of the vehi-

cles front suspension or under carriage, which results
in any type of damage to the front crossmember.

(3) Under any conditions which result in the steer-

ing column assembly or steering column shaft receiv-
ing a force great enough to move the steering column
or shaft forward of rearward in a vehicle.

STEERING COLUMN SHAFT UPPER COUPLER

If the steering column shaft upper coupler is diag-

nosed to be defective due to any of the following con-
ditions: seized bearing, loose bearing stake or a
bearing not fully seated in the yoke of the coupler
assembly, the coupler can be serviced as a separate
component of the steering column assembly.

SERVICE PROCEDURES

STEERING COLUMN SERVICE PROCEDURE
WARNINGS

WARNING: BEFORE

BEGINNING

ANY

SERVICE

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.

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. FAILURE TO DO SO
COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OF
THE AIR BAG AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
THE FASTENERS, SCREWS, AND BOLTS, ORIGI-
NALLY USED FOR THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS,
HAVE SPECIAL COATINGS AND ARE SPECIFI-
CALLY DESIGNED FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM.
THEY MUST NEVER BE REPLACED WITH ANY SUB-
STITUTES.

ANYTIME

NEW

FASTENER

NEEDED, REPLACE WITH THE CORRECT FASTEN-
ERS PROVIDED IN THE SERVICE PACKAGE OR
FASTENERS

LISTED

THE

PARTS

BOOKS.

BEFORE

SERVICING

STEERING

COLUMN

EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR BAG, REFER TO GROUP
8M, ELECTRICAL FOR PROPER AND SAFE SER-
VICE PROCEDURES.

NOTE: 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.

SHIFTER/IGNITION INTERLOCK

For servicing and or adjustment of the shifter/igni-

tion interlock system on either a floor or column shift
vehicle. Refer to the Ignition Switch And Interlock
Section of Group 8 for the required operation check
and adjustment of the interlock system.

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

STEERING COLUMN

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

19 - 42

STEERING

300M

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)

NOTE: This procedure is to be used when replac-
ing the steering column. It is written to reflect that
objective. If the column is to be removed as one
assembly, or without removing the steering wheel,
the steering wheel must be turned from the straight
ahead position to the RIGHT 180° and locked in
place. Lock the column in this position by removing
the key from the key cylinder. This MUST be per-
formed before the steering coupler to the gear is
disconnected. This is done to prevent the chance of
damaging the clockspring. When reconnecting the
steering coupler to the intermediate shaft, verify the
front wheels have not moved from their position
when column was removed. If during column rein-
stallation, any doubt is present as to whether the
clockspring is properly centered, the clockspring
centering procedure in step Step 17 MUST be per-
formed prior to connecting the steering coupler.

REMOVE

(1) Remove remote ground cable from ground stud

on shock tower and isolate ground cable from vehicle
by installing isolator on stud (Fig. 2).

(2) Remove the fuse panel cover from the left end

of the instrument panel (Fig. 3).

(3) Remove the 2 screws behind the fuse panel

cover, (Fig. 4) attaching the lower instrument panel
cover to the instrument panel mounting bracket.

(4) Remove the lower instrument panel cover. The

lower instrument panel cover is attached by retain-
ing clips along the top and right edge.

(5) Remove the wiring harness connector from the

trunk release switch in the lower instrument panel
cover (Fig. 5).

(6) Remove the park brake release cable, from the

park brake release handle in the lower instrument
panel cover (Fig. 6).

Fig. 2 Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable

Fig. 3 Fuse Panel Cover

Fig. 4 Lower Instrument Panel Cover Mounting

Screws

Fig. 5 Trunk Release Wiring

300M

STEERING

19 - 43

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(7) Remove the 4 bolts (Fig. 7) mounting the rein-

forcement (Fig. 7) to the instrument panel. Remove
the reinforcement from the instrument panel.Remove
the diagnostic connector (Fig. 8) from the reinforce-
ment.

(8) Before beginning removal of steering column

assembly from vehicle, be sure front wheels of vehicle
are in the straight ahead position.

(9) Remove the speed control switches (Fig. 9)

from

the

steering

wheel.

The

speed

control

switches are mounted to the steering wheel by
two screws (one screw, each switch) which are
accessible from the back side of the steering
wheel.

NOTE: Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before
starting to remove airbag from steering wheel. This
will allow the airbag system capacitor to de-ener-
gize.

WARNING: WHEN

UNDEPLOYED

AIRBAG

ASSEMBLY IS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STEER-
ING

WHEEL,

DISCONNECT

BATTERY

GROUND

CABLE AND ISOLATE. ALLOW SYSTEM CAPACI-
TOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO MINUTES, THEN
BEGIN AIRBAG REMOVAL.

WARNING: WHEN

HANDLING AN

UNDEPLOYED

AIRBAG MODULE DURING SERVICING OF THE
STEERING COLUMN THE FOLLOWING PRECAU-
TIONS

SHOULD

OBSERVED. AT

TIME

SHOULD ANY SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY BE PER-
MITTED 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
MODULE ACCIDENTLY DEPLOYS. IF AIRBAG MOD-
ULE IS PLACED ON A BENCH OR OTHER SUR-
FACE, PLASTIC COVER SHOULD BE FACE UP TO
MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL
DEPLOYMENT.

Fig. 9 Speed Control Switches

Fig. 6 Park Brake Release Cable

Fig. 7 Reinforcement Panel

Fig. 8 Diagnostic Connector

19 - 44

STEERING

300M

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

Content .. 277 278 279 280 ..