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. 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

The steering column must be inspected carefully

after any frontal impact. Inspect for mount shifting
and stress cracks. The steering column needs to be
replaced after any impact that triggers the driver air-
bag.

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).

(1) Place front wheels of vehicle in STRAIGHT-

AHEAD position.

(2) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (-)

cable. Wait two minutes for the airbag system

COLUMN

19 - 11

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 driver airbag mounting screws (Fig. 1).

(4) Lift airbag from mount and disconnect two air-

bag squib connectors and horn connector (Fig. 1)
(Fig. 2). Remove driver airbag.

(5) Disconnect speed control wiring connector at

clockspring (center terminal) (Fig. 2).

(6) Remove steering wheel retaining nut (Fig. 3).
(7) Remove damper (Fig. 3).
(8) Remove steering wheel using standard wheel

puller.

(9) Access and remove knee blocker airbag. (Refer

ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/KNEE

BLOCKER AIRBAG - REMOVAL)

(10) Remove three screws fastening lower shroud

to upper shroud and column (Fig. 4).

Fig. 1 Airbag Mounting To Steering Wheel

1 - SQUIB CONNECTOR
2 - SQUIB CONNECTOR
3 - DRIVER AIRBAG
4 - AIRBAG MOUNTING SCREW
5 - HORN PIGTAIL (CLOCKSPRING-TO-AIRBAG)

Fig. 2 Speed Control And Horn Wiring Connectors

1 - STEERING WHEEL
2 - SPEED CONTROL WIRING CONNECTOR
3 - CLOCKSPRING
4 - HORN WIRING CONNECTOR

Fig. 3 Steering Wheel Mounting To Column

1 - STEERING COLUMN
2 - WIRING CONNECTOR
3 - STEERING WHEEL
4 - DAMPER
5 - RETAINING BOLT
6 - WIRING CONNECTOR
7 - AIRBAG SQUIB CONNECTORS

19 - 12

COLUMN

COLUMN (Continued)

(11) Using hands, gently press inward at seams

between shrouds at points where inner locking tabs
exist, unlocking tabs (Fig. 4).

(12) Remove upper, then lower shroud.
(13) Remove column wiring harness routing clip

from left side of column (Fig. 4).

(14) Remove screw on bottom of column (Fig. 5),

then

slide

multi-function

switch

housing

(with

switches and clockspring) off column.

(15) Disconnect steering column coupling at inter-

mediate shaft (Fig. 6). To do so:

(a) Remove hair pin at end of coupling pinch

bolt.

(b) Loosen nut and remove pinch bolt.
(c) Remove intermediate shaft from coupling.

(16) Remove four nuts fastening column to dash

(Fig. 6). Remove column.

INSTALLATION

(1) Place steering column over mounting studs and

install four nuts fastening column to dash (Fig. 6).
Tighten nuts to 12 N·m (105 in. lbs.) torque.

(2) Connect steering column coupling to intermedi-

ate shaft (Fig. 6). To do so:

(a) Match intermediate shaft to coupling pinch

loop.

(b) Install coupling pinch bolt. Tighten to 28

N·m (21 ft. lbs.) torque.

(3) Slide multi-function switch mounting housing

onto column and install mounting screw. Tighten
screw to 1.9 N·m (17 in. lbs.) torque.

(4) Install column wiring harness routing clip into

left side of column (Fig. 4).

(5) Install lower and upper shrouds around column

(Fig. 4):

Fig. 4 Components Mounted To Steering Column

1 - STEERING COLUMN
2 - WIRING HARNESS CLIP
3 - UPPER SHROUD
4 - CLOCKSPRING
5 - SWITCH MODULE
6 - LOWER SHROUD
7 - SHROUD MOUNTING SCREW
8 - WIRING HARNESS

Fig. 5 Multi-Function Switch Mounting Housing

Screw

1 - CLOCK SPRING
2 - SCREW
3 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH MOUNTING HOUSING

Fig. 6 Steering Column

1 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
2 - COLUMN MOUNTING BRACKET
3 - COLUMN MOUNING STUDS
4 - STEERING COLUMN
5 - UPPER MOUNTING NUTS
6 - LOWER MOUNTING NUTS
7 - HAIR PIN
8 - COUPLING PINCH BOLT

COLUMN

19 - 13

COLUMN (Continued)

(a) Snap shrouds together at locking tab loca-

tions on both sides.

(b) Install center mounting screw securing lower

shroud to column. Tighten screw to 2 N·m (18 in.
lbs.) torque.

lower shroud to upper shroud. Tighten screws to 2
N·m (18 in. lbs.) torque.

(d) Inspect shroud mating surfaces for excessive

gaps and adjust as necessary.
(6) Install knee blocker airbag and all components

necessary to access. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RE-
STRAINTS/KNEE BLOCKER AIRBAG - REMOVAL)

(7) Match splines on steering wheel hub with that

on steering shaft and slide steering wheel onto col-
umn shaft.

(8) Install damper on steering wheel (Fig. 3).
(9) Install steering wheel retaining bolt (Fig. 3).

Tighten bolt to 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.) torque.

(10) Connect speed control wiring connector at

clockspring (Fig. 2).

(11) Connect two airbag squib connectors and horn

connector to driver airbag (Fig. 1).

(12) Place driver airbag on steering wheel and

install mounting screws (Fig. 1). Tighten screws to 10
N·m (90 in. lbs.) torque.

(13) Connect battery negative (-) cable to battery

post following special Diagnosis And Testing proce-
dure. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)

(14) Check

operation

all

steering

column

mounted components.

(15) Road test vehicle to ensure operation of steer-

ing.

SPECIFICATIONS

STEERING COLUMN FASTENER TORQUE

DESCRIPTION

N·m

Ft.

Lbs.

In.

Lbs.

Driver Airbag Attaching Bolts

—

Steering Column Coupling
Pinch Bolt

250

Steering Column Mounting
Nuts

—

105

Steering Column Shroud
Screws

—

Steering Wheel Retaining
Nut

—

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT

REMOVAL

NOTE: Before proceeding, (Refer to 19 - STEERING/
COLUMN - WARNING).

(1) Disconnect battery negative (-) cable from bat-

tery post and isolate.

(2) Place front wheels of vehicle in STRAIGHT-

AHEAD position.

(3) Install steering wheel holder locking steering

wheel in STRAIGHT-AHEAD position (Fig. 7).

(4) Disconnect steering column coupling at inter-

mediate shaft (Fig. 8). To do so:

(a) Remove hair pin at end of coupling pinch

bolt.

(b) Loosen nut and remove pinch bolt.
(c) Remove intermediate shaft from coupling.

(5) Remove two upper intermediate shaft silencer

shell/cover mounting nuts (Fig. 12).

(6) Raise and support vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICA-

TION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD
PROCEDURE)

(7) Remove lower silencer shell/cover mounting nut

(Fig. 12).

(8) Push upward on lower silencer shell/cover

mounting stud loosening silencer shell/cover from
dash.

(9) Lower vehicle.
(10) Lift intermediate shaft silencer shell off dash

panel, working it past adjustable pedals and remove
it from intermediate shaft.

(11) Remove pinch bolt fastening intermediate

shaft to intermediate shaft extension (Fig. 9).

Fig. 7 Steering Wheel Holder

19 - 14

COLUMN

COLUMN (Continued)

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