Chrysler Stratus Convertible. Manual - part 44

(11) Remove the 2 bolts, 1 on each side of the

steering wheel, attaching the airbag module to the
steering wheel (Fig. 11).

(12) Remove the airbag module from the center of

the steering wheel.

(13) Remove the locking tab from clockspring air-

bag electrical lead connector (Fig. 12). Locking tab is
removed by pulling it straight out of the airbag con-
nector. Do not twist the locking tab when remov-
ing it from the connector.

(14) Disconnect the electrical connector (Fig. 13)

from the back of the airbag module. Connector is
removed by pulling it straight out of the airbag mod-
ule. Do not twist the connector when removing
it from the airbag.

(15) Remove the wiring lead for the horn switch in

the airbag module (Fig. 14) from the wiring lead com-
ing from the clockspring.

(16) Turn the lock cylinder to the OFF position

and remove the key from the lock cylinder.

(17) Turn the steering wheel to the left 1/2 a turn

(180°) (Fig. 15) until the steering column lock is
engaged.

Fig. 11 Airbag Module Attaching Bolts

1 – ATTACHING BOLT
2 – STEERING WHEEL
3 – AIRBAG MODULE
4 – STEERING COLUMN

Fig. 12 Airbag Module Electrical Lead Locking Tab

1 – ELECTRICAL LEAD CONNECTOR
2 – AIRBAG MODULE
3 – LOCKING TAB
4 – STEERING WHEEL

Fig. 13 Airbag Module Electrical Lead Connector

1 – STEERING WHEEL
2 – AIRBAG MODULE
3 – ELECTRICAL LEAD CONNECTOR

Fig. 14 Horn Switch Wiring Lead

1 – AIRBAG MODULE
2 – HORN SWITCH WIRING LEAD
3 – STEERING WHEEL
4 – CLOCKSPRING

STEERING

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(18) Remove the steering wheel attaching nut

(Fig. 15) from the steering column shaft.

CAUTION: When installing wheel puller on steering
wheel, be sure puller bolts are fully seated in the
threaded holes in the steering wheel. If bolts are
not fully seated in the threaded holes, threads may
be stripped out when removing the steering wheel.

(19) Install a steering wheel puller on the steering

wheel (Fig. 16).

CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering
wheel or steering column shaft when removing
steering wheel from steering column.

(20) Remove the steering wheel using the puller.
(21) Remove the 2 screws attaching the upper and

lower shrouds to the steering column (Fig. 17). First
remove upper shroud from steering column, then
release tilt lever and tilt steering column to its high-
est point. Then remove lower shroud from steering
column.

(22) Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from

the clockspring (Fig. 18).

Fig. 17 Steering Column Shroud Attaching Screws

1 – CLOCKSPRING
2 – ATTACHING SCREWS
3 – STEERING COLUMN SHROUDS
4 – TILT LEVER

Fig. 18 Wiring Harness Connection To Clock Spring

1 – CLOCKSPRING
2 – WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS

Fig. 15 Steering Wheel Attaching Nut

1 – SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WIRING
2 – AIRBAG ELECTRICAL LEAD
3 – STEERING WHEEL ATTACHING NUT
4 – STEERING WHEEL

(SHOWN IN LOCKED POSITION)

Fig. 16 Puller Installed On Steering Wheel

1 – STEERING WHEEL PULLER
2 – STEERING WHEEL

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STEERING

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(23) Remove the trim ring for the key cylinder

from the lock cylinder housing.

(24) Remove the 2 wire wiring harness connectors

from the back of the ignition switch (Fig. 19). Then
remove the 2 wiring harness connector from the
multi function switch (Fig. 19) and (Fig. 20).

(25) Depress the locking tab on the shifter/ignition

interlock cable (Fig. 21) and remove the cable from
the key lock housing.

(26) Remove routing clip holding wiring harness to

jacket of steering column.

(27) If equipped with the optional Sentry Key

Immobilizer System, remove the SKIM module from
the steering column (Fig. 22).

(28) Under the instrument panel, disconnect the

intermediate shaft from the steering gear shaft. To
do so, perform one of the following that applies:

(a) On early production vehicles, remove the “E”

clip from the steering column intermediate shaft

Fig. 19 Wiring Harness Connections To Ignition And

Multi-Function Switch

1 – MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH
2 – MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR
3 – IGNITION SWITCH

Fig. 20 Wiring Harness Connection To Multi-

Function Switch

1 – MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR
2 – MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH

Fig. 21 Shifter/Ignition Cable At Lock Cylinder

Housing

1 – KEY CYLINDER
2 – LOCKING TAB
3 – SHIFTER IGNITION INTERLOCK CABLE
4 – KEY LOCK HOUSING

Fig. 22 Sentry Key Immobilizer Module

1 – STEERING COLUMN
2 – SENTRY KEY IMMOBILIZER MODULE
3 – SKIM CONNECTOR
4 – ANTENNA
5 – IGNITION KEY CYLINDER

STEERING

19 - 55

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

coupler pinch bolt (Fig. 23). Next, remove the pinch
bolt from the intermediate shaft coupler by backing
off the nut, then separate the intermediate shaft
from steering gear shaft.

(b) On later production vehicles, remove the

pinch bolt from the intermediate shaft coupler
(Fig. 24), then slide the intermediate shaft up and
off the steering gear shaft.

CAUTION: Before loosening the upper and lower
steering column mounting bracket attaching nuts,
the following procedure to lock upper steering col-
umn mounting bracket from moving must be done.
If upper steering column mounting bracket is not
locked in its proper position before loosening the
mounting nuts, the tilt steering column will not
operate correctly when installed back in car. This is
due to the alignment of the upper mounting bracket
assembly slipping when the mounting bolts are
loosened.

(29) Place steering column so it is positioned in

the middle of its tilt range. Place the steering column
assembly tilt lever in its fully locked position. Then
insert a 5/32 inch drill bit in each locking pin hole on
the

upper

steering

column

mounting

bracket

(Fig. 25).

(30) Remove the 2 upper steering column assembly

mounting bracket to support bracket nuts. Then
remove the 2 lower steering column assembly mount-
ing bracket to support bracket nuts (Fig. 26).

(31) Remove steering column assembly from vehi-

cle through the drivers door of the passenger com-
partment. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or
interior trim.

INSTALLATION

(1) Install steering column on the studs in the

steering column support bracket. Loosely install the
4 steering column assembly attaching nuts.

(2) Tighten the 2 lower steering column assembly

mounting nuts (Fig. 26) to hold the steering column
in place. Be sure both breakaway capsules are still

Fig. 23 Early Intermediate Shaft Attachment

1 – INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
2 – STEERING GEAR SHAFT
3 – COUPLER
4 – BRAKE PEDAL
5 – PINCH BOLT
6 – NUT
7 – “E” CLIP

Fig. 24 Later Intermediate Shaft Attachment

1 – INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
2 – PINCH BOLT

Fig. 25 Locking Pins Installed In Steering Column

Bracket

1 – LOCKING PIN HOLES
2 – DRILL BITS
3 – UPPER MOUNTING BRACKET

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STEERING

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

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