Steering Column

STEERING COLUMN

REMOVAL

NOTE: Before proceeding, review all WARNINGS and CAUTIONS.

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 DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. ALLOW THE AIRBAG SYSTEM RESERVE CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO MINUTES BEFORE BEGINNING ANY AIRBAG SYSTEM OR COMPONENT SERVICE. PERSONAL INJURY MAY RESULT IF THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT FOLLOWED.





3. Remove the driver airbag mounting screws (Fig. 2).





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.





5. Remove the steering wheel retaining bolt (Fig. 4).
6. Remove damper (Fig. 4).
7. If equipped, disconnect the remote audio control switch wiring from the clockspring (Fig. 4).

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





8. Remove the steering wheel using a standard wheel puller (Fig. 5).
9. Remove the knee blocker/steering column opening cover.
10. Remove the parking brake release handle link.
11. Remove the knee blocker/steering column cover plate.





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 locking 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 unfastened in order to disconnect the traction control wiring connector and remove the upper shroud with the traction control switch intact.





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.





15. If equipped with traction control, disconnect the wiring connector from the column wiring harness (Fig. 9). Remove the upper shroud with traction control switch.
16. Remove the cluster trim bezel.





17. Remove the screws fastening the fixed shroud in place (Fig. 10). Remove the fixed shroud.





18. Disconnect the column harness wiring connectors from the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) and ignition switch (Fig. 11).





19. Disconnect the column harness wiring connector for the multi-function switch (Fig. 12).
20. Disconnect the column harness wiring connectors for the clockspring and SQUIB (Fig. 12).





21. If equipped with Sentry Key Immobilizer, disconnect the wiring connector from the SKIM (Fig. 13).





22. Remove screw fastening horn ground wire to column (Fig. 14).





23. Disconnect the shift cable at the lever pin (Fig. 15).
24. Disconnect the shift cable at the bracket, then feed the cable out through bracket. (Fig. 15).





25. Remove the hair pin, then the pinch bolt (Fig. 16). Disconnect the column coupling.





26. Loosen the column lower mounting nuts (Fig. 17).
27. Remove the column upper mounting nuts (Fig. 17).
28. Remove the steering column (Fig. 17).





29. If the steering column is being replaced, remove the set-screw fastening the multi-function switch mounting housing to the column (Fig. 18).





30. If the steering column is being replaced, slide the multi-function switch mounting housing off the column (Fig. 19).
31. If the steering column is being replaced, remove the mounting screw fastening the SKIM to the ignition key cylinder housing (Fig. 13). Remove the SKIM.
32. If the steering column is being replaced, remove the halo from the ignition key cylinder housing (Fig. 13).
33. If the steering column is being replaced, remove the ignition key lock cylinder.

INSTALLATION

NOTE: Make sure the front wheels of the vehicle are still in the STRAIGHT AHEAD position before beginning the column installation procedure.

1. If removed, install the ignition key lock cylinder.
2. If removed, install the halo on the ignition key cylinder housing (Fig. 13).
3. If removed, install SKIM (Fig. 13). Install the mounting screw fastening the SKIM to the ignition key cylinder housing. Tighten the screw to 4 Nm (30 inch lbs.) torque.
4. If removed, slide the multi-function switch mounting housing onto the column (Fig. 19).
5. If multi-function switch mounting housing is being installed, install the set-screw fastening the housing to the column (Fig. 18). Tighten the setscrew to 14 Nm (124 inch lbs.) torque.
6. Install the steering column (Fig. 17). Slide the column lower mounting slots over the lower mounting studs (with nuts started) first, then lift column into place over the upper mounting studs.
7. Install the two upper mounting nuts (Fig. 17). Tighten the two upper mounting nuts, then the two lower mounting nuts to 12 Nm (105 inch lbs.) torque.
8. Match the column shaft coupling to the intermediate shaft and install the pinch bolt (Fig. 16). Tighten the pinch bolt nut to 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.) torque. Install the hair pin in the end of the pinch bolt.
9. Feed the shift cable through the bracket on the column (Fig. 15), then install the clip fastening the cable housing to the bracket.
10. Connect the shift cable to the lever pin (Fig. 15).
11. Install the screw fastening the horn ground wire to the column (Fig. 14). Tighten the screw to 7 Nm (60 inch lbs.) torque.
12. If equipped with Sentry Key Immobilizer, connect the wiring connector to the SKIM (Fig. 13).
13. Connect the column harness wiring connectors for the clockspring and SQUIB (Fig. 12).
14. Connect the column harness wiring connector for the multi-function switch (Fig. 12).
15. Connect the column harness wiring connectors for the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) and ignition switch (Fig. 11).
16. Install the fixed shroud (Fig. 10). Install the screws fastening the fixed shroud in place and tighten the screws to 3 Nm (23 inch lbs.) torque.
17. If equipped with traction control, position the upper shroud above the column and route the switch wiring down around the column. Connect the wiring connector from the column wiring harness to the traction control switch wiring (attached to upper shroud) (Fig. 9).
18. Position the lower shroud on the column (Fig. 8). Install the lower shroud mounting screw. Tighten the screw to 2 Nm (17 inch lbs.) torque.
19. If equipped with adjustable pedals, Connect the wiring connector for the switch (Fig. 7) to the column wiring harness.
20. Position the upper shroud on top of the lower shroud and snap it into place. Install the upper shroud mounting screws (Fig. 6). Tighten the screws to 2 Nm (17 inch lbs.) torque.
21. Inspect shroud mating surfaces for excessive gaps and correct as necessary.
22. Install the cluster trim bezel.
23. Install the knee blocker/steering column cover plate.
24. Install the parking brake handle link.
25. Install the knee blocker/steering column opening cover.
26. Align the splines and install the steering wheel on the steering column shaft.
27. Install the damper over the steering column shaft (Fig. 4).
28. Install the steering wheel retaining bolt (Fig. 4). Tighten the bolt to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.) torque.
29. If the steering wheel is equipped with remote audio controls, connect the wiring connector to the clockspring (Fig. 4).
30. Connect the two squib connectors to the driver airbag (Fig. 3). The connectors are color coded to avoid connector mix-up.
31. Connect the speed control and horn connector to the clockspring (Fig. 3).
32. Install the airbag to the steering wheel. Install the driver airbag mounting screws (Fig. 2). Tighten screws to 10 Nm (90 inch lbs.) torque.
33. Connect the battery negative (ground) cable to battery post following special Diagnosis And Testing procedure.
34. Check operation of all steering column mounted components.
35. Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation of steering.