Steering - Steering Column Clicking Sound
NUMBER: 19-003-04 REV. AGROUP: Steering
DATE: August 27, 2004
THIS BULLETIN IS BEING PROVIDED IN ADVANCE. DO NOT ORDER PARTS OR PERFORM ANY ACTIONS RELATED TO THIS BULLETIN UNTIL SEPT. 3, 2004.
THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES SERVICE BULLETIN 19-003-04 DATED APRIL 6, 2004, WHICH SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM YOUR FILES. ALL REVISIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED WITH **ASTERISKS** AND INCLUDES A NOTE, ADDITIONAL PART AND CHANGE TO THE REPAIR PROCEDURE.
SUBJECT:
Steering Column Click Sound
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves aligning the steering column or removing the steering column and installing a new steering column shaft, revised wedge, **revised spring** and seating the lower bearing.
MODELS:
2001 - 2004 (JR) Sebring Convertible/Sebring Sedan/Stratus Sedan
2001 - 2004 (PT) Chrysler PT Cruiser
NOTE:
**This bulletin applies to vehicles built prior to November 10, 2003.**
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
A click sound is heard when the steering wheel is turned.
PARTS REQUIRED
SPECIAL TOOLS/EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR PROCEDURE:
NOTE:
Refer to the appropriate service manual or TechCONNECT service information for removal and installation procedures.
1. Turn the steering wheel and listen for a click sound. If the click sound is heard, remove the steering column shrouds.
2. Turn the steering wheel, listen to hear if the click sound remains.
3. If the click sound is eliminated determine the source interference with the steering column shrouds and correct, the repair is then complete.
WARNING:
When an undeployed airbag is to be removed from the steering wheel, disconnect and isolate the battery ground cable. Allow system capacitor to discharge for two minutes, then begin airbag removal.
NOTE:
Be sure to center the steering wheel and have the front tires and wheels straight ahead before removing the steering wheel and disconnecting the lower coupling. Access to the steering column shaft coupler screw is easier if the steering wheel is turned so the screw head is pointing straight down.
4. If a click sound is heard, remove the steering wheel and disconnect the intermediate shaft to steering gear (lower) coupling.
NOTE:
Turn the steering shaft no more than one revolution in either direction from center. Keep track of the centered position.
5. Turn the steering shaft, listen to see if the click sound remains.
6. If the click sound is eliminated reattach the lower coupling and install the steering wheel, being sure the clock spring/steering wheel travel is centered. Torque the coupling pinch bolt to 29 Nm (21 ft. lbs.) and torque the steering wheel bolt to 54 Nm (40 ft. lbs.).
7. Turn the steering wheel; listen to hear if the click sound remains.
8. If the click sound returns, loosen the lower coupling pinch bolt and the four steering column mounting bracket nuts.
9. Jiggle the steering column and then tighten lower coupling pinch bolt. Torque the coupling pinch bolt to 29 Nm (21 ft. lbs.). Tighten the 2 lower steering column assembly mounting nuts to hold the steering column in place. Be sure both break-away capsules are still fully seated in the slots of the upper steering column mounting bracket and the mounting studs are centered fore-and-aft in the plastic capsules. Then equally tighten both steering column mounting nuts, until upper steering column mounting bracket is seated against support bracket. Tighten the 4 steering column bracket to support bracket nuts to 17 Nm (150 in. lbs.).
10. Turn the steering wheel; listen to hear if the click sound remains. If the click sound is eliminated, replace the lower coupling pinch bolt, p/n 06506382AA for JR, p/n 06506112AA for PT, torque the coupling pinch bolt to 29 Nm (21 ft. lbs.), then the repair is complete.
11. If the click sound remains, remove the clock spring. To avoid damaging the clock spring:
a. The clock spring is positioned to the lock housing by two snap latch features at 12:00 and 6:00 o'clock positions. Lift the top latch up slightly while guiding it over the lock housing. This will prevent the latch from being broken.
b. Care should be taken regarding centering of the steering wheel and clock spring with respect to the front wheels; follow the service manual clock spring centering procedure. Turning the steering wheel when the column is disconnected from the steering gear can damage the clock spring.
c. When using the steering wheel puller, hand tighten the puller bolts (no more than five revolutions) and avoid contact between the bolts and the top of the clock spring.
d. When removing the airbag inflator connectors, squeeze the sides of the connector, to release it, while pulling it out of the airbag.
12. Disconnect the lower coupling.
13. Turn the steering shaft; listen to hear if the click sound remains. If the sound is eliminated determine the source interference with the clock spring and correct, the repair is then complete.
14. If the click sound remains, remove the steering column from the vehicle.
NOTE:
The ignition key must be turned to the run position to remove the shifter/ignition interlock cable from the key lock housing.
15. Remove the two screws attaching the multifunction switch and separate the switch from the steering column.
16. Remove the steering column intermediate shaft (lower coupling assembly for PT) from the steering column shaft. Install remover/installer, special tool 6831-A, through the center of the roll pin in the intermediate shaft's universal joint and install knurled nut. While holding hex on end threaded rod, tighten the nut on threaded rod of remover/installer. This will pull the roll pin out of the intermediate shaft's universal joint. Using a screwdriver inserted between the shaft's universal joint and the steering column lower mounting bracket, gently pry intermediate shaft off steering column shaft.
17. Remove the spring retainer by squeezing the outside diameter with pliers and sliding it off the end of the steering column shaft.(Fig. 1).
18. Remove the spring, wedge and steering column shaft.
19. Inspect the upper and lower steering column bearings, if damaged replace them/it as necessary, p/n 04690507AB upper bearing, p/n 04690344AB lower bearing (with notch).
20. Stand the steering column on end so the outer race of the upper bearing is supported on a 1-1/16 in. socket. Using a 7/8" deep well socket or other suitable tool placed against the lower bearing outer race tap the bearing downward several times with a brass hammer until the bearing is fully seated. Use a 0.005" feeler gauge to make sure no clearance exists between the lower casting and the outer race of the lower bearing. (Fig. 2)
21. Install the original steering column shaft, except for vehicles built prior to Oct. 1, 2001 (MDH 1001Xx) install revised shaft p/n 04690852AA, revised wedge, p/n 04690570, and **revised spring, p/n 05057088AA.**
22. Thread the steering wheel bolt into the steering column shaft.
23. Stand the column assembly on the head of the steering wheel bolt, insure the surface is flat. Refer to (Fig. 3).
24. Install a new retainer, p/n 04664130, onto the steering column shaft by using a 7/8" deep well socket and small hammer to tap the retainer into place so the installed distance between the lower housing and the outside face of the retainer is 12-14 mm (15/32-17/32 in.). If the retainer is installed to a distance less than 12 mm (15/32 in.) remove the retainer and install a new retainer, repeat as necessary until the installed distance is 12-14 mm (15/32-17/32 in.). Refer to (Fig. 4).
NOTE:
If the installed dimension is less than 12 mm a binding condition may result. If the installed dimension is greater than 14 mm a loose condition may result.
25. Verify the click sound has been corrected. If a sound is still present further diagnosis is required.
26. Using the procedures outlined in the appropriate service information, install the steering column assembly into the vehicle.
27. PT VEHICLES - If the airbag retainer clips or foam silencer pads are damaged, they must be replaced.
a. Use a large flat tipped screwdriver to pry up on the middle of the driver air bag retaining clip to remove it from the steering wheel armature holes. Refer to (Fig. 5)
b. Use a small screwdriver to remove the three (3) existing foam pads from the steering wheel base.
c. Insert new clip(s), p/n 05086385AA, in the steering wheel armature holes. The round end of the clip goes in the small hole, open end goes in the larger hole. Put round end in first and press open end with screwdriver as shown in (Fig. 6).
d. Install three (3) new foam pads, found in the kit. THE POSITIONING OF THE FOAM PADS IS CRITICAL, AS THE GROUND FOR THE HORN IS AFFECTED BY POSITION OF THE PADS. Two EXTRA pads are included in the kit.
POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.
TIME ALLOWANCE
FAILURE CODE
Disclaimer
This bulletin is supplied as technical information only and is not an authorization for repair.