Repair Procedure

THIS REPAIR IS COMPATIBLE WITH DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S MOBILE SERVICE PROGRAM AND DOES NOT REQUIRE HOISTS OR OTHER FULL SERVICE FACILITY SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.

1. Make sure the front wheels of the vehicle are in the straight ahead position.

2. Disconnect and isolate the negative/ground battery cable.

Fig. 1:

3. Remove the screws attaching the lower steering column cover and separate the cover from the instrument panel (Figure 1).

4. Disconnect the parking brake release cable from the parking brake release lever.

Fig. 2:

5. Remove the 10 bolts attaching the steering column cover liner to the instrument panel and separate the liner from the instrument panel (Figure 2).

Fig. 3:

6. Remove the key from the ignition switch and rotate the steering wheel to the left one half turn until the steering wheel lock engages (Figure 3).

7. Remove the three screws attaching the air bag module to the steering wheel and lift the air bag module from the steering wheel.

Fig. 4:

8. Disconnect the wiring connectors from the air bag, horn switch wire and speed control switches. Remove the wiring harness routing clip from the air bag module studs. If the vehicle is equipped with steering wheel mounted radio controls disconnect the radio control wiring connector from the clock spring (Figure 4).

9. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut from the steering column shaft.

10. Remove the steering wheel damper from the steering wheel.

CAUTION
DO NOT BUMP OR HAMMER ON THE STEERING COLUMN OR THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WHEN REMOVING THE STEERING WHEEL.

WHEN INSTALLING THE STEERING WHEEL PULLER BOLTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL, DO NOT THREAD THE BOLTS INTO THE STEERING WHEEL MORE THAN ONE HALF INCH. IF THE BOLTS ARE THREADED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL MORE THAN ONE HALF INCH THE CLOCK SPRING WILL BE DAMAGED.

11. Remove the steering wheel from the steering column shaft using a steering wheel puller.

CAUTION
THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHROUDS ARE HELD TOGETHER USING RETAINING CLIPS. WHEN SEPARATING AND REMOVING THE SHROUDS FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BE CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK THE RETAINING CLIPS OFF THE SHROUDS.

12. Remove the three screws attaching the upper and lower shrouds to the steering column and separate the shrouds from the column.

13. Disconnect the vehicle wiring harness connectors from the clockspring assembly.

CAUTION
DO NOT ROTATE THE CLOCKSPRING AFTER IT IS REMOVED FROM THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.

14. Remove the clockspring from the multifunction switch.

Fig. 5:

15. Check the tightness of the two tilt rack attaching screws, make sure they are torqued to 6 Nm (50 in. lbs.), (Figure 5).

Fig. 6:

16. Dab lubricant between the shift lock out tab/finger, pivot and bracket (Figure 6).

Fig. 7:

17. Use side cutter pliers to clip off the retention notch/hook portion of the alignment tangs on the clockspring (Figure 7).

Fig. 8:

18. Apply four pieces of foam tape to the crosshatched area of the multifunction switch (Figure 8). Be sure the tape does not extend past the crosshatched area of the multifunction switch.

Fig. 9:

19. Apply anti-squeak tape to the flats of the steering wheel hub casting (Figure 9).

20. Install the clockspring to the multitunction switch and connect it's wiring connector to the vehicle harness connector.

21. Install the lower steering column shroud onto the steering column. Install and securely tighten the screw attaching the lower shroud to the column.

22. Install the upper steering column shroud and securely tighten the two screws attaching the upper to lower shroud.

CAUTION
DO NOT FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL ONTO THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. PULL THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN ONTO THE SHAFT USING THE STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT.

Fig. 10:

23. Align the master splines on the steering wheel and the steering column shaft as well as the flats on the steering wheel hub with the formations on the clockspring and install the wheel onto the shaft. Wiring leads from the clock spring must be routed as shown in Figure 10.

24. Install the steering wheel damper as shown in Figure 4.

25. Install the steering wheel retaining nut and tighten it to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).

26. Connect the clockspring wiring leads to the remote radio control connector, airbag, horn switch and speed control switches as appropriate. Attach the wire routing clip to the studs on the airbag module.

27. Install the airbag to the steering wheel and attach with three bolts. Tighten the bolts to 11 Nm (100 in.lbs.).

28. Install the steering column cover liner to the lower instrument panel. Install and securely tighten the 10 attaching bolts.

29. Install the parking brake release cable to the parking brake release lever in the lower steering column cover.

30. Install the lower steering column cover on the lower instrument panel. Install and securely tighten the attaching screws.

31. Connect the negative battery cable.

32. Set the clock to the correct time.