Steering Column: Service and Repair
NOTE: Before proceeding, review all SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS found under Service PrecautionsWARNING: SAFETY GOGGLES SHOULD BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING ON STEERING COLUMNS.
REMOVAL
1. Remove the ground cable (-) from the negative post on the battery. When removed, isolate the ground cable from the negative post on the battery.
WARNING: Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before starting the procedure to remove the steering column from the vehicle. This will allow the airbag system capacitor time to de-energize.
2. Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before continuing with procedure.
3. Rotate the steering wheel for access to the retaining bolt attaching the flex joint on the intermediate steering shaft to the steering column shaft. Remove the retaining bolt attaching the flex joint to the steering column shaft.
4. Rotate the steering wheel for access to the pinch bolt attaching the flex joint to the intermediate steering shaft. Loosen but do not remove the pinch bolt attaching the flex joint to the intermediate steering shaft.
5. Rotate the steering wheel back to its original position so that the front tires of the vehicle are in the straight ahead position.
WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG ASSEMBLY IS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, DISCONNECT BATTERY GROUND CABLE AND ISOLATE. ALLOW SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO MINUTES, THEN BEGIN AIRBAG REMOVAL.
WARNING: WHEN HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG MODULE DURING SERVICING OF THE STEERING COLUMN THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED. AT NO TIME SHOULD ANY SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY BE PERMITTED NEAR THE INFLATOR ON THE BACK OF THE AIRBAG MODULE. WHEN CARRYING A LIVE MODULE, THE TRIM COVER SHOULD BE POINTED AWAY FROM THE BODY TO MINIMIZE INJURY IF MODULE ACCIDENTLY DEPLOYS. IF AIRBAG MODULE IS PLACED ON A BENCH OR OTHER SURFACE, PLASTIC COVER SHOULD BE FACE UP TO MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT.
6. Remove the airbag module from the steering wheel. The airbag is mounted to the steering wheel by a bolt located in each spoke of the steering wheel. Access for the mounting bolts is from the back side of each steering wheel spoke.
7. Disconnect the electrical connector from the airbag module. Then disconnect the wiring lead for the horn switch in the airbag module from the clockspring wiring lead.
8. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut.
9. Lock the shaft of the steering column to prevent it from rotating after it is disconnected from the intermediate steering shaft. Lock the steering shaft using the following procedure.
- Locate the shipping pin hole in jacket of steering column.
- Insert a tie strap into the hole in the bottom of the steering column jacket, through the steering column shaft and through the hole in the top of the steering column jacket.
- Lock the tie strap on the steering column jacket.
CAUTION: Before removing the flex joint from the steering column shaft, the steering column shaft MUST be locked to prevent it from rotating. If the steering column shaft is allowed to rotate damage to the clockspring will occur.
10. Remove the upper flex joint on the intermediate steering shaft from the steering column shaft. Flex joint is removed from steering column shaft by sliding it down the intermediate steering shaft. If flex joint will not slide down intermediate shaft, insert a screwdriver in slot on flex joint to spread the joint slightly. This will allow the flex joint to slide down the intermediate shaft.
11. Remove the knob from the actuator for the adjustable pedal assembly.
12. Remove the fuse box cover from the knee blocker trim panel.
13. Remove the knee blocker trim panel from the lower instrument panel.
14. Remove nut and washer, attaching the adjustable pedal actuator to knee blocker panel. Remove the adjustable pedal actuator from the knee
15. Remove the screws attaching the fuse box to knee blocker panel.
16. Remove the knee blocker panel from the lower instrument.
17. Remove the duct for the drivers side air vent from the lower dash panel.
18. Tilt the steering column to the full up position.
19. Remove the lower shroud from the steering column.
20. Tilt the steering column to the full down position.
21. Remove the tilt lever from the steering column.
22. Remove the upper shroud from the steering column.
CAUTION: When installing bolts for steering wheel puller into steering wheel, be sure bolts are fully installed into the threaded holes in the steering wheel. If bolts are not fully installed into the threaded holes, threads may be pulled out of the steering wheel when puller is tightened to remove steering wheel.
23. Install Puller, Snap-On CJ2001P or an equivalent three point puller on the steering wheel.
CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing steering wheel from steering column.
CAUTION: Do not apply heat to the steering wheel when removing the steering wheel from the steering column.
24. Remove the steering wheel from the shaft of the steering column.
25. Remove the knee blocker trim panel shroud from the bottom of the steering column jacket.
26. Remove the 2 screws attaching the multi-function switch to the steering column.
a. Remove the multi-function switch from the steering column with the wiring harness connected. The wiring harness connector can not be removed from the multi-function switch when the switch is mounted to the steering column.
27. Remove the wiring harness connector from the clockspring.
28. Remove the wiring harness connector from the bottom of the ignition switch. Remove the wiring harness connector from the front side of the ignition switch.
29. Remove the 2 nuts attaching the steering column to the dash panel.
30. Remove the 2 nuts and washers attaching the upper mounting bracket of the steering column to the dash panel.
CAUTION: When steering column is lowered to floor of vehicle, place a cover on the cushion of the front seat to protect seat from damage.
31. Remove the steering column from the instrument panel and lower it to the floor and drivers seat of the vehicle.
32. Remove the steering column to instrument panel shroud from the steering column.
33. Remove the retaining clip used to attaching wiring trough to steering column. Remove the wiring trough from the steering column.
34. Remove the steering column from the vehicle. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or the interior trim of the vehicle.
INSTALLATION:
NOTE: If a new steering column is being installed in the vehicle, transfer the ignition switch and clockspring from the removed steering column to the new steering column being installed in the vehicle.
1. Be sure ground clip is installed over plastic capsule on left side of the steering column upper mounting bracket.
CAUTION: When steering column is installed in vehicle, place a cover on the cushion of the front seat to protect seat from damage.
2. Install steering column in vehicle with the steering column shaft through hole in dash panel. Position mounting flange on end of steering column on studs in dash panel. Lay the top of the steering column on the driver seat of the vehicle.
3. Install wiring harness and wiring harness trough on steering column. Install retaining clip holding wiring harness trough to steering column
4. Install the steering column to instrument panel shroud on the steering column. Shroud is installed by aligning with holes in steering column jacket and pin on tilt mechanism.
5. Lift the top end of steering column into position on the instrument panel bracket. Loosely install the 2 steering column upper mounting bracket attaching nuts and washers. Do not tighten nuts at this time.
6. Install the 2 nuts attaching the end of the steering column to the dash panel. Tighten the nuts to a torque of 28 Nm (250 inch lbs.).
7. Tighten the steering column upper mounting bracket nuts to a torque of 12 Nm (105 in lbs.).
8. Install the 2 wiring harness connectors on the ignition switch. Install the wiring harness connector on the clockspring.
9. Install the multi-function switch on the steering column. Install the 2 multi-function switch mounting screws. Tighten the multi-function switch mounting screws to a torque of 2 Nm (20 inch lbs.).
10. Install the steering column to knee blocker trim panel shroud on the bottom of the steering column. Install the 2 shroud attaching screws. The silver screw is installed at the bottom of the shroud and the black screw on the side of the shroud.
NOTE: If a replacement steering column is being installed, temporarily install the tilt lever on the steering column and tilt the steering column to the full down position. When the steering column is in the full down position remove the tilt lever from the steering column.
11. Install the upper shroud on the steering column.
12. Install the tilt lever.
13. Tilt the steering column to the full up position.
14. Install the lower shroud on the steering column.
15. Install the drivers side air duct in the dash panel. Install and securely tighten the attaching screw.
NOTE: When installing the knee blocker panel, correctly position the fuse box behind the knee blocker panel.
16. Install the knee blocker panel on the lower instrument panel. Install and securely tighten the knee blocker panel attaching screws.
17. Install and securely tighten the fuse box mounting screws.
18. Install the adjustable pedal actuator on the knee blocker panel. Install the star washer and nut attaching the pedal actuator to the knee blocker panel. Tighten the actuator attaching nut to a torque of 11 Nm (96 inch lbs.).
19. Install the knee blocker trim panel on the lower instrument panel.
CAUTION: Clockspring centering procedure MUST be performed prior to installing steering wheel assembly. If clockspring is not centered it may be overextended, causing clockspring assembly to become inoperative. The yellow centering indicator must be present in the centering window of the clockspring and the arrow on the clockspring rotor must be pointing at the centering window.
20. Center the clockspring using the following procedure.
- Depress the 2 plastic locking pins to disengage clockspring locking mechanism.
- Keeping locking mechanism disengaged, rotate the clockspring rotor in the CLOCKWISE DIRECTION to the end of the travel. Do not apply excessive torque.
- From the end of clockwise travel, slowly rotate the rotor in the counterclockwise direction until yellow appears in the centering window of clockspring. When yellow appears in the centering window the arrow on the clockspring rotor will be pointing at yellow window on clock spring.
- Engage the clockspring locking mechanism.
CAUTION: Do not install steering wheel onto shaft of steering column assembly by driving it onto the shaft. Pull steering wheel down onto steering column shaft using ONLY the steering wheel retaining nut.
21. Feed the clockspring wiring lead for the airbag over the top of the steering wheel. Feed the horn switch wire from the clockspring through the hole in steering wheel.
22. Position the steering wheel on the shaft of the steering column, making sure to fit flat on hub of steering wheel with formations on inside of clockspring.
23. Loosely install the steering wheel retaining nut but do not attempt to tighten at this time.
24. Slide the intermediate steering shaft upper flex joint onto the steering column shaft. If flex joint will not slide onto steering column shaft, insert a screwdriver in slot on flex joint to spread the joint slightly. This will allow the flex joint to slide on the intermediate joint.
25. Remove the tie strap from the steering column.
26. Rotate steering wheel to allow installation of flex joint to steering column shaft retaining bolt. Tighten retaining bolt to a torque of 41 Nm (30 ft. lbs.).
27. Rotate steering wheel to allow installation of flex joint to intermediate steering shaft pinch bolt. Tighten pinch bolt to a torque of 41 Nm (30 ft. lbs.).
28. Tighten the steering wheel retaining nut to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
29. Install airbag electrical lead into the connector on the back of the airbag module. Be sure electrical connector is securely latched into air bag module connector. Connect the horn switch wire from the clockspring to the horn switch wire of the airbag module
CAUTION: The fasteners, screws, and bolts, originally used for the airbag components are specifically designed for the airbag system. They must not be replaced with any substitutes. Anytime a new fastener is needed, replace it only with the correct fasteners provided in service packages or with fasteners listed in the parts book.
30. Install the airbag module in steering wheel. Install the 3 original or correct replacement airbag module attaching bolts. Tighten the airbag module attaching bolts to a torque of 10 Nm (90 inch lbs.).
WARNING: WHEN RECONNECTING BATTERY ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THE AIRBAG MODULE REMOVED, ENSURE NO OCCUPANTS ARE IN THE VEHICLE AND USE THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE.
31. Reconnecting of the battery negative cable is to be done using the steps in the procedure listed below:
- Remove forward console or cover as necessary.
- Connect DRB scan tool to diagnostic data link connector, located at lower left corner of the instrument panel.
- Turn ignition key to ON position. Exit vehicle with the DRB scan tool.
- Ensuring that their are no occupants in the vehicle, connect negative cable to negative post of the battery.
- Using the DRB scan tool, read and record active fault codes. Also read and record any stored fault codes. Refer to the appropriate section if any faults are found.
- Erase stored faults if there are no active fault codes. If problems remain, fault codes will not erase.
- From the passenger side of the vehicle, turn ignition key to OFF and then ON observing instrument cluster airbag lamp. It should go on for six to eight seconds, then go out. This will indicate that the airbag system is functioning normally.
32. If airbag warning lamp fails to light, blinks on and off or goes on and stays on, there is an airbag system malfunction. Refer to Airbags and Seatbelts, Testing and Inspection, Procedures to diagnose the system malfunction.
33. Test the operation of the horn, lights and any other functions that are steering column operated. If applicable reset the radio and the clock.
34. Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation of the steering system and the speed control system.