Steering Column Removal/Installation

Steering Column Removal and Installation

SRS components are located in this area. Review the SRS component locations Locations, and the precautions and procedures Service Precautions before doing repairs or service.

Removal

1. Do the battery terminal disconnection procedure Procedures.

2. Remove the driver's airbag Driver's Airbag Replacement, and the steering wheel.

3. Remove the driver's heater panel.

4. Pull back the carpet (A).





5. Remove the steering joint cover (B).

6. Tilt the steering column at the way up, and move it all the way in, then tighten the lock lever.

7. Hold the lower slide shaft (A) on the column with a piece of wire (B) between the joint yoke (C) of the lower slide shaft and joint yoke (D) of the upper shaft to prevent the lower slide shaft from pulling out.






8. Remove the steering joint bolt (A), then disconnect the steering joint (B) from the pinion shaft (C).

NOTE:

- If the center guide (D) is in place and has not moved, leave it in place.
- If the center guide has come off, discard it.





9. Disconnect the wire harness connectors from the combination switch assembly/cable reel (A).





10. Remove the combination switch assembly/cable reel from the steering column shaft by removing the screws (B).

11. Disconnect the connectors from the ignition switch, and release the wire harness clips (C) from the steering column.

12. Make sure that the lock lever (D) is in the locked position. Remove the steering column (E) by removing the attaching nuts and bolts, and carefully guide it out of the dashboard. If the lower slide shaft (F) is removed, slip it into the upper shaft (G) by aligning the paint or stamped marks (H).

NOTE: Do not release the lock lever until the steering column is installed. If the lock lever is released beforehand, adjust the steering column after installation.

Installation

1. Install the steering column in the reverse order of removal, and note these items:

- Make sure the wires are not caught or pinched by any parts.
- Tighten the screws (A) in the sequence shown.





2. Center the steering rack within its stroke.

3. Cut the wire (A), and slip the lower end of the steering joint (B) onto the pinion shaft (C).

NOTE:

- Pinion shaft with center guide: Install the steering joint by aligning the center guide.
- Pinion shaft without center guide: Position the steering column by aligning the gap (D) within the angle.





4. Align the bolt hole (A) on the steering joint with the groove (B) around the pinion shaft, then loosely install the steering joint bolt (C). Be sure that the joint bolt is securely in the groove in the pinion shaft.





5. Pull on the steering joint to make sure that the steering joint is fully seated, then tighten the steering joint bolt to the specified torque.

6. Install the steering joint cover (A).





7. Set the carpet (B) in place.

8. Install the driver's heater panel.

9. Install the steering wheel, and the driver's airbag Driver's Airbag Replacement.

10. Do the battery terminal reconnection procedure Procedures, and check these items:

- Turn the ignition switch to ON (II), and check that the SRS indicator comes on for about 6 seconds, and then goes off.
- Make sure the horn and turn signal switches work properly.
- Make sure the steering wheel switches work properly.

11. After installation, check these items:

- Check the steering wheel spoke angle. If the steering spoke angles to the right and left are not equal (steering wheel and rack are not centered), correct the engagement of the joint/pinion shaft splines.
- Set the steering column to the center tilt position, then do the front toe inspection Service and Repair.