STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN INSPECTION

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Warning

•  Always carefully inspect steering component parts which have been or may have been hit due to an accident or servicing. If a damaged part or a part which may have been damaged is used as is, it could cause the steering mechanism to become inoperative resulting in an unexpected accident. Always replace damaged parts or parts which may have been damaged.

Play Inspection

1.  Straighten the steering wheel.

2.  Switch the main power ON (READY on).

3.  Measure and verify that the play in the circumferential direction is within the standard by lightly turning the steering wheel left/right.

Looseness/Play Inspection

1.  Inspect for looseness or play by moving the steering wheel in the steering shaft axial direction and to the direction perpendicular to the shaft.

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•  If there is any malfunction, inspect the following items and repair or replace.

―  Column bearing wear

―  Steering wheel installation looseness

―  Column installation looseness

―  Intermediate shaft joint play

―  Steering gear play

Tilt/Telescope Mechanism Operation Inspection

Caution

•  Do not release the lock of the adjuster lever except when the steering column is securely assembled to the dashboard member. Otherwise, it could damage the steering column and the other parts.

1.  Inspect the tilt/telescoping mechanism operation for the following.

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(1)  The adjuster lever can be released smoothly from the locked condition.

(2)  The steering shaft can be secured by locking the adjuster lever.

•  If there is any malfunction, replace the steering column. (See STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN REMOVAL/INSTALLATION.)

Steering Force Inspection

Warning

•  Handling the driver-side air bag module improperly can accidentally operate (deploy) the air bag module, which may seriously injure you. Read the air bag system service warnings and cautions before handling the driver-side air bag module. (See AIR BAG SYSTEM SERVICE WARNINGS [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM (E)] (See AIR BAG SYSTEM SERVICE CAUTIONS [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM (E)].)

1.  Verify that the tire size of the installed tire and the air pressure are the specification.

2.  Park the vehicle on a level concrete surface.

3.  Disconnect the negative lead-acid battery terminal and wait for 1 min or more. (See NEGATIVE LEAD-ACID BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTION/CONNECTION.)

4.  Remove the driver-side air bag module. (See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE REMOVAL [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM (E)] (See DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE INSTALLATION [TWO-STEP DEPLOYMENT CONTROL SYSTEM (E)].)

5.  Connect the negative lead-acid battery terminal. (See NEGATIVE LEAD-ACID BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTION/CONNECTION.)

6.  Straighten the steering wheel.

7.  Switch the main power ON (READY on).

8.  Verify that the electric power steering warning light does not turn on or flash.

9.  Inspect the steering torque of the steering wheel using a torque wrench.

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•  If it exceeds the reference value, perform the steering gear and linkage inspection. (See STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE INSPECTION.)

Note

•  Comparing another vehicle of the same model under the same conditions is an acceptable inspection method.

•  The steering torque varies with the following conditions.

―  Road conditions: Such as dry, wet, asphalt, or concrete

―  Tire condition: Such as brand, wear, and tire pressure