Steering Column: Service and Repair
WARNING: SAFETY GOGGLES SHOULD BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING ON STEERING COLUMNS.REMOVAL
1. Position the front wheels of the vehicle in the straight-ahead position.
2. Remove the ground cable (-) from the negative post of the battery. When removed, isolate the ground cable from the negative post on the battery.
CAUTION: 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.
3. Remove the 2 screws mounting the knee blocker trim panel to the lower instrument panel. Unclip the 2 retaining clips holding the top edge of the trim panel to instrument panel. Remove the knee blocker trim panel from the lower instrument panel.
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.
4. Remove the airbag module from the steering wheel. The airbag module 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.
5. Disconnect airbag wiring harness connector from clockspring at airbag module. Then disconnect wiring lead for horn switch in airbag module from clockspring wiring lead.
6. Disconnect clockspring wiring harness from wiring harness for steering wheel mounted switches.
7. Remove steering wheel retaining nut.
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.
8. Install a steering wheel 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 steering wheel when removing steering wheel from steering column shaft.
9. Remove steering wheel from steering column shaft.
10. Remove tachometer from steering column. Remove tachometer by taking out the 2 screws mounting the tachometer bracket to the bracket on the steering column. Unplug wiring harness from tachometer.
11. Remove lower shroud from steering column. Lower shroud is attached to steering column and upper shroud by 3 torx-head screws accessible from the bottom of the lower shroud.
12. Loosen the 2 nuts mounting the steering column upper mounting bracket to the steering column support bracket studs. Thread nuts down to the and of the Stead
13. Lower the steering column so it is supported by the nuts on the end of the studs.
14. Remove tilt lever from steering column.
15. Remove the upper shroud from the steering column.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove the clockspring from the steering column before removing the multi-function switch. The clockspring is retained by a tab located under the multi-function switch. This tab will be broken off the clockspring if it is not properly released.
16. Remove the 2 screws mounting the multi-function switch to the tilt head on the steering column. Remove multi-function switch with wiring harness attached from steering column.
NOTE: If the wiring harness is not long enough to allow removing the clockspring with the harness attached, remove the wiring harness from the clockspring. Do not put a strain on the wiring harness when removing clockspring.
17. Using a screwdriver release retaining tab locking clockspring to tilt head on steering column. Then remove clockspring with wiring harness attached from steering column tilt head.
18. Remove key cylinder from ignition switch. Key cylinder is removed using the following procedure. Rotate the key cylinder to the on position. Using a small screwdriver press in the key cylinder retaining tab. While holding retaining tab in with screwdriver, pull the lock cylinder out of ignition switch.
19. Remove the 3 screws mounting the ignition switch to the tilt housing. Remove ignition switch, with wiring harnesses attached, from tilt housing.
20. Remove intermediate steering shaft flex joint from steering column shaft. Flex joint is removed using following procedure. Remove bolt from flex joint on intermediate steering shaft. Then slide flex joint off the end of the steering column shaft.
21. Remove wiring harness routing clip from steering column.
22. Remove the 3 nuts mounting the steering column to the dash panel.
23. Remove the 2 nuts mounting the steering column upper mounting bracket to the steering column support bracket studs.
NOTE: Put a protective cover on the seat of the vehicle before lowering steering column onto seat to protect the seat from damage.
24. Lower steering column onto floor and drivers seat of vehicle.
25. Remove shifter interlock mechanism from steering column. Shifter interlock mechanism is removed by taking out the 2 mounting screws and lifting the mechanism off the steering column.
26. 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 following parts from the removed steering column to the replacement steering column. The steering column to dash panel mounting plate and seal, ignition switch, multi-function switch and clockspring.
1. Be sure ground clip is installed over plastic capsule on the ignition 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 steering column shaft through hole in dash panel. Lay top of steering column on driver seat of vehicle.
NOTE: When installing the shifter interlock mechanism the screws must be tightened in the sequence as noted in Step 3.
3. Install shifter interlock mechanism on steering column. Loosely install the 2 screws mounting shifter interlock mechanism to steering column. Securely tighten the top screw first mounting the interlock mechanism to the steering column. Then securely tighten the bottom screw mounting the interlock mechanism to the steering column.
4. Install bottom of steering column on the 3 studs in the dash panel.
5. Position the steering column upper mounting bracket on the studs in the steering column support bracket. Loosely install the 2 steering column upper mounting bracket attaching nuts and washers. Do not tighten mounting nuts at this time.
6. Install the 3 nuts attaching the bottom 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 inch lbs.).
8. Install the intermediate steering shaft flex joint on the steering column shaft. Install the pinch bolt in the flex joint. Tighten the pinch bolt to a torque of 41 Nm (30 ft. lbs.).
NOTE: When installing ignition switch be sure it is properly engaged with the ignition locking link and steering shaft lock plate in tilt head of steering column.
9. Install ignition switch on tilt head of steering column. Install the 3 screws attaching ignition switch to tilt head. Tighten the 3 screws to a torque of 2 Nm (17 inch lbs.).
10. Install lock cylinder in ignition switch. Lock cylinder (with key inserted) is installed by inserting it into the ignition switch and then rotating the lock cylinder to the off position. When lock cylinder is in the off position remove key from lock cylinder.
11. Install clockspring and wiring harness on steering column. Be sure retaining tab on clockspring is properly retaining the clockspring to the tilt head.
12. Install multi-function switch on tilt head of steering column. Install the 2 mounting screws. Tighten mounting screws to a torque of 2 Nm (20 inch lbs.).
NOTE: If a replacement steering column is being installed, the tilt head must be in the full down position for installation of the upper shroud. Install tilt lever, position tilt head to the full down position and remove the tile lever.
13. Install upper shroud on steering column.
14. Install tilt lever on steering column.
15. Position tilt head of steering column in the full up position.
16. Install lower shroud on steering column. Install and securely tighten the 3 screws attaching lower shroud to upper shroud and steering column.
NOTE: When installing tachometer on steering column, connect the wiring harness to the tachometer before it is installed. Wiring harness can not be connected after tachometer is installed.
17. Install tachometer on steering column. Install and securely tighten the 2 screws mounting the tachometer to its mounting bracket.
CAUTION: Clockspring MUST be in centered position prior to installing steering wheel. If clockspring is not centered, it may be overextended, causing clockspring to become inoperative.
18. If clockspring center is in question, center the clock spring using the following procedure.
- Verify the front wheels are still in the straight ahead position.
- Depress the 2 plastic rotor locking tabs to disengage the 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 the clockwise travel, slowly rotate the rotor approximately two and one-half turns counterclockwise. The horn wire should be at the bottom, and the airbag and steering wheel switches wiring should be at the top.
- Release the 2 plastic rotor locking tabs, engaging the clockspring locking mechanism.
19. Feed the clockspring wiring lead for the airbag and steering wheel switches over the top of the steering wheel "T" spokes. Feed the horn switch wire from the clockspring through the hole in steering wheel.
CAUTION: Do not install steering wheel onto shaft of steering column assembly by driving it onto the shaft. Push steering wheel down onto steering column shaft splines by hand, paying attention to the master spline, then draw it into place using the steering wheel retaining nut.
20. Position the steering wheel on the shaft of the steering column, making sure to fit flat on hub of steering wheel with formations on clockspring.
21. Install steering wheel mounting nut and tighten until steering wheel is fully installed on steering column shaft. Then tighten steering wheel nut to a torque of 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.).
22. Connect wiring lead from clock spring into wiring harness on steering wheel for steering wheel mounted switches.
23. Connect clockspring wiring leads for air bag and horn switch to a air bag module and horn switch wire
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.
24. 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.).
25. Install knee blocker panel on lower instrument panel. Install and securely tighten the 2 screws attaching knee blocker panel to lower instrument panel.
CAUTION: When reconnecting battery on a vehicle that has had the air bag module removed, ensure no occupants are in the vehicle, and follow the procedure in step Step 26.
26. Reconnecting 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 data link connector, located below the steering column to the left side.
- Turn ignition key to ON position. Exit vehicle with the DRB scan tool. Install the latest version of the proper diagnostic cartridge into 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.
- Erase stored faults if there are no active fault codes.
- 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.
27. 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 the related component section to diagnose the system malfunction.
28. Test the operation of the horn, lights and any other functions that are steering column operated. If applicable, reset the radio and clock.
29. Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation of the steering system and the speed control system.