Removal - Steering Column

NOTE: Before proceeding with this removal and installation procedure, review all WARNINGS and CAUTIONS. See cautions and warnings under OPERATION under COLUMN.

WARNING: SAFETY GOGGLES SHOULD BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING ON STEERING COLUMNS.

Remove remote ground cable (See Fig 1) from ground stud on shock tower. Then correctly isolate ground cable from vehicle by installing isolator on stud (See Fig 2).

Fig 1: Remote Ground Cable At Shock Tower

Fig 2: Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable

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.
Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before starting to remove air bag from steering wheel. This will allow the airbag system capacitor to de-energize.
Before beginning removal of steering column assembly from vehicle, be sure front wheels of vehicle are in the straight-ahead position.
Remove fuse panel cover from left end of instrument panel (See Fig 3), then remove the screw behind fuse panel cover attaching the instrument panel top cover (See Fig 3).

Fig 3: Instrument Panel Top Cover Attaching Screw
Remove center bezel surrounding radio and climate control panel from top cover of instrument panel.
Remove screws attaching the instrument panel top cover to the instrument panel behind climate control panel.
Remove top cover as necessary from instrument panel to gain access to knee bolster attaching screws.
Remove fasteners attaching the knee bolster to the instrument panel.
Remove the speed control switches (See Fig 4) from the steering wheel. The speed control switches are mounted to the steering wheel by two screws (one screw, each switch) which are accessible from the back side of the steering wheel.

Fig 4: Speed Control Switches

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.
Remove the 2 bolts attaching the driver air-bag to the steering wheel (See Fig 5).

Fig 5: Airbag Attaching Bolts
Lift the driver airbag from the wheel and disconnect the electrical connectors from the back of the driver airbag (See Fig 6). Connectors are removed by compressing latches on sides of connectors and pulling them straight out of the airbag module. Do not twist the connectors when removing them from the airbag.

Fig 6: Airbag Electrical Connections
Remove the driver airbag.
Remove the steering wheel attaching bolt from the steering column shaft (See Fig 7).

Fig 7: Steering Wheel And Shroud Mounting

CAUTION: When installing wheel puller on steering wheel, be sure puller bolts are fully seated in the threaded holes in the steering wheel. If bolts are not fully seated in the threaded holes, threads may be stripped out when removing the steering wheel.
Install puller on steering wheel as shown (See Fig 8).

Fig 8: Puller Installed On Steering Wheel

CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing steering wheel from steering column.
Remove steering wheel from steering column shaft.
Remove the 2 screws attaching the upper and lower shrouds to the steering column (See Fig 7). First remove upper shroud from steering column by pressing inward on upper shroud just above the parting line while pulling upper and lower shrouds apart. Next, release tilt lever and tilt steering column to its highest point. Then remove lower shroud from steering column.
Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from the clockspring (See Fig 9).

Fig 9: Wiring Harness Connection To Clock Spring
Remove the wiring harness connectors from the back of the ignition switch (See Fig 10).

Fig 10: Wiring Harness Connections To Ignition And Multifunction Switch
Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from the multifunction switch (See Fig 10) (See Fig 11).

Fig 11: Wiring Harness Connection To Multifunction Switch
If vehicle is equipped with an automatic transaxle, rotate the key cylinder to the off position. Depress locking tab on shifter/ignition interlock cable (See Fig 12) and remove the cable from the key lock housing.

Fig 12: Shifter/Ignition Cable At Lock Cylinder Housing
Remove routing clip holding wiring harness to jacket of steering column.
Under the instrument panel, disconnect the intermediate shaft from the steering gear shaft. To do so, remove the pinch bolt from the intermediate shaft coupler (See Fig 13), then slide the intermediate shaft up and off the steering gear shaft.

Fig 13: Intermediate Shaft Attachment
Remove the 2 upper steering column mounting bracket-to-support bracket nuts. Then remove the 2 lower steering column mounting bracket-to-support bracket nuts (See Fig 14).

Fig 14: Steering Column And Intermediate Shaft
Remove steering column and intermediate shaft from vehicle passenger compartment. Use care to avoid damaging the paint or interior trim.
NOTE: If the steering column and intermediate shaft need to be separated, refer to REMOVAL under INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.