Steering System: Column: Column: Removal: Removal

NOTE: Before proceeding, (Refer to STEERING/COLUMN - WARNING) .

WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG MODULE IS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, FIRST DISCONNECT THE BATTERY GROUND CABLE AND ISOLATE IT. ALLOW THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO MINUTES, THEN BEGIN THE AIRBAG REMOVAL.

Disconnect the negative (-) cable from the battery and isolate the cable.
Before beginning removal of the steering column, be sure the front wheels of vehicle are in the STRAIGHT-AHEAD position.
Remove the ignition key from the ignition key cylinder.
Remove the silencer pad below the knee blocker panel below the steering column.
Fold down and remove the knee blocker.

Remove the two screws attaching the lower shroud to the steering column and upper shroud. See Fig 1. After removing the screws, unclip the shrouds from each other by applying hand pressure along the seams where the shrouds connect on the sides, then remove the lower shroud from the upper shroud and column. Remove the upper shroud from the steering column.

Fig 1: Steering Column Shrouds

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - UPPER SHROUD

2 - LOWER SHROUD

3 - MOUNTING SCREWS

Use the following to properly remove the air bag module from the column:

Using a pair of 90° internal snap ring pliers or equivalent, pry open the retaining clip at the top rear of the steering wheel to release the top retaining pin. Pull or press rearward on the airbag module while doing this. The pin will disengage. See Fig 2 and Fig 3.
Using a pair of 90° internal snap ring pliers or equivalent, pry open the retaining clip at the bottom rear of the steering wheel and at he same time gently pry the pin away from the retaining clip using a pocket screwdriver or equivalent, so it can slide through the middle of the clip. Use the screwdriver to push the pin through the clip. See Fig 4.
Pull the module outward enough to expose the wire harness connections. Disconnect the two harness connectors on the module (squib and horn feed). See Fig 5.
Remove the airbag module from the vehicle.

Fig 2: Driver Airbag Pin Retaining Clip

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

Fig 3: Upper Driver Airbag Pin Retaining Clip Removal/Installation

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

Fig 4: Lower Driver Airbag Pin Retaining Clip Removal/Installation

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

Fig 5: Steering Wheel Components

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1 - STEERING WHEEL RETAINING BOLT

2 - SPEED CONTROL SWITCH CONNECTOR

3 - HORN SWITCH CONNECTOR

4 - AIRBAG CONNECTOR

Disconnect the speed control switch wiring harness connector. See Fig 5.
Holding the steering wheel firmly in place, remove the steering wheel retaining bolt from the steering column shaft in the center of the steering wheel. See Fig 5.
CAUTION: When installing a wheel puller on the steering wheel, be sure the puller bolts are fully seated in the threaded holes on the steering wheel. If the bolts are not fully seated in the threaded holes, the threads may be stripped out of the steering wheel when attempting to remove the steering wheel. Take care not to over-thread the puller bolts such that they contact the clockspring possibly damaging it.
Also, threading the retaining bolt back in the end of the shaft until approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.) of thread is showing between the wheel and the head of the bolt allows a safe reaction surface for the puller to work against.
Thread the wheel retaining bolt back into the end of the shaft until approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.) of thread is showing between the wheel and the head of the bolt.
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.
Holding the steering wheel firmly in the STRAIGHT-AHEAD position, remove steering wheel from the steering column shaft using the puller. Remove the wheel retaining bolt and the steering wheel.
At the base of the column, remove the steering column coupling retainer pin, back off the pinch bolt nut, and remove the steering column coupling pinch bolt (the pinch bolt nut is caged to the coupling and is not removable). Separate the upper and lower steering column couplings. See Fig 6.

Fig 6: Steering Column Coupling
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - RETAINING PIN

2 - PINCH BOLT

3 - NUT

If the vehicle is equipped with a automatic transaxle, disconnect the automatic transaxle ignition interlock cable from the steering column. Depress the tab on top of the cable connector and remove the cable from the back side of the steering column ignition cylinder housing. See Fig 7.

Fig 7: Interlock Cable

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - IGNITION SWITCH

2 - CLIP

3 - INTERLOCK CABLE

4 - BTSI SOLENOID

NOTE: If the same steering column is to be reinstalled, clamp the tilt lever to lock the column in place so that it can be easily reinstalled in the same orientation.

Remove the two lower mounting nuts attaching the steering column to the instrument panel. See Fig 8.

Fig 8: Steering Column

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STEERING COLUMN

2 - UPPER MOUNTING NUTS

3 - LOWER MOUNTING NUTS

Remove the two upper mounting nuts attaching the steering column to the instrument panel. See Fig 8.
Lower the steering column away from the instrument panel.

Disconnect the wiring harness electrical connector from the clockspring. See Fig 9.

Fig 9: Clockspring Electrical Connector

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STEERING COLUMN

2 - CLOCK SPRING

3 - CLOCK SPRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

4 - IGNITION SWITCH ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Disconnect the wiring harness electrical connectors from the multifunction switch, windshield wiper switch, and ignition switch. See Fig 10.

Fig 10: Electrical Connectors

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

2 - WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

3 - IGNITION SWITCH ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

If the vehicle is equipped with a Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM), disconnect its electrical connector. See Fig 11.

Fig 11: SKIM Electrical Connector

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STEERING COLUMN

2 - SKIM ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

3 - SKIM

Remove the steering column from the vehicle.
If the steering column is being replaced, perform the following:
1. Remove the ignition key cylinder from the steering column. To do this, insert the key and turn the ignition key cylinder to the ON position. Next, depress the retaining tab and remove the Ignition key cylinder by pulling the key and cylinder straight out of the column together. See Fig 12.
2. Disengage the latch hooks on the back of the clockspring by lifting the clockspring slightly to clear the column housing with the top latch hook. Next, lower the clockspring slightly to do the same for the lower latch hook. See Fig 13. Remove the clockspring from the column.
3. Remove the two screws securing the multi-function/windshield wiper switch to the steering column. See Fig 14. Pull the switch straight away from the column to remove it.
4. If the column is equipped with a SKIM, remove the module from the column by removing the two mounting screws and sliding the SKIM off the non-halo trim ring. See Fig 15.
5. Remove the non-halo trim ring from the column by unclipping it from the ignition cylinder housing. See Fig 15.
6. If necessary, remove the ignition switch from the steering column by first removing the mounting screw. See Fig 16. Once the screw is removed, pull the switch straight out away from the column ignition cylinder housing.