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Removal - Steering Column

NOTE: Before proceeding, review all WARNINGS and CAUTIONS. (Refer to STEERING/COLUMN - WARNING) (Refer to STEERING/COLUMN - CAUTION) 
  1. Open hood and remove remote ground cable from ground stud on left front shock tower. Isolate ground cable from vehicle by installing cable isolator on ground stud. See Fig 1.
    Fig 1: Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable
    GC0019236Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - LEFT STRUT TOWER
    2 - GROUND STUD
    WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Remove fuse panel cover from left end of instrument panel.
  4. Remove center bezel surrounding radio and climate control panel.
  5. Remove screw attaching bezel to instrument panel behind climate control panel. Remove bezel.
  6. Remove outside mirror switch bezel from instrument panel.
  7. Remove silencer panel below steering column knee bolster.
  8. Remove screws attaching knee bolster to instrument panel.
  9. Lower knee bolster and disconnect connectors from rear, then remove bolster.
  10. Position front wheels of vehicle in the straight-ahead  position.
  11. Remove speed control switches from steering wheel. Speed control switches are mounted to steering wheel by screws (one screw, each switch) which are accessible from back side of steering wheel. Disconnect wire connector from each switch. See Fig 2.
    Fig 2: Speed Control Switches
    GC0031060Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - STEERING WHEEL
    2 - SPEED CONTROL SWITCHES
    WARNING: WHEN HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG 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.
  12. Remove 2 bolts attaching driver airbag to steering wheel. See Fig 3.
    Fig 3: Airbag Attaching Bolts
    GC0031061Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - AIRBAG
    2 - STEERING WHEEL
    3 - MOUNTING SCREWS
  13. Lift driver airbag from steering wheel and disconnect electrical connectors from back of driver airbag. See Fig 4. Connectors are removed by compressing latches on sides of connectors and pulling them straight out of airbag. Do not twist the connectors when removing them from airbag.
    Fig 4: Airbag Electrical Connections
    GC0031042Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - HORN CONNECTOR
    2 - DRIVER AIRBAG
    3 - AIRBAG SQUIB CONNECTORS
  14. Remove driver airbag.
  15. If equipped with remote audio control switches, disconnect 4-way connector between clockspring and steering wheel wiring harness. See Fig 5.
    Fig 5: Remote Audio Switches Connector (If Equipped)
    GC0031041Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - AUDIO SWITCHES CONNECTOR
    2 - STEERING WHEEL
    NOTE: Before removing steering wheel, verify front wheels and steering wheel are in staight-ahead position.
  16. Unscrew steering wheel retaining bolt almost all the way out (approximately 15 mm). See Fig 6.Do not completely remove bolt. 
    Fig 6: Steering Wheel And Shroud Mounting
    GC0019305Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - UPPER SHROUD
    2 - BOLT
    3 - STEERING WHEEL
    4 - LOWER SHROUD
    CAUTION: When installing the wheel puller on the steering wheel, be sure puller bolts are hand threaded no more than 5 revolutions in the threaded holes of the steering wheel. Avoid contact between the bolts and the face of the clockspring, otherwise damage to the clockspring may result.
  17. Install puller on steering wheel as shown in Fig 7.
    Fig 7: Puller Installed On Steering Wheel
    GC0031064Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - STEERING WHEEL PULLER
    2 - STEERING WHEEL
    CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering wheel or steering column shaft when removing steering wheel from steering column.
  18. While holding steering wheel firmly in the straight-ahead  position, loosen steering wheel from steering column shaft using wheel puller.
  19. Remove puller from steering wheel, then remove steering wheel retaining bolt and steering wheel.
  20. Remove 2 screws attaching upper and lower shrouds to steering column. See Fig 6. 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.
  21. Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from the clockspring. See Fig 8.
    Fig 8: Wiring Harness Connection To Clock Spring
    GC0031054Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - CLOCK SPRING
    2 - WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS
  22. Remove the 3 wiring harness connectors from the back of the ignition switch. See Fig 9.
    Fig 9: Wiring Harness Connections To Ignition And Multi-Function Switch
    GC0031055Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH
    2 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR
    3 - IGNITION SWITCH
  23. If equipped, disconnect SKIM connector.
  24. Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from the multi-function switch. See Fig 9. See Fig 10.
    Fig 10: Wiring Harness Connection To Multi-Function Switch
    GC0031056Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR
    2 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH
  25. If vehicle is equipped with an automatic transaxle, rotate the key cylinder to the ON position. Depress locking tab on shifter/ignition interlock cable and remove the cable from the key lock housing. See Fig 11.
    Fig 11: Shifter/Ignition Cable At Lock Cylinder Housing
    GC0031057Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - KEY CYLINDER
    2 - LOCKING TAB
    3 - SHIFTER IGNITION INTERLOCK CABLE
    4 - KEY LOCK HOUSING
  26. 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, then slide the intermediate shaft up and off the steering gear shaft. See Fig 12.
    Fig 12: Intermediate Shaft Attachment
    GC0031037Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
    2 - PINCH BOLT
  27. 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 13.
    Fig 13: Steering Column And Intermediate Shaft
    GC0031045Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.
    1 - INSTRUMENT PANEL
    2 - STEERING COLUMN
    3 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
  28. Remove steering column and intermediate shaft from vehicle passenger compartment. Use care to avoid damaging column harness or interior trim.
  29. If steering column is being replaced, perform the following:
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