Removal And Installation: Removal
To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbags, airbag curtains, knee blocker, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect the Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS)/negative battery cable assembly from the negative battery post, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
Always turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position. Then, prior to disconnecting the steering column from the steering gear, lock the steering wheel to the steering column. If clockspring centering has been compromised for ANY reason, the entire Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) and clockspring unit MUST be replaced with a new unit.
- Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position and inhibit the steering column shaft from rotation.
- Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable. If equipped with an Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS), disconnect the IBS connector first before disconnecting the negative battery cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
- Remove the steering wheel from the upper steering column shaft. Refer to WHEEL, STEERING, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
- If the removed clockspring and stalk unit is to be reused, be certain that the spring-activated clockspring locking ring has extended upward following steering wheel removal to lock the clockspring rotor to the stalk unit case and maintain clockspring centering until the steering wheel is reinstalled on the steering column. Do not manually compress the clockspring locking ring while the stalk unit is removed from the steering column as this may result in the loss of clockspring centering. If clockspring centering is not maintained, the entire clockspring and stalk unit must be replaced with a new unit before the steering wheel is reinstalled.
- Move the steering column to the fully lowered (down) position.
- Remove the upper and lower shrouds from the steering column. Refer to SHROUD, STEERING COLUMN, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION
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- Open the wire harness retainers (1) that secure the instrument panel wire harness to the stalk unit case.
- Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector from the connector receptacle (2) on the top of the clockspring (4).
- Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector (3) from the connector receptacle on the back of the stalk unit housing near the top.
- Working from the underside of the steering column, open the wire harness retainers (1) that secure the instrument panel wire harness to the stalk unit case.
- Disconnect the wire harness connector (3) from the clockspring assembly (2).
- Working from below and behind the stalk unit housing, loosen the screw (1) that tensions the band clamp that secures the stalk unit (2) to the top of the steering column jacket.
- Remove the clockspring and stalk unit from the steering column.