Steering wheel — removal and installation
Warning: These models are equipped with airbags. Always disable the airbag system before working in the vicinity of any airbag system component to avoid the possibility of accidental deployment of the airbag, which could cause personal injury (see Chassis electrical system).
Removal
1. Park the vehicle with the wheels pointing straight ahead. Disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery.
2. Disable the airbag system (see Chassis electrical system).
3. Remove the steering column covers (see Body).
4. Insert a small diameter rod into the hole on one side of the steering wheel to release the airbag module on that side. Repeat the procedure for the opposite side and carefully lift the module from the steering wheel (see illustrations).
16.4a Insert a tool into the hole to release the airbag module from the steering wheel, one side at a time
16.4b Lift the module from the steering wheel to locate the two electrical connectors
5. To disconnect the electrical connectors, pry the connector lock up, then squeeze the small tabs on each side of the connector while pulling it from the module (see illustration). Set the module aside in a safe, isolated area, with the airbag side of the module facing up.
Pry the connector lock up, then squeeze the small tabs on each side of the connector to pull it of the airbag module
Warning: When carrying the airbag module, keep the driver’s (trim) side of it away from your body, and when you set it down, make sure the driver’s side is facing up.
6. Unplug the electrical connector from the clock spring (see illustration).
16.6 Remove the electrical connector from the clock spring (A) and note the alignment marks for the steering wheel hub and the steering shaft (B)
7. Remove the steering wheel retaining nut and mark the position of the steering wheel to the shaft, if marks don’t already exist or don’t line up.
8. Wiggle the steering wheel away from the shaft to remove it. If necessary, use a puller to release the steering wheel from the shaft (see illustration).
16.8 A puller can be used to remove the steering wheel from the steering shaft
Caution: Do not use a hammer to remove the steering wheel.
9. Lift the steering wheel from the shaft while carefully guiding the airbag module harness through the steering wheel hub.
Caution: Changing the direction of the front wheels with the steering wheel removed will rotate the steering shaft and possibly damage the clock spring.
Installation
10. Before installing the steering wheel, make sure that the steering shaft is centered. The front wheels must be pointing straight-forward and the block tooth on the steering shaft must be pointing directly up.
Warning: The clock spring is synchronized with the steering shaft. In the event that the steering shaft has been disconnected from the steering gear and rotated or the clock spring has been removed, the clock spring will require centering.
Clock spring centering
11. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the bottom, remove the snap-ring from the steering shaft and carefully release any retaining tabs while lifting the clock spring off the steering column.
12. Rotate the hub clockwise until it stops (don’t apply too much force). Now turn the hub 3-1/3 turns in the opposite direction until the flat-wire cable loop is visible in the window (see illustration).
16.12 Clock spring details
1 Block tooth on steering shaft in the 12 o’clock position
2 Centering window
Note: New clock springs are equipped with a centering pin which is removed after it is installed.
13. Install the clock spring onto the steering column, aligning it with the horn tower, then install the snap-ring. Connect the electrical connectors while making sure that the harness is in its original position.
Steering wheel installation
14. Guide the steering wheel into place while threading the wiring harness through the steering wheel hub, then align the index marks on the hub and steering shaft.
Caution: Do not force the steering wheel onto the shaft if there is resistance. Make sure the steering wheel hub splines line up with the splines on the steering shaft.
15. Install the steering wheel nut and tighten it to the torque listed in this Chapter’s Specifications.
16. Connect the airbag connectors to the airbag module. Make sure the connector locks are securely engaged.
17. Position the airbag module on the steering wheel and push it in until the pins on the module engage with the spring retainers.
18. Reconnect the cable to the negative terminal of the battery (see Engine electrical systems) and enable the airbag system (see Chassis electrical system).