Restraints (Service Information) - 500 - Except Electric: CLOCKSPRING: 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.
- Remove the steering wheel from the upper steering column shaft. Refer to WHEEL, STEERING, REMOVAL .
- If the removed clockspring and stalk unit (1) is to be reused, be certain that the spring-activated clockspring locking ring (2) has extended upward following steering wheel removal to lock the clockspring rotor to the clockspring 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, UPPER, REMOVAL and refer to SHROUD, STEERING COLUMN, LOWER, REMOVAL .
- Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector from the clockspring connector receptacle (3).
- Working from the below and behind the stalk unit housing (1), loosen the screw (4) that tensions the clamp (5) that secures the stalk unit to the top of the steering column jacket.
- Pull the stalk unit away from the steering column far enough to access and disconnect the two instrument panel wire harness connectors from the two connector receptacles (2) on the back of the stalk unit housing near the top.
- Disengage the instrument panel wire harness take outs from the retainer (3) on the back of the stalk unit housing.
- Remove the clockspring and stalk unit from the vehicle.