WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer and 2004 Ford Explorer. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Remove the upper steering column shroud.
Release the retaining clips and rotate the upper steering column trim panel out of the instrument panel.
Remove the upper steering column shroud hard shell.
Fig 1: Removing Upper Steering Column Shroud Hard Shell