Steering Column: Removal & Installation Chrysler LHS I

Removal

1. Disconnect and isolate negative battery cable. Remove fuses No. 7 and 19 (air bag fuses) from fuse/relay block. Fuse/relay block is located behind end cover at left side of instrument panel.
2. Lock steering column by turning steering wheel 180 degrees clockwise from the front wheels straight-ahead position. Turn ignition key (lock cylinder) to lock position and remove key from lock cylinder.
3. Remove speed (cruise) control switches from steering wheel to gain access to air bag module bolts. If vehicle is not equipped with cruise control, pry out covers from side of steering wheel. Remove air bag module bolts.
4. Carefully lift air bag module from steering wheel. Disconnect wiring harness from rear of air bag module. Remove air bag module from steering wheel. Place air bag module on bench with trim cover up, away from bench surface. Remove steering wheel nut. Remove steering wheel using puller.

Installation

1. Install steering wheel and tighten steering wheel nut to specification. Connect air bag module wiring. Install air bag module, being careful not to pinch any wires. Install and tighten air bag module bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-52602-S05416834622001011600000) .
2. Connect cruise control switch wiring and install switches on steering wheel (if equipped). Install air bag fuses. Connect negative battery cable. Check operation of all steering column operated components.

Removal & Installation

Speed (cruise) control switches are mounted in steering wheel and are wired through clockspring under air bag module. Refer to STEERING WHEEL & AIR BAG .

Disconnect and isolate negative battery cable. Remove steering column tilt lever. Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds. Disconnect and remove ignition switch.

To install, reverse removal procedure. A tab on ignition switch aligns with a notch in lock cylinder housing. A slot in end of ignition switch fits over shaft in end of lock cylinder housing. Use ignition key to rotate lock cylinder to align ignition switch with lock cylinder housing.

1. Disconnect and isolate negative battery cable. Remove steering column tilt lever. Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds. Turn ignition key (lock cylinder) to RUN position. Depress tab on side of lock cylinder housing and remove lock cylinder.
2. If necessary to remove lock cylinder housing, center punch heads of tamper-proof bolts. Using a 1/4" drill bit, drill out bolt heads. Drill out heads until bit contacts hardened washer under bolt heads. Use a pair of pliers to remove bolts from steering column.
3. To remove interlock mechanism cassette, depress tab on top of cassette. Slide interlock mechanism cassette out of housing. Remove cable from lock arm on shift mechanism.

1. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten lock cylinder housing tamper-proof bolts until heads shear off. Align lock cylinder with grooves in housing. Slide lock cylinder into housing until tab sticks out through opening. Turn ignition key to OFF position and remove key.
2. If column shift is used and a NEW lock cylinder is being installed, install and adjust a NEW interlock mechanism cassette. To install cassette, ensure latch rotates freely on column shift gate. With shift lever in Park and ignition key removed, install cable over hook of lock arm on shift mechanism. Slide interlock cassette into housing until it locks in place. Adjust interlock mechanism. Refer to «INTERLOCK MECHANISM»(ref-52602-S35576596962001011600000) under ADJUSTMENTS.

Disconnect and isolate negative battery cable. Remove steering column tilt lever. Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds. Disconnect and remove multifunction (combination) switch. To install, reverse removal procedure

Scheme 1

1. Disconnect and isolate negative battery cable. Remove fuses No. 7 and 19 (air bag fuses) from fuse/relay block. Fuse/relay block is located behind end cover at left side of instrument panel.
2. Lock steering column by turning steering wheel 180 degrees clockwise from the front wheels straight-ahead position. Turn ignition key (lock cylinder) to lock position and remove key from lock cylinder.
3. Remove speed (cruise) control switches from steering wheel to gain access to air bag module bolts. If vehicle is not equipped with cruise control, pry out covers from side of steering wheel. Remove air bag module bolts.
4. Carefully lift air bag module from steering wheel. Disconnect wiring harness from rear of air bag module. Remove air bag module from steering wheel. Place air bag module on bench with trim cover up, away from bench surface.
5. Remove steering wheel nut. Remove steering wheel using puller. Remove left and right instrument panel end covers. Remove left and right cowl area trim covers. Remove center console or instrument panel lower center cover and ashtray assembly. Remove left side instrument panel silencer/duct.
6. Remove lower dash panel assembly. Remove air duct beneath steering column. Tilt steering column to full down position. Remove tilt lever, and upper and lower steering column shrouds.
7. If column shift is used, reinstall tilt lever and tilt steering column to full up position. Pry shift cable off pin on shift mechanism. Carefully remove shift cable clip from shift cable support bracket.
8. On all models, turn ignition key (lock cylinder) to RUN position to unlock steering column. DO NOT rotate steering column shaft, as air bag clockspring will be damaged.
9. If floor shift is used, depress tab and remove floor shift interlock cable from steering column socket. (Scheme 1) Remove steering column shaft coupling bolt pin. Remove coupling bolt and detach coupling from intermediate shaft.
10. Loosen, but DO NOT remove, lower steering column bracket bolts. Support steering column. Remove upper steering column bracket nuts and washers. Remove steering column assembly from bracket and set assembly on floor of vehicle.
11. Disconnect multifunction switch and ignition switch wiring harness connectors. Disconnect air bag clockspring, key-in light and halo light wiring harness connectors. Depress tab and carefully remove steering column wiring harness. Remove steering column assembly.

Scheme 2

1. Ensure ground clip is installed on column bracket (if removed). (Scheme 2) Install steering column wiring harness. Ensure wiring harness is routed through clips on multifunction switch and on side of clockspring.
2. Ensure steering column wiring harness is taut and does not interfere with column shift actuator in low gear. Slide steering column assembly onto lower steering column bracket bolts. DO NOT tighten bolts at this time.
3. Raise steering column and install upper steering column bracket nuts and washers. DO NOT tighten nuts at this time. Temporarily install upper and lower steering column shrouds and center instrument panel outlet bezel.
4. Center steering column shrouds in instrument panel opening with steering column tilted up. Ensure both break-away capsules are fully seated in slots of steering column upper support bracket.
5. Hold steering column in place and tighten steering column bracket bolts/nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-52602-S05416834622001011600000). Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds. Attach steering column shaft coupling and tighten coupling bolt to specification. Refer to the «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-52602-S05416834622001011600000) table. Install steering column shaft coupling bolt pin.
6. If floor shift is used, turn ignition key (lock cylinder) to RUN position and insert shift interlock cable into steering column socket. Ensure cable locking tab is fully engaged with steering column. Adjust interlock mechanism. See «INTERLOCK MECHANISM»(ref-52602-S35576596962001011600000) under ADJUSTMENTS. NOTE: If column shift is used, a NEW interlock mechanism cassette must always be installed in the replacement steering column at time of installation.
7. If column shift is used, correctly route shift cable through bracket and install cable clip. Ensure clip is fully seated and DO NOT bend cable bracket. Check steering column jacket clearance by tilting steering column up and down. Install shift cable on shift mechanism. Adjust interlock mechanism. See «INTERLOCK MECHANISM»(ref-52602-S35576596962001011600000) under ADJUSTMENTS.
8. Install upper and lower steering column shrouds. Install tilt lever. Install air duct and lower dash panel assembly. Install left side instrument panel silencer/duct.
9. Install center console or instrument panel lower center cover and ashtray assembly. Install right and left cowl area trim panels. Install left and right instrument panel end covers.
10. Install steering wheel and tighten steering wheel nut to specification. Connect air bag module wiring. Install air bag module being careful not to pinch any wires. Install and tighten air bag module bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-52602-S05416834622001011600000).
11. Connect cruise control switch wiring and install switches on steering wheel (if equipped). Install air bag fuses. Connect negative battery cable. Check operation of all steering column operated components. Road test vehicle to ensure proper operation of steering column.