Steering Wheel & Steering Column: Removal & Installation Dodge Neon II

REMOVAL

The ignition switch attaches to the lock cylinder housing on the end opposite the lock cylinder. (Scheme 6) For ignition switch terminal and circuit identification, refer to appropriate wiring diagram.

Scheme 6

Scheme 7

Scheme 8

Scheme 9

1. Disconnect negative cable from battery.
2. Place key cylinder in RUN position. Through the hole in the lower shroud, depress lock cylinder retaining tab and remove key cylinder. (Scheme 7)
3. Remove upper and lower shrouds from steering column.
4. Disconnect electrical connectors from ignition switch.
5. Remove ignition switch mounting screw with a #10 Torx® bit. (Scheme 8)
6. Depress retaining tabs and pull ignition switch from steering column. (Scheme 9)

Scheme 10

1. Ensure the ignition switch is in the RUN position and the actuator shaft in the lock housing is in the RUN position.
2. Carefully install the ignition switch. The switch will snap over the retaining tabs. ( (Scheme 8) and (Scheme 10) ). Install mounting screw.
3. Install electrical connectors to ignition switch.
4. Install upper and lower shrouds.
5. Install key cylinder (cylinder retaining tab will depress only in the RUN position).
6. Connect negative cable to battery.
7. Check for proper operation of ignition switch and key-in warning switch.

The lock cylinder is inserted in the end of the housing opposite the ignition switch. The ignition key rotates the cylinder to 5 different detents. (Scheme 11)

Scheme 11

1. Accessory
2. Off (lock)
3. Unlock
4. On/Run
5. Start

1. Disconnect negative cable from battery.
2. Place key cylinder in RUN position. Through the hole in the lower shroud, depress lock cylinder retaining tab and remove key cylinder.

Scheme 12

1. Install key in lock cylinder. Turn key to RUN position (retaining tab on lock cylinder can be depressed).
2. The shaft at the end of the lock cylinder aligns with the socket in the end of the housing. To align the socket with the lock cylinder, ensure the socket is in the RUN position. (Scheme 12)
3. Align the lock cylinder with the grooves in the housing. Slide the lock cylinder into the housing until the tab sticks through the opening in the housing.
4. Turn the key to the OFF position. Remove the key.
5. Connect negative cable to battery.

REMOVAL - STEERING COLUMN LOWER COUPLING

Note. Before proceeding with this procedure, refer to WARNING ).

Scheme 13

Scheme 14

Scheme 15

Scheme 16

Scheme 17

Scheme 18

Scheme 19

Scheme 20

1. Place the steering wheel in the STRAIGHT-AHEAD position. Using a steering wheel holder, lock the steering wheel in place to keep it from rotating. (Scheme 13) This keeps the clockspring in the proper orientation.
2. Inside the passenger compartment, remove the steering column coupling retainer pin, back off the pinch bolt nut, and remove the steering column coupling pinch bolt (the pinch bolt nut is caged to the coupling and is not removable). (Scheme 14) Separate the upper and lower steering column couplings.
3. Raise the vehicle.
4. Release the locking tab on the wiring harness connector for the power steering fluid pressure switch before connector removal. Remove the wiring harness connector from the power steering fluid pressure switch. (Scheme 15)
5. Remove the drive belt splash shield fasteners. Remove the shield.
6. Remove the pencil strut from the right front corner of the crossmember and body of the vehicle. (Scheme 16) Remove the washer behind the strut from the torque strut bolt.
7. Remove the bolts mounting the engine torque strut in place, then remove the engine torque strut from the vehicle. (Scheme 16) NOTE: Before removing the front suspension crossmember from the vehicle, the location of the crossmember must be scribed on the body of the vehicle. see scheme 9 Do this so that the crossmember can be relocated upon reinstallation against the body of vehicle in the same location as before removal. If the front suspension crossmember is not reinstalled in exactly the same location as before removal, the preset from wheel alignment settings (caster and camber) will be lost.
8. Using an awl, scribe a line marking the location of where the front suspension crossmember is mounted against the body of the vehicle. (Scheme 17)
9. Position a transmission jack under the center of the front suspension crossmember and raise it to support the bottom of the crossmember.
10. Loosen and completely remove the two front bolts (one right and one left) attaching the front suspension crossmember to the frame rails of vehicle. The right side bolt can be viewed in the mounting bolt figure. (Scheme 18) The left side bolt is located in the same location on the other side of the vehicle.
11. Loosen the two rear bolts (one right and one left) attaching the front suspension crossmember and lower control arms to the body of the vehicle until they release from the threaded tapping plates in the body of the vehicle. Do not completely remove the rear bolts because they are designed to disengage from the body threads yet stay within the lower control arm rear isolator bushing. This allows the lower control arm to stay in place on the crossmember. The right side bolt can be viewed in the mounting bolt figure. (Scheme 18) The left side bolt is located in the same location on the other side of the vehicle. CAUTION: Lower the steering gear slowly, paying special attention to the power steering fluid hoses coming down from the power steering pump. Do not strain or over extend the hoses coming to the gear. Damage to the hoses or connecting hardware could occur.
12. Lower the front suspension crossmember using the transmission jack enough to allow sufficient access to the steering column lower coupling. (Scheme 19) When lowering front suspension crossmember, do not let crossmember hang from lower control arms or power steering hoses. The weight should be supported by the transmission jack.
13. Remove the roll pin securing the steering column lower coupling to the power steering gear pinion shaft using a roll pin punch. (Scheme 20) Push the steering column lower coupling up and off of the power steering gear pinion shaft.

INSTALLATION - STEERING COLUMN LOWER COUPLING

Note. Before proceeding with this procedure, refer to WARNING .

1. Push the column end of the steering column lower coupling part way up through its hole in the dash panel, then match the flat on the inside of the steering column lower coupling to the flat on the power steering gear pinion shaft and slide the coupling onto the top of the pinion shaft. Align the roll pin hole in the coupling with the groove in the pinion shaft and install the roll pin through the coupling until it is centered. (Scheme 20)
2. Center the power steering gear rack in its travel.
3. Using the transmission jack, raise the front suspension crossmember and power steering gear until the crossmember contacts its mounting spot against the body and frame rails of the vehicle. As the crossmember is raised, carefully guide the steering column lower coupling up through its hole in the dash panel.
4. Start the two rear crossmember mounting bolts into the tapping plates mounted in the body. The right side bolt can be viewed in the mounting bolt figure. (Scheme 18) The left side bolt is located in the same location on the other side of the vehicle. Next, install the two front mounting bolts attaching front suspension crossmember to frame rails of vehicle. Lightly tighten all four mounting bolts to a approximately 2 N.m (20 in. lbs.) to hold the front suspension crossmember in position. NOTE: When reinstalling the front suspension crossmember back in the vehicle, it is very important that the crossmember be attached to the body in exactly the same spot as when it was removed. Otherwise, the vehicle's wheel alignment settings (caster and camber) will be lost.
5. Using a soft face hammer, tap the front suspension crossmember back-and-forth or side-to-side until it is aligned with the previously scribed positioning marks on the body of the vehicle. (Scheme 17) Once the front suspension crossmember is correctly positioned, tighten the rear two crossmember mounting bolts to 203 N.m (150 ft. lbs.), then tighten the front two crossmember mounting bolts to 142 N.m (105 ft. lbs.).
6. Install the engine torque strut and mounting bolts. (Scheme 16) To properly align and tighten the torque strut, (refer to «2.0L SOHC 4-CYLINDER»(ref-177391) ).
7. Install the washer on the end of the stud extending from the torque strut bolt. (Scheme 16)
8. Install the pencil strut to the right front corner of the crossmember and body for the vehicle. (Scheme 16) Tighten the pencil strut nuts to 58 N.m (43 ft. lbs.).
9. Install the drive belt splash shield and fasteners.
10. Reconnect the wiring harness connector to the power steering fluid pressure switch. (Scheme 15) Be sure the locking tab on the wiring harness connector is securely latched.
11. Lower the vehicle to ground level.
12. Install the dash-to-lower coupling seal in place over the lower coupling's plastic collar. NOTE: Verify that grease is present on the lip of the dash-to-coupling seal where it contacts the coupling's plastic collar.
13. Inside the passenger compartment, reconnect the steering column lower coupling to the steering column upper coupling. (Scheme 14) Install the coupling pinch bolt and tighten the pinch bolt nut to 28 N.m (250 in. lbs.). Install the pinch bolt retainer pin.
14. Remove the steering wheel holder.
15. While looking under the instrument panel at the lower coupling, rotate the steering wheel back-and-forth to verify that the lower coupling does not squeak against the dash-to-coupling seal.

Scheme 21

Scheme 22

1. Adjust the steering wheel so that the tires are in the straight ahead position. Then: Rotate the steering wheel half turn (180 degrees) to the right (clockwise). Lock column with the ignition cylinder lock.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
3. Remove the speed control switches and disconnect their wire connectors or covers. (Scheme 21)
4. Remove the Driver Airbag attaching bolts from the back of steering wheel.
5. Lift airbag and disconnect the airbag and horn wire connectors.
6. Remove steering wheel retaining screw.
7. Remove the steering wheel with a steering wheel puller. (Scheme 22) While removing the steering wheel take care to feed the wires gently through the holes in the steering wheel.

INSTALLATION

1. Confirm that: The steering wheel position is a half turn (180 degrees) to the right (clockwise). The column is locked with the ignition cylinder lock. Check that the turn signal stalk is in the neutral position.
2. Install the steering wheel, ensuring the flats on hub align with the clock spring. Pull the horn lead, airbag and speed control leads through the larger slot. Ensure leads do not get pinched under the steering wheel.
3. Install the steering wheel retaining screw, and tighten it to 54.2 N.m (40 ft. lbs.).
4. Connect the squib wire to the airbag. Make airbag connection by pressing straight in on the connector. The connector should be fully seated. Feel for positive snap to assure positive connection.
5. Connect the horn wire.
6. Install two bolts and tighten to 10 to 11 N.m (90 to 100 in. lbs.).
7. Install covers to the steering wheel armature or connect the wire connectors to the speed control switches and install switches. Tighten fastener to 2 N.m (20 in. lbs.). WARNING: DO NOT connect the battery negative cable. Refer to «AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEMS»(ref-150719) first.

Scheme 23

1. Remove lower instrument panel cover.
2. Remove instrument cluster bezel.
3. Remove two column shroud retaining screws.
4. Separate upper and lower steering column shrouds and remove from vehicle. (Scheme 23)

1. Connect the upper and lower steering column shrouds. (Scheme 23)
2. Install the two column shroud retaining screws.
3. Install the instrument cluster bezel.
4. Remove lower instrument panel cover.