Steering Column: Other Mercury Sable IV

Deactivation

Note. If a seat equipped with a seat mounted side air bag and/or a safety belt pretensioner (if equipped) system is being serviced, the air bag system must be deactivated.

Note. Restraint system diagnostic tools MUST be installed under the seats in the seat side air bag (if equipped) and safety belt pretensioner (if equipped) to floor connectors.

Note. Diagnostics or repairs are not to be performed on a seat equipped with a seat side air bag with the seat in the vehicle. Prior to attempting to diagnose so repair a seat concern when equipped with a seat side air bag, the seat must be removed from the vehicle and the restraint system diagnostic tools must be installed in the seat side air bag electrical connectors. The restraint system diagnostic tools must be removed prior to operating the vehicle over the road.

Note. After diagnosing or repairing an SRS, the restraint system diagnostic tools must be removed before operating the vehicle over the road.

Note. After diagnosing or repairing a seat system, the restraint system diagnostic tools must be removed before operating the vehicle over the road.

Note. The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.

All vehicles

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1. Move and tilt the front seats to their highest and rearmost position.
2. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute.
3. Remove the lower steering column opening cover with reinforcement. Remove the bolts. Pull out to release the retaining clips and remove the lower steering column opening cover with reinforcement.
4. Disconnect the four-pin clockspring electrical connector at the base of the steering column.
5. Attach the restraint system diagnostic tool to the vehicle harness side of the four-pin clockspring electrical connector.
6. Open the glove box to its fullest extent by pushing in on the tabs and release the glove compartment.
7. Through the glove box opening, remove the passenger air bag module retaining bolts.
8. Separate the passenger air bag module and trim cover from the instrument panel (I/P). Pull the left hand corner of the trim cover away from the I/P. From left to right, slide across the seam between the trim cover and I/P, releasing the trim cover retaining clips. Pull the passenger air bag module and trim cover away from the I/P, but do not remove it.
9. Remove the passenger air bag module and trim cover. Disconnect the passenger air bag module electrical connector. Remove the wire harness pin-type retainer from the passenger air bag module. Remove the passenger air bag module.
10. Attach the restraint system diagnostic tool to the vehicle harness side of the passenger air bag module electrical connector. Vehicle without side air bags
11. If the side air bag bridge resistor is removed, an open circuit fault will be generated by the restraints control module (RCM). If a restraint system diagnostic tool is installed at the side air bag floor connector, a low resistance fault will be generated by the RCM. Vehicles with side air bags
12. From under the passenger seat, disconnect the side air bag module electrical connector.
13. Attach the restraint system diagnostic tool to the vehicle harness side of the side air bag module electrical connector. All vehicles
14. Release the hook and loop strip and pull the seat cushion trim cover away enough to expose the front passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector.
15. Disconnect the passenger seat safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector. Slide and disengage the passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector locking clip. Push in on the two release tabs and disconnect the passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector.
16. Attach the restraint system diagnostic tool to the seat harness side of the front passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector. Vehicle with side air bags
17. From under the drive seat, disconnect the side air bag module electrical connector.
18. Attach the restraint system diagnostic tool to the vehicle harness side of the side air bag module electrical connector. All vehicles
19. Release the hook and loop strip and pull the seat cushion trim cover away enough to expose the front driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector.
20. Disconnect the driver seat safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector. Slide and disengage the driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector locking clip. Push in on the two release tabs and disconnect the driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector.
21. Attach the restraint system diagnostic tool to the seat harness side of the front driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector.
22. Reconnect the battery ground cable (14301).
23. Prove out the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to «SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK»(ref-150632-S02117886132002112000000) .
24. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute.

Reactivation

All vehicles

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1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute.
2. Remove the restraint system diagnostic tool from the seat harness side of the driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector.
3. Connect the driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector. Connect the driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector. Slide and engage the driver safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector locking clip.
4. Reposition the seat cushion trim cover around the driver safety belt buckle pretensioner and attach the hook and loop strip. Vehicles with side air bags
5. Remove the restraint system diagnostic tool from the vehicle harness side of the driver side air bag module electrical connector.
6. From under the driver seat, connect the side air bag module electrical connector. All vehicles
7. Remove the restraint system diagnostic tool from the seat harness side of the front passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector.
8. Connect the front passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector. Connect the front passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector. Slide and engage the front passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner electrical connector locking clip.
9. Reposition the seat cushion trim cover around the front passenger safety belt buckle pretensioner and attach the hook and loop strip. Vehicles with side air bags
10. Remove the restraint system diagnostic tool from the vehicle harness side of the passenger side air bag module electrical connector.
11. From under the passenger seat, connect the side air bag module electrical connector. All vehicles
12. Remove the restraint system diagnostic tool from the vehicle harness side of the passenger air bag module electrical connector.
13. Make sure there are no foreign objects in the passenger air bag module alignment channels.
14. Remove or position anything out of the way that may be blocking the accessibility to the I/P alignment rails or holes.
15. Connect the passenger air bag module electrical connector. Position the passenger air bag module. Install the wire harness pin-type retainer to the passenger air bag module. Connect the passenger air bag module electrical connector.
16. Position the passenger air bag module alignment channels to the alignment rails of the I/P.
17. Install the passenger air bag module and trim cover into the I/P. NOTE: Left hand upper alignment pin shown, left hand lower alignment pin is similar. Starting at the left hand side of the trim cover, install the upper and lower alignment pins into the I/P.
18. Working from left to right, install all the trim cover retaining tabs and alignment pins into the I/P. When all channels and tabs are aligned correctly, there will be an even gap around the perimeter of the passenger air bag trim cover.
19. Through the glove box opening, install the passenger air bag module retaining bolts.
20. Close the glove box.
21. Remove the restraint system diagnostic tool from the vehicle harness side of the four-pin clockspring electrical connector at the base of the steering column.
22. Connect the four-pin v at the base of the steering column.
23. Install the lower steering column opening cover with reinforcement. Position the lower steering column opening cover with reinforcement to the instrument panel and push in at the top seating the retaining clips. Install the bolts.
24. Reconnect the battery ground cable (14301).
25. With all the restraint system diagnostic tools removed, prove out the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to «SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK»(ref-150632-S02117886132002112000000) .

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1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute.
2. Remove the ignition switch lock cylinder. Insert the ignition key and turn to the RUN position. While pressing in the ignition switch lock cylinder release pin, pull the lock cylinder out of the steering column.
3. To install, reverse the removal procedure. Verify the ignition switch lock cylinder operation.

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1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute.
2. Deactivate the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to «DEACTIVATION»(ref-178474-S03211174682005061500000) .
3. Remove the steering wheel assembly. Refer to «WHEEL»(ref-178474-S42001705652005061500000) .
4. Twist off the cap from the ignition switch cylinder.
5. Remove the ignition switch lock cylinder. Use a 1/8-inch diameter drill bit to drill out the lock cylinder retaining pin. Use a 3/8-inch drill bit to drill down the middle of the ignition lock key slot until the ignition switch lock cylinder breaks loose. Remove and discard the ignition switch lock cylinder and clean the drill shavings from the steering column.
6. Remove the bearing retainer.
7. Remove the bearing and gear. Thoroughly clean all drill shavings from the steering column and inspect it for damage.

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1. Install the gear and the bearing.
2. Install the bearing retainer.
3. Install a new ignition switch lock cylinder. Verify ignition switch lock cylinder operation.
4. Install the steering wheel. Refer to «WHEEL»(ref-178474-S42001705652005061500000) .
5. Reactive the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to «REACTIVATION»(ref-178474-S17942200842005061500000) .

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1. Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute.
2. Deactivate the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to «DEACTIVATION»(ref-178474-S03211174682005061500000) .
3. Open the access door. Use a thin bladed screwdriver to carefully pry the access door open.
4. Disconnect the accessory and air bag module electrical connectors.
5. Turn the pinion shaft 120-130 revolutions to release the steering wheel from the column shaft.