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Steering Column: Removal & Installation Mercury Tracer I

Steering Column 1 illustration ~579 words

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

CAUTIONWhen battery is disconnected, vehicle computer and memory systems may lose memory data. Driveability problems may exist until computer systems have completed a relearn cycle. See COMPUTER RELEARN PROCEDURES article in the GENERAL INFORMATION section before disconnecting battery.

CONTACT ASSEMBLY (CLOCKSPRING) R & I

CAUTIONBEFORE servicing any air bag component, see SAFETY PRECAUTIONS and DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .

Note. Contact assembly is incorporated in a multifunction switch with turn signal and windshield wiper switches and is not serviced separately.

See MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH .

Removal

  1. Ensure front wheels are in straight-ahead position. Disconnect negative battery cable. Disconnect positive battery cable. Disable air bag system.
  2. Remove air bag module retaining nuts or screws from steering wheel. (Scheme 1) Lift air bag module from steering wheel and disconnect clockspring electrical connector from module.
  3. Disconnect cruise control switch electrical connector from contact assembly electrical connector. Remove steering wheel bolt.
  4. Using Steering Wheel Puller (T67L-3600-A), remove steering wheel. As wheel is removed, route contact assembly and cruise control/horn wiring harnesses through steering wheel.

Installation

  1. Ensure front wheels are in straight-ahead position. Route contact assembly and cruise control/horn wiring harnesses through steering wheel opening at 3 o'clock position. Position steering wheel onto steering shaft, ensuring steering wheel and shaft alignment marks are aligned. Install NEW steering wheel bolt. Tighten bolt to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(ref-55260-S19230648902001011700000) .
  2. Connect cruise control/horn switch electrical connector. Connect clockspring electrical connector to air bag module and install module. Connect positive battery cable. Connect negative battery cable. Check AIR BAG light for system faults.

Scheme 1

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
  1. Disconnect positive battery cable. Disable air bag system. See «DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM»(ref-55260-S02349353232001011700000). Remove steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(ref-55260-S36307105502001011700000). Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds.
  2. Remove multifunction switch connectors. Remove mounting screws. Remove combination switch. To install, reverse removal procedure. (Scheme 1)

Disconnect negative battery cable. Disconnect positive battery cable. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .

Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD. Remove multifunction switch. See MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. (Scheme 1) Disconnect ignition switch electrical connector. Remove 3 mounting screws and remove ignition switch. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Disconnect negative battery cable. Disconnect positive battery cable. Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .

Remove steering wheel. See STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD . Remove multifunction switch. See MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH . Remove ignition key reminder switch. Unplug ignition switch harness connector. Remove ignition switch mounting bolts. Remove ignition switch. To install, reverse removal procedure

  1. With lock cylinder removed, carefully note position of retainer in lock cylinder bore. Using a screwdriver with a 90-degree bend on tip, insert tip between retainer and washer. Pull retainer out of lock cylinder bore.
  2. Insert screwdriver into double "D" slot of washer and rotate 90 degrees. Remove washer. Carefully note relation of lock cylinder gear to teeth position on lock actuator assembly. Last tooth of lock cylinder gear should be meshed with last tooth on lock actuator assembly. Remove lock cylinder gear. To install, reverse removal procedure.

See LOCK CYLINDER (FUNCTIONAL) or LOCK CYLINDER (NON-FUNCTIONAL) .

  1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Disconnect positive battery cable. Disable air bag system. See «DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM»(ref-55260-S02349353232001011700000). Remove steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL & HORN PAD»(ref-55260-S36307105502001011700000). CAUTION: Before removing contact assembly (clockspring), see «CONTACT ASSEMBLY (CLOCKSPRING) R & I»(ref-55260-S40141903772001011700000).
  2. Remove air bag contact assembly. Unplug multifunction switch and ignition switch electrical connectors. (Scheme 1) Remove shift cable mounting bracket, and move cable and bracket aside. Remove 4 steering column upper mounting bracket bolts, and lower column.
  3. Remove 5 set plate mounting nuts and remove set plate. Remove intermediate shaft-to-pinion shaft bolt. Remove 2 steering column lower mounting bracket nuts and remove column. To install, reverse removal procedure.

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