Steering Column Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme I

COLUMN DESIGNATIONS

Steering columns are designated as fixed column or tilt column, and as column shift or floor shift. Column shift and floor shift steering columns are basically the same except for shift lever and related components on column shift steering columns.

COLUMN COLLAPSE FEATURE

Steering column is designed to collapse if impacted by driver during a collision. Steering shaft and column jacket are 2-piece units which are injected with plastic. The plastic protrudes from holes in the unit. (Scheme 6)- (Scheme 9). This keeps the 2 pieces rigidly together as a unit. If the column is impacted, the plastic pieces break off, allowing the column to collapse.

PARK LOCK SYSTEM

The park lock system prevents

1. The lock cylinder from being turned to START position when shift lever is any position other than Park or Neutral.
2. The lock cylinder from being turned to LOCK position unless shift lever is in Park.
3. The shift lever from being moved out of Park unless the lock cylinder is out of LOCK position.

On column shift, these preventions are accomplished through a wedge-shaped mechanical finger on the ignition switch actuator rod. The finger will pass through the bowl plate when the shift lever is in Park or Neutral only. On floor shift, these preventions are accomplished through a park lock cable between shift lever and ignition switch inhibitor. (Scheme 3)

TROUBLE SHOOTING

Refer to TROUBLE SHOOTING - BASIC PROCEDURES article in the GENERAL TROUBLE SHOOTING section.

ADJUSTMENTS

Note. For exploded view of steering column assembly (Scheme 10)and (Scheme 11).

PARK LOCK CABLE

Note. Lock cylinder MUST be in RUN position when park lock cable is removed from or inserted into ignition switch inhibitor.

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove center console trim for access to base of shift lever. Place shift lever in Park. If park lock cable is not already inserted into ignition switch inhibitor, turn lock cylinder to RUN position and insert cable into inhibitor.
2. Unlock cable adjuster at base of shift lever by pressing locking button up. Turn lock cylinder to LOCK position. Push cable connector nose forward to remove slack. With no load applied to cable connector nose, lock the cable adjuster button by pressing locking button down. Install center console trim. Connect negative battery cable.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Note. For exploded view of steering column assembly (Scheme 10)and (Scheme 11). For removal and installation of all components not listed under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION, see OVERHAUL. Before servicing steering column, place shift lever in Park, turn lock cylinder to OFF-LOCK position and remove key.

Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove horn pad, and then disconnect horn pad wire by pushing wire lead down and rotating to left. Remove retainer and nut from steering shaft. Mark steering wheel hub in relation to steering shaft for installation reference. Using Steering Wheel Puller (J-1859-03), remove steering wheel. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten steering wheel nut to 30 ft. lbs. (41 N.m).

1. Remove steering wheel. See «STEERING WHEEL»(/oldsmobile/cutlass-supreme/i-1988-1997/remont/steering-column/#steering-column) . Remove turn signal cancel cam and hazard warning knob. Remove column housing cover. Remove shoe pin retainer cap (tilt column). Remove wiring protector from instrument panel bracket on jacket and bowl assembly.
2. Remove combination switch connector from ignition and dimmer switch assembly. Remove combination switch. To install, reverse removal procedure. Lubricate bottom of cancel cam with lithium-based grease.

1. Remove combination switch. See «COMBINATION SWITCH»(/oldsmobile/cutlass-supreme/i-1988-1997/remont/steering-column/#steering-column) . Remove turn signal switch screws. Remove turn signal switch connector from ignition and dimmer switch assembly.
2. Remove 17-pin secondary lock from turn signal switch connector. This allows wires to be removed from connector. Remove buzzer switch Light Green and Tan wires from turn signal switch connector, noting location for installation reference. If buzzer switch is to be removed, wrap wire ends with tape for protection.
3. Remove turn signal switch, pulling connector and wires up through column. To install, reverse removal procedure. Lubricate bottom of cancel cam with lithium-based grease.

Removal

Remove steering column. See STEERING COLUMN . Remove turn signal switch connector and combination switch connector from ignition and dimmer switch assembly connector. Remove bowl shield. Remove dimmer and ignition switch assembly. Separate switches.

Installation

1. Place ignition switch slider in far left position, and then move one detent to the right. (Scheme 1) Insert a 3/32" drill bit into hole in switch to keep slider in position. Insert ignition switch actuator rod into slider hole, and then mount switch. Remove drill bit.
2. If dimmer switch actuator rod was removed, insert rod into dimmer switch rod cap in bowl assembly. (Scheme 10)or (Scheme 11). Ensure tab on rod engages slot in rod cap, and then snaps in to place. Insert rod into switch hole. Mount switch and finger-tighten screws.
3. Insert a 3/32" drill bit into hole in switch. (Scheme 2) Push switch against rod until no lash exists. Tighten switch mounting screws. Remove drill bit. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure.

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

1. Remove steering column. See «STEERING COLUMN»(/oldsmobile/cutlass-supreme/i-1988-1997/remont/steering-column/#steering-column) . Remove turn signal switch connector and combination switch connector from ignition and dimmer switch assembly connector. Remove bowl shield.
2. Perform appropriate disassembly procedure under OVERHAUL, but do not remove rod cap from dimmer switch actuator rod, or separate column jacket from bowl assembly. Remove dimmer and ignition switch assembly. Remove bowl-to-column jacket upper screw. Loosen remaining bowl-to-column jacket screws about 3/8" (10 mm).
3. On column shift, place shift lever in LOW position. Working through top of bowl, hold lock bolt with finger or screwdriver while removing rack. Remove rack and actuator rod. Separate actuator rod from rack. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Note. Lock cylinder MUST be in RUN position when park lock cable is removed from or inserted in to ignition switch inhibitor.

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Place shift lever in Park. Turn lock cylinder to RUN position. Insert screwdriver blade into access hole of ignition switch inhibitor. (Scheme 3) While pressing locking tab, pull cable out of ignition switch inhibitor.
2. Unlock park lock cable adjuster at base of shift lever by pressing button upward. Disconnect cable end from lever pin at base of shift lever. Disconnect cable housing from shift lever base. Remove cable.

1. Unlock park lock cable adjuster. Place shift lever in Park. Insert cable housing into shift lever base hole, and then snap into place. Turn lock cylinder to RUN position. Insert cable into ignition switch inhibitor. Turn lock cylinder to LOCK position.
2. Connect cable end to lever pin at shift lever base. Push cable connector nose forward to remove cable slack. With no load applied to cable connector nose, lock cable adjuster. Install console trim. Connect battery cable.

Scheme 3

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove steering wheel if reusing. See «STEERING WHEEL»(/oldsmobile/cutlass-supreme/i-1988-1997/remont/steering-column/#steering-column). Remove sound insulators and trim panels as necessary. With steering column unlocked, push top of intermediate shaft seal down for access to upper intermediate shaft coupling and upper coupling bolt.
2. Remove upper coupling bolt. On column shift, disconnect shift indicator cable and shift cable from column. On M/T, disconnect clutch switch cable. On floor shift, disconnect park lock cable from ignition switch inhibitor. (Scheme 3)
3. On all vehicles, remove lower column mounting bolts. While supporting column, remove upper column mounting bolts. Lower column to seat. Some servicing procedures may be performed with column in this position. Disconnect column electrical connectors as necessary. Remove column.
4. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten upper coupling bolt to 35 ft. lbs. (47 N.m).

OVERHAUL

Note. For exploded view of steering column assembly (Scheme 10)and (Scheme 11). Perform overhaul procedure with steering column removed from vehicle, and with steering wheel, combination switch and turn signal switch removed from column.

Disassembly (Fixed Column)

1. Remove lower spring retainers, lower bearing spring and lower bearing seat. Remove adaptor and lower bearing assembly. Turn lock cylinder to RUN position. Rotate retaining ring at top of steering shaft until ring opening aligns with flat on shaft.
2. Remove retaining ring. Remove thrust washer, upper bearing spring and thrust washer. Pull steering shaft out through bottom of column jacket and bowl assembly. Remove column housing screws. Remove column housing from column jacket and bowl assembly.
3. To remove upper bearing from column housing, drive bearing out using hammer and drift punch. Note location of housing circuit bridge for reassembly reference. (Scheme 4) Turn lock cylinder to OFF-LOCK position. Remove key.
4. Using screwdriver, lift buzzer switch tab. Gently pull buzzer switch out by wires. Remove lock retaining screw. Remove lock cylinder. Remove dimmer switch rod cap. Separate column jacket from bowl assembly.

Scheme 4

Disassembly (Tilt Column)

1. Pull back tilt lever, and then raise column upward. Insert Phillips screwdriver into tilt spring retainer. Push down, and then rotate retainer counterclockwise until retainer releases spring. Remove retainer, spring and guide.
2. Remove 2 lower spring retainers from bottom of column. Remove lower bearing spring, seat and adaptor and bearing assembly. Using Pivot Pin Remover (J-21854-01), remove 2 pivot pins. (Scheme 5) Turn lock cylinder to RUN position.
3. Pull tilt lever to release column housing. Remove column housing from column jacket and bowl assembly. Turn lock cylinder to OFF-LOCK position. Remove key.
4. Using screwdriver, lift buzzer switch tab. Gently pull buzzer switch out by wires. Remove lock retaining screw. Remove lock cylinder. Remove tilt bumpers using locking pliers. Remove dimmer switch rod cap. Separate column jacket and bowl assembly.

Scheme 5

Note. Vehicles that have been in an accident that caused frame damage, major body damage, impact to the steering column or air bag deployment, may have a damaged or misaligned steering column. Use the following procedures to inspect steering column for damage.

Inspection (Column Jacket)

1. Check capsules on steering column bracket assembly. Capsules should be within.062" (1.59 mm) from bottom of slots. (Scheme 6)- (Scheme 9). If capsules are not within specification, replace bracket if bracket is bolted to column jacket, or replace column jacket if bracket is welded to column jacket.
2. Check for contact between bolt head and surface "A" on capsules. If bolt head contacts surface "A", shear load will increase, preventing column collapse upon impact. If contact is made, replace bracket or column jacket.
3. Measure distance between points on column jacket as specified in illustration. (Scheme 6)- (Scheme 9). If distance measured is not 4.06" (103.12 mm), replace column jacket.

Inspection (Steering Shaft)

Inspect steering shaft for sheared plastic injections. (Scheme 6)- (Scheme 9). If plastic injection are sheared, replace steering shaft. Check steering shaft runout by installing a dial indicator at lower end of steering shaft, and then rotating steering wheel. If runout exceeds.062" (1.59 mm), replace steering shaft.

Reassembly (All Columns)

1. To reassemble, reverse disassembly procedure. Apply a thin coat of lithium-based grease to all friction points when reassembling. Before installing lock cylinder, set lock cylinder in OFF-LOCK position and remove key.
2. Turn lock cylinder to RUN position before inserting steering shaft into column jacket and bowl assembly. Before installing retaining ring on upper end of shaft, wrap a piece of .005" (.13 mm) shim stock around shaft to aid ring installation.

Scheme 6

Scheme 7

Scheme 8

Scheme 9

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

Scheme 10

Scheme 11

See also:
• TROUBLE SHOOTING - BASIC PROCEDURES
• COMPUTER RELEARN PROCEDURES
• OVERHAUL
• STEERING WHEEL