Contents Section: Steering Column All sections

Steering Column Saturn SL I

Steering Column 8 illustrations ~1458 words

DESCRIPTION

WARNINGIf vehicle is equipped with an air bag, see SERVICE PRECAUTIONS and DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM before attempting any repairs to steering column or components.

Lever control switch assembly is mounted on end of steering column. (Scheme 1)and (Scheme 2). Ignition switch is attached to lock cylinder. (Scheme 2)and see scheme 10. On vehicles with Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) system, SIR coil assembly is mounted on lever control switch assembly, under steering wheel. (Scheme 1) Vehicles with variable effort steering are equipped with a steering speed (handwheel) sensor on the lower end of the steering column. see scheme 11

Scheme 1

Scheme 1

TROUBLE SHOOTING

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

SERVICE PRECAUTIONS

Observe the following precautions when servicing air bag system

  1. Disable air bag system before attempting any repairs to steering column or components. See «DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__disabling-activating-air-bag-system) .
  2. After disabling air bag system, DERM maintains back-up voltage. To avoid accidental deployment, wait at least 15 minutes after disabling air bag system before servicing.
  3. Always wear safety glasses when servicing system.
  4. Always carry a live (undeployed) air bag with trim cover facing away from your body. This minimizes chance of injury if air bag accidentally deploys.
  5. Place a live (undeployed) air bag on a bench or other surface with trim cover facing up, away from surface. This will reduce motion of air bag if it accidentally deploys.
  6. Never probe inflator module connectors; air bag may accidentally deploy.

DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM

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.
  1. Before proceeding, follow air bag service precautions. See «SERVICE PRECAUTIONS»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__service-precautions) . To disable air bag, turn ignition off. Disconnect and shield negative battery cable. Remove SIR fuse from fuse block. Remove Connector Position Assurance (CPA) clip from Yellow SIR connector at base of steering column. (All SIR system connectors use CPA clips to ensure connector retention.) Disconnect Yellow connector. Wait 15 minutes before working on vehicle.
  2. To activate air bag system, turn ignition switch off. Connect Yellow SIR connector and CPA clip at base of steering column. Install SIR fuse. Connect negative battery cable. Turn ignition switch to RUN position. Observe AIR BAG indicator light. Light should flash 7-9 times, and then go out. If AIR BAG indicator light does not function as described, a malfunction in air bag system exists.

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.

Removal

Before proceeding, follow air bag service precautions. See SERVICE PRECAUTIONS . Disable SIR system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM . Remove and discard 4 air bag module screws behind steering wheel. Pull up air bag module, and then disconnect electrical connectors from module. Remove module. Installation

Connect electrical connectors to module. Install module using 4 new mounting screws. Tighten screws to 106 INCH lbs. (12 N.m). Activate SIR system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .

Removal (With SIR)

  1. Set front wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Before proceeding, follow air bag service precautions. See «SERVICE PRECAUTIONS»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__service-precautions). Disable SIR system. See «DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__disabling-activating-air-bag-system).
  2. Remove and discard 4 air bag module screws behind steering wheel. Pull up air bag module, and then disconnect electrical connectors from module. Remove module. Disconnect cruise control switch connector (if equipped) and horn switch connector.
  3. Mark steering wheel hub in relation to steering shaft for installation reference. Remove steering wheel nut. Using Steering Wheel Puller (J-1859-03), remove steering wheel. DO NOT install puller bolts too deeply into hub, as SIR coil assembly can be damaged. (Scheme 1) To prevent coil assembly from rotating, insert Yellow tab (if available) into coil assembly, or tape coil assembly in place.

Installation

Remove Yellow tab or tape from coil assembly. Install steering wheel, aligning marks on steering wheel hub and steering shaft. Tighten steering wheel nut to 30 ft. lbs. (41 N.m). To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure. Activate SIR system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .

Removal & Installation (Without SIR)

  1. Set front wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Pull up horn pad, and then disconnect cruise control switch connector (if equipped) and horn switch connector. 2) Mark steering wheel hub in relation to steering shaft for installation reference. Remove steering wheel nut. Using Steering Wheel Puller (J-1859-03), remove steering wheel. 3) To install, align marks on steering wheel hub and steering shaft, and then install steering wheel. Tighten steering wheel nut to 30 ft. lbs. (41 N.m). To install remaining components, reverse removal procedure.

SIR COIL ASSEMBLY

CAUTIONTo center coil assembly, set front wheels in straight-ahead position before removing or installing coil assembly. If an uncentered coil assembly is installed, ribbon in coil assembly will break when steering wheel is turned. Always keep ignition switch in LOCK position to prevent wheel from turning and uncentering coil assembly.
  1. Set front wheels in straight-ahead position and turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Before proceeding, follow air bag service precautions. See «SERVICE PRECAUTIONS»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__service-precautions). Disable SIR system. See «DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__disabling-activating-air-bag-system). Remove air bag module and steering wheel. See «AIR BAG (INFLATOR) MODULE»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column) and «STEERING WHEEL»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column).
  2. Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds. (Scheme 1) Disconnect SIR coil assembly electrical connector. To prevent coil assembly from rotating, insert Yellow tab (if available) into coil assembly, or tape coil assembly in place. Remove coil assembly.
  3. To install, reverse removal procedure. Remove Yellow tab or tape from coil assembly after installing steering wheel. Activate SIR system. See «DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__disabling-activating-air-bag-system).

LEVER CONTROL SWITCH

Lever control switch is attached to top of steering column. (Scheme 1)and (Scheme 2). Removal and installation procedure is not available from manufacturer.

Scheme 2

Scheme 2: LEVER CONTROL SWITCH

Note. Procedure changed as per TSB #99-T-01, Issued January, 1999.

Scheme 3

Scheme 3: Removal & Installation

Scheme 4

Scheme 4

Scheme 5

Scheme 5

Scheme 6

Scheme 6
  1. Remove shroud fasteners (5.5 mm hex head) and remove steering column upper shroud panel. (Scheme 3): Shroud Fastener
  2. Insert key into ignition lock cylinder and rotate to ACC position.
  3. Depress the square locking button on the top of ignition module assembly from ignition module housing. (Scheme 4): Cylinder Removal
  4. Remove lock cylinder bezel by carefully prying from lock cylinder with thin bladed screwdriver.
  5. Insert key into ignition lock cylinder assembly and depress ignition locking pin using a thin bladed screwdriver.
  6. Rotate cylinder and remove ignition locking pin. (Scheme 5): Ignition Locking Pin
  7. Remove cylinder from case.
  8. Push tumblers out of lock cylinder using a thin bladed screwdriver. (Scheme 6): Tumbler Removal
  9. Select the correct tumblers for the desired code by the number stamped on the tumbler.
  10. Install tumblers by applying downward pressure. If the tumblers are difficult to install, make sure that the sidebar is not crooked. Push down on the raised end of sidebar to level it.
  11. After all tumblers are installed, depress all six tumblers and sidebar will be flush with cylinder with key inserted.
  12. Oil lock set with a light oil or graphite lubricant (as needed) and install cylinder into case.
  13. Install ignition locking spring and pin. Depress pin and rotate cylinder to engage.
  14. Remove key and install lock cylinder bezel.
  15. Insert key and reverse steps 1 through 3.

IGNITION SWITCH

Ignition switch is attached to lock cylinder with 2 screws. (Scheme 2)and see scheme 10. Removal and installation procedure is not available from manufacturer.

Scheme 7

Scheme 7: IGNITION SWITCH

Rotate steering wheel until steering shaft-to-intermediate shaft pinch bolt is accessible. Remove pinch bolt. see scheme 11 Separate intermediate shaft from steering shaft. Release locking tabs securing sensor to support bracket. Rotate sensor 180 degrees, and then disconnect sensor electrical connector. Remove sensor.

To install, reverse removal procedure, ensuring electrical connector is facing upward. Tighten pinch bolt to 35 ft. lbs. (47 N.m).

Scheme 8

Scheme 8: Installation
  1. Before proceeding, follow air bag service precautions. See «SERVICE PRECAUTIONS»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__service-precautions). Disable SIR system. See «DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__disabling-activating-air-bag-system). Set front wheels in straight-ahead position. Turn ignition switch to LOCK position. Remove air bag module and steering wheel. See «AIR BAG (INFLATOR) MODULE»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column) and «STEERING WHEEL»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column).
  2. Remove upper column shroud, lock cylinder bezel and lower column shroud. (Scheme 1) Remove left and right panels from sides of console, and console trim plate by pulling components outward to disengage snaps. Remove 2 screws from upper trim panel on top of instrument panel (screws are hidden under caps).
  3. Lift upper trim panel to disengage 6 clips along rear edge. To remove upper trim panel, slide it out of 3 clips near windshield. Remove 4 instrument cluster trim panel screws. Lift instrument cluster trim panel to disengage retainers. Disconnect electrical connectors from rear window defogger switch and instrument panel dimmer switch. Remove instrument cluster trim panel.
  4. Protect front of console to prevent it from being damaged by steering column filler panel. Remove filler panel. Remove SIR coil assembly. See SIR COIL ASSEMBLY.
  5. Disconnect lever control switch connectors. Remove lever control switch. See «LEVER CONTROL SWITCH»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__lever-control-switch). Disconnect ignition switch connector. Remove ignition switch. See «IGNITION SWITCH»(/saturn/sl/i-1990-1995/remont/steering-column/#steering-column__ignition-switch). Remove 2 column mounting bolts. Remove upper pinch bolt from intermediate shaft. Remove steering column. To install, reverse removal procedure.

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

ApplicationFt. Lbs. (N.m)
Column Mounting Bolts26 (35)
Intermediate Shaft-To-Steering Shaft Pinch Bolt35 (47)
Steering Wheel Nut30 (41)
INCH Lbs. (N.m)
Air Bag Module Screws106 (12)

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS