Removal And Installation: Removal
To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbags, airbag curtains, knee blocker, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect the Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS)/negative battery cable assembly from the negative battery post, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
Always turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position. Then, prior to disconnecting the steering column from the steering gear, lock the steering wheel to the steering column. If clockspring centering has been compromised for ANY reason, the entire Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) and clockspring unit MUST be replaced with a new unit.
If this Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is being replaced with a new unit, a diagnostic scan tool MUST be used to align the PROXI configuration data into the new ECU. Follow the routine outlined in the diagnostic scan tool for PROXI Configuration Alignment under Body Control Module (BCM) Miscellaneous Functions menu.
- Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position and inhibit the steering column shaft from rotation.
- Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable. If equipped with an Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS), disconnect the IBS connector first before disconnecting the negative battery cable. Wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before continuing service.
- Remove the steering wheel from the upper steering column shaft. Refer to WHEEL, STEERING, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
- If the removed SCCM is to be reused, be certain that the spring-activated clockspring locking ring has extended upward following steering wheel removal to lock the clockspring rotor to the SCCM case and maintain clockspring centering until the steering wheel is installed on the steering column. Do not manually compress the clockspring locking ring while the SCCM is removed from the steering column as this may result in the loss of clockspring centering. If clockspring centering is not maintained, the entire SCCM must be replaced with a new unit before the steering wheel is installed.
- Move the steering column to the fully lowered (down) position.
- Remove the upper and lower shrouds from the steering column. Refer to SHROUD, STEERING COLUMN, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
- Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness connectors (2) from the connector receptacles near the top and the bottom on the back of the SCCM.
- Loosen the band clamp screw (1).
- Release the tab (1) from the retaining band and remove the SCCM (2) from the steering column.