Dodge Intrepid Service Manual page 490

LH
COLUMN (Continued)
CAUTION
CAUTIONS
CAUTION: Disconnect the negative (ground) cable
from the battery, before servicing any column com-
ponent.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove the pivot pins
to disassemble the tilting mechanism. Damage will
occur.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - STEERING
COLUMN
For diagnosis of conditions relating to the steering
column, refer to the steering system diagnosis charts
at the beginning of Steering.
The steering column MUST be replaced whenever
any of the following conditions exist:
• Whenever a vehicle is involved in a collision
which deploys the air bag, regardless of the extent of
damage done to the vehicle.
• If a vehicle is involved in an impact of the vehi-
cle's front suspension or undercarriage, which results
in any type of damage to the front suspension cross-
member.
• Under any conditions which result in the steer-
ing column assembly or steering column shaft receiv-
ing a force great enough to move the steering column
or shaft forward or rearward in the vehicle.
REMOVAL - STEERING COLUMN
NOTE: This procedure is to be used when replacing
the steering column. It is written to reflect that
objective. If the column is to be removed as one
assembly, or without removing the steering wheel,
the steering wheel must be turned from the straight
ahead position to the RIGHT 180° and locked in
place. Lock the column in this position by removing
the key from the key cylinder. This MUST be per-
formed before the steering coupler to the gear is
disconnected. This is done to prevent the chance of
damaging the clockspring. When reconnecting the
steering coupler to the intermediate shaft, verify the
front wheels have not moved from their position
when column was removed. If during column rein-
stallation, any doubt is present as to whether the
clockspring is properly centered, the clockspring
centering procedure in step Step 19 MUST be per-
formed prior to connecting the steering coupler.
(1) Remove remote ground cable from ground stud
on shock tower and isolate ground cable from vehicle
by installing isolator on stud (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable
1 - CABLE ISOLATOR
2 - GROUND STUD
3 - GROUND CABLE
(2) Remove the fuse panel cover from the left end
of the instrument panel (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3 Fuse Panel Cover
1 - FUSE PANEL COVER
2 - INSTRUMENT PANEL
(3) Remove the 2 screws behind the fuse panel
cover attaching the lower instrument panel cover to
the instrument panel (Fig. 4).
(4) Remove the lower instrument panel cover. The
lower instrument panel cover is attached by retain-
ing clips along the top and right edge.
(5) Remove the wiring harness connector from the
trunk release switch in the lower instrument panel
cover (Fig. 5).
(6) Remove the parking brake release cable, from
the park brake release handle in the lower instru-
ment panel cover (Fig. 6).
COLUMN 19 - 13