Pontiac Fiero 1988 Service Manual page 170

STEERING WHEELS AND COLUMNS 3B4-1
SECTION 3B4
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AMD COLUMNS
N O T I C E :
All steering wheel and column fasteners are important parts in that they could affect the
performance of vital parts and systems, and/or could result in major repair expense. They must be replaced with
one of the same part number or with an equivalent part if replacement becomes necessary. Do not use a
replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design. Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly
to assure proper retention of this part.
CONTENTS
Diagnosis Section 3
General Information
3B4-1
On-Car Service
Shift Indicator Adjustment 3B4-1
Multifunction Turn Signal Lever
3B4-2
Park/Neutral Switch
3B4-2
Steering Wheel
3B4-3
Intermediate Shaft Series 3B4-5
Steering Column 3B4-4
Unit Repair
Key Release Standard Column 3B4-6
Park Lock Standard Column 3B4-7
Standard Steering Column Service 3B4-8
Key Release Tilt Wheel Column 3B4-10
Park Lock Tilt Wheel Column 3B4-11
Adjustable Steering Column Service 3B4-12
Checking Column for
Accident Damage 3B4-15
Torque Specifications 3B4-16
Special Tools 3B4-16
GENERAL INFORMATION
The steering column includes three important
features in addition to the steering function:
1. The column is energy absorbing, designed to
compress in a front-end collision to lessen the
chance of injury to the driver.
2. The ignition switch and lock are mounted on the
column.
3. With the column-mounted lock, the ignition and
steering operations can be locked to inhibit theft
of the car.
The multifunction lever provides for control of
the headlight beams, the cruise control, and the
windshield washer and wiper.
The column may easily be disassembled and
reassembled. To ensure the energy-absorbing action, it
is important that only the specified screws, bolts, and
nuts be used as designated and that they are tightened
to the specified torque. Apply a thin coat of lithium
grease to all friction points when reassembling.
When the column assembly is removed from the
car, take special care in handling it. The plastic
fasteners which maintain column rigidity can be
sheared or loosened by: using a steering wheel puller
other than the one recommended in this manual;
striking sharply on the end of the steering shaft or shift
lever; leaning on the assembly; dropping the assembly.
IGNITION LOCK S Y S T E M S
All floor shift automatic transaxle models use a
Park Lock system (see Fig. 4). This system uses a
flexible cable actuator which is attached at one end to
the shift lever and the other end is attached to the
column mounted ignition switch where it actuates a
locking pin. The locking pin engages an ignition switch
sliding contact when the shift lever is in "R", "N" or
"D" and does not allow the ignition switch slider to
move to the "Lock" position. When the shift lever is
in "P", the pin disengages from the slider and allows
it to move to the "Lock" position. With the shift lever
in "P" and the ignition switch slider in "Lock," the
locking pin engages a cam on the flexible cable and
prevents the shift lever from being moved to another
position.
A Key Release column is used with the manual
transaxle. A clutch start switch is used so that the
clutch pedal must be pushed down before the engine
will crank. See Electrical Diagnosis for circuit
operation.
SHIFT INDICATOR ADJUSTMENT
Fig. 1
Adjust
Steering column attachment should be complete.
Position shift lever in "N" (Neutral) gate notch.
Guide clip on edge of shift bowl to centrally
position pointer on "N" (Neutral)
3. Push clip onto bowl
Care must be taken to assure that cable rests on
bowl, not on column jacket.
3-Speed Automatic Transaxle - Pointer should
cover portions of the "P" (Park), "R" (Reverse), "N"
(Neutral) and "D" (Drive) when the shift lever is in its
respective position.