Observe Cautions - Dodge 2001 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual

BR/BE
COLUMN (Continued)
WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE,
COMPLEX ELECTRO-MECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE, REMOVE OR INSTALL
THE AIRBAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS YOU MUST
FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY
NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO
MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DIS-
CHARGE. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN
ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG AND
POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY. THE FASTENERS,
SCREWS, AND BOLTS, ORIGINALLY USED FOR
THE AIRBAG COMPONENTS, HAVE SPECIAL COAT-
INGS AND ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE
AIRBAG SYSTEM.
REPLACED WITH ANY SUBSTITUTES. ANYTIME A
NEW FASTENER IS NEEDED, REPLACE WITH THE
CORRECT FASTENERS PROVIDED IN THE SERVICE
PACKAGE OR FASTENERS LISTED IN THE PARTS
BOOKS.
CAUTION: Do not hammer on steering column shaft
or shift tube. This may cause the shaft/shift tube to
collapse or damage the bearing.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove the pivot pins
to disassemble the tilting mechanism. Do not
remove shaft lock plate, plate retainer, park lock
link or slider. This will damage the column (Fig. 2)
and (Fig. 3) .
Fig. 2 Observe Cautions
1 - CAUTION: NEVER REMOVE IGNITION LOCKING LINK
2 - CAUTION: NEVER REMOVE PARK LOCK SLIDER
3 - CAUTION: NEVER REMOVE SHAFT LOCK PLATE
REMOVAL
(1) Position the front wheels straight ahead.
(2) Disconnect the negative (ground) cable from
the battery.
THEY MUST NEVER BE
Fig. 3 Observe Cautions
1 - CAUTION: NEVER REMOVE SHAFT LOCK PLATE RETAINER
(3) Remove the airbag, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
RESTRAINTS/DRIVER AIRBAG - REMOVAL).
(4) Remove the steering wheel with an appropriate
puller,(Refer to 19 - STEERING/COLUMN/STEER-
ING WHEEL - REMOVAL).
CAUTION: Ensure the puller bolts are fully engaged
into the steering wheel and not into the clock-
spring, before attempting to remove the wheel. Fail-
ure to do so may damage the steering wheel.
(5) Remove the shift link rod in the engine com-
partment (if equipped). Pry the rod out from the
grommet in the shift lever.
(6) Scribe or paint reference mark on the column
shaft-to-coupler. This will aid in column shaft instal-
lation alignment. Remove the steering column shaft-
to-coupler bolt (Fig. 4).
(7) Remove the steering column opening cover/
knee blocker, (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT
PANEL/STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER -
REMOVAL).
(8) Remove the PRNDL cable on column shift vehi-
cles. Put the shift lever in Park position. Pull the
cable and twist to remove from the position arm.
Push the tab up on bottom of the cable retainer, then
squeeze sides to remove retainer from the column
(Fig. 5).
(9) Remove the tilt lever (if equipped) from the col-
umn.
(10) Remove the upper and lower lock housing
shroud and remove the lower fixed shroud.
(11) Remove the turn signal multi-function switch
connector with a 7mm socket (Fig. 6).
(12) Loosen the upper Support Bracket nuts to
allow some slack. This will aid in removal of the
upper fixed shroud.
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