Chrysler PT Cruiser 2001 Service Manual Supplement page 1167

19 - 36 STEERING
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
WARNING: WHEN HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED
AIR BAG MODULE DURING SERVICING OF THE
STEERING COLUMN, THE FOLLOWING PRECAU-
TIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED:
• AT NO TIME SHOULD ANY SOURCE OF ELEC-
TRICITY BE PERMITTED NEAR THE INFLATOR ON
THE BACK OF THE AIR BAG MODULE.
• WHEN CARRYING A LIVE MODULE, THE TRIM
COVER SHOULD BE POINTED AWAY FROM THE
BODY TO MINIMIZE INJURY IF THE MODULE
SHOULD ACCIDENTLY DEPLOY.
• IF THE AIR BAG MODULE IS PLACED ON A
BENCH OR OTHER
COVER SHOULD BE FACE-UP TO MINIMIZE MOVE-
MENT, IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT.
CAUTION: Safety goggles should be worn at all
times when working on steering columns.
CAUTION: Disconnect negative (ground) cable from
the battery, before servicing any column compo-
nent.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove the pivot pins
to disassemble the tilting mechanism. Damage will
occur.
STEERING COLUMN
NOTE: Before proceeding with this removal and
installation procedure, review SERVICE WARNINGS
AND CAUTIONS at the beginning of REMOVAL AND
INSTALLATION in this section.
REMOVAL
WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG MOD-
ULE IS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING
WHEEL, FIRST DISCONNECT
GROUND CABLE AND ISOLATE IT. ALLOW THE
SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE FOR A MINI-
MUM OF TWO MINUTES, THEN BEGIN THE AIRBAG
REMOVAL.
(1) Disconnect the negative (-) cable from the bat-
tery and isolate the cable.
(2) Before beginning removal of the steering col-
umn, be sure the front wheels of vehicle are in the
STRAIGHT-AHEAD position.
(3) Remove the ignition key from the ignition key
cylinder.
(4) Remove the silencer pad below the knee
blocker panel below the steering column.
SURFACE, THE PLASTIC
THE BATTERY
(5) Fold down and remove the knee blocker.
(6) Remove the two screws attaching the lower
shroud to the steering column and upper shroud (Fig.
3). After removing the screws, unclip the shrouds
from each other by applying hand pressure along the
seams where the shrouds connect on the sides, then
remove the lower shroud from the upper shroud and
column. Remove the upper shroud from the steering
column.
Fig. 3 Steering Column Shrouds
1 – UPPER SHROUD
2 – LOWER SHROUD
3 – MOUNTING SCREWS
(7) Use the following to properly remove the air
bag module from the column:
(a) Using a pair of 90° internal snap ring pliers
or equivalent, pry open the retaining clip (Fig. 4)
at the top rear of the steering wheel to release the
top retaining pin (Fig. 5). Pull or press rearward
on the airbag module while doing this. The pin will
disengage.
(b) Using a pair of 90° internal snap ring pliers
or equivalent, pry open the retaining clip (Fig. 6)
at the bottom rear of the steering wheel and at he
same time gently pry the pin away from the retain-
ing clip using a pocket screwdriver or equivalent,
so it can slide through the middle of the clip. Use
the screwdriver to push the pin through the clip.
(c) Pull the module outward enough to expose
the wire harness connections. Disconnect the two
harness connectors on the module (squib and horn
feed) (Fig. 7).
(d) Remove the airbag module from the vehicle.
(8) Disconnect the speed control switch wiring har-
ness connector (Fig. 7).
(9) Holding the steering wheel firmly in place,
remove the steering wheel retaining bolt from the
steering column shaft in the center of the steering
wheel (Fig. 7).
PT