Suzuki GRAND VITARA 2005 Service Manual page 479

Steering Wheel and Column: 6B-1
Steering Wheel and Column
General Description
Steering Wheel and Column Construction
S5JB0B6201001
This double tube type steering column has the following three important features in addition to the steering function:
• The column is energy absorbing, designed to compress in a front-end collision.
• The ignition switch and lock are mounted conveniently on this column.
• With the column mounted lock, the ignition and steering operations can be locked to inhibit theft of the vehicle.
To insure 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. When the column assembly (6) is removed from the
vehicle, special care must be taken in handling it. Use of a steering wheel puller or a sharp blow on the end of the
steering shaft, leaning on the assembly, or dropping the assembly could shear the plastic shear pins which maintain
column length and position.
The driver air bag (inflator) module is one of the supplemental restraint (air bag) system components and is mounted
to the center of the steering wheel (1). During certain frontal crashes, the air bag system supplements the restraint of
the driver's and passenger's seat belts by deploying the air bags. The air bag (inflator) module should be handled with
care to prevent accidental deployment. When servicing, be sure to observe "Precautions on Service and Diagnosis of
Air Bag System: in Section 8B in related manual".