Dodge 2000 DURANGO Service Manual page 437

DN
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)
CLOCKSPRING
The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be
replaced if faulty or damaged, or if the driver side
airbag has been deployed.
WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE,
COMPLEX ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIR-
BAG SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL,
STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL
COMPONENTS YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT
AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND)
CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FUR-
THER SYSTEM SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE
WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE
TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
REMOVAL
NOTE: Before starting this procedure, be certain to
turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in
the straight-ahead position.
(1) Place the front wheels in the straight-ahead
position.
(2) Remove the driver side airbag module from the
steering wheel. Refer to Driver Side Airbag Mod-
ule in the Removal and Installation section of this
group for the procedures.
(3) If the vehicle is so equipped, disconnect the
upper clockspring wire harness connectors from the
vehicle speed control switches and the remote radio
switches located within the hub cavity of the steering
wheel.
(4) Remove the nut that secures the steering wheel
armature to the steering column upper shaft, which
is located within the hub cavity of the steering wheel.
(5) Pull the steering wheel off of the steering col-
umn upper shaft spline using a steering wheel puller
(Special Tool C-3428-B).
(6) Remove the steering column opening cover
from the instrument panel. Refer to Steering Col-
umn Opening Cover in the Removal and Installa-
tion section of Group 8E - Instrument Panel Systems
for the procedures.
(7) If the vehicle is so equipped, unscrew the lever
from the tilt steering column adjuster mechanism
located on the left side of the column just below the
multi-function switch stalk. Turn the lever counter
clockwise to unscrew it from the column.
(8) Remove both the upper and lower shrouds from
the steering column (Fig. 13).
PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
Fig. 13 Steering Column Shrouds Remove/Install -
1 – NUT
2 – TILT LEVER
3 – UPPER SHROUD
4 – LOWER SHROUD
5 – SCREWS
6 – CLOCK SPRING
7 – STEERING WHEEL
(9) Remove the lower fixed column shroud from
the steering column.
(10) Remove the two tamper proof mounting
screws (a Snap On tamper proof Torx bit TTXR20B2
or equivalent is required) that secure the multi-func-
tion switch to the left side of the steering column
lock housing.
(11) Gently pull the multi-function switch away
from the left side of the steering column lock housing
far enough to access the side latch of the clockspring
assembly (Fig. 14).
(12) Disconnect the instrument panel wire harness
connector from the lower clockspring connector recep-
tacle.
(13) Disconnect the lower clockspring wire harness
connector from the instrument panel wire harness,
located on the instrument panel lower reinforcement
below the steering column.
CAUTION: Failure to disengage the plastic latches
of the clockspring from the receptacles in the steer-
ing column lock housing prior to clockspring
removal will result in damage to the clockspring
latches.
Typical
8M - 13