(1) Disconnect negative (-) cable from battery and
isolate it.
(2) Remove lower instrument panel steering column
cover. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/
STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER -
REMOVAL)
(3) Remove three screws securing driver airbag to
steering wheel (Fig. 1).
(4) Tip driver airbag outward, then disconnect two
squib wiring connectors and horn wiring connector.
Remove driver airbag.
(5) Remove squib wiring routing clips from steering
wheel (Fig. 1).
(6) Place front wheels of vehicle in STRAIGHTAHEAD
position.
(7) Remove ignition key from ignition key cylinder.
(8) Holding steering wheel firmly in place, remove
steering wheel retaining bolt from steering column
shaft in center of steering wheel (Fig. 2).
CAUTION: When installing a wheel puller on the
steering wheel, be sure the puller bolts are fully
seated in the threaded holes on the steering wheel.
If the bolts are not fully seated in the threaded
holes, the threads may be stripped out of the steering
wheel when attempting to remove the steering
wheel. Take care not to over-thread the puller bolts
such that they contact the clockspring possibly
damaging it.
Also, threading the retaining bolt back in the end of
the shaft until approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.) of
thread is showing between the wheel and the head
of the bolt allows a safe reaction surface for the
puller to work against.
(9) Thread wheel retaining bolt back into end of
steering shaft until approximately 13 mm (0.5 in.) of
thread is showing between wheel and head of bolt.
(10) Install steering wheel puller on steering
wheel.
CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering
wheel or steering column shaft when removing
steering wheel from steering column.
(11) While holding steering wheel firmly in
STRAIGHT-AHEAD position, remove steering wheel
from steering column shaft using puller. Remove
puller, wheel retaining bolt and steering wheel.
(12) Remove two screws attaching lower shroud to
steering column and upper shroud (Fig. 2). After
removing screws, unclip the shrouds from one
another by applying hand pressure along seams
where shrouds connect, then remove lower shroud
from upper shroud and column.
