Service Procedure
WARNING: BEFORE BEGINNING STEERING WHEEL REMOVAL, COMPLETE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ISOLATION PROCEDURES. REMOVE AND ISOLATE THE NEGATIVE (-) BATTERY CABLE (GROUND) FROM THE VEHICLE BATTERY. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
1. Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position before starting the repair.
2. With the ignition key in the OFF position, disconnect the battery ground cable and isolate it.
3. Allow the system capacitor to discharge for two minutes, then begin the Air Bag removal.
FIGURE 1:
4. Using tool # 6239, remove the 4 tamper-resistant nuts attaching the air bag module from the back side of the steering wheel (Figure 1).
5. Lift the module and disconnect the connector.
6. Remove the module. NOTE: WHEN HANDLING A LIVE MODULE, AT NO TIME SHOULD ANY SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY BE PERMITTED NEAR THE INFLATOR ON THE BACK OF THE MODULE. PLACE THE REMOVED MODULE WITH THE TRIM. COVER FACE UP TO MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT.
FIGURE 2:
7. Remove the clockspring set screw from its storage location on the steering wheel, and place it in the clockspring to insure clockspring positioning. The screw is on a plastic tether. Do not remove the tether, (Figure 2).
8. Disconnect the horn wire lead, remove the steering wheel retaining nut and remove the damper assembly.
9. Remove the steering wheel with Tool # C3428B.
10. Remove the back cover and both horn buttons from the removed steering wheel and attach them to the supplied wheel.
11. Tighten the four back cover attaching screws to 15 in.lbs. (2 N-m) torque.
12. Position the steering wheel on the steering column, making sure to fit the flats on the hub of the steering wheel with the formations on the inside of the clockspring. Pull the clockspring wire through the lower, larger hole in the steering wheel, and the horn wire through the smaller hole at the top (Figure 2).
Be sure not to pinch the wires.
13. Install the damper assembly and the steering wheel retaining nut, and tighten the nut to 45 ft.lbs. (60 N-m) torque.
14. Remove the clockspring set screw from the clockspring, and install the screw into its steering wheel storage location.
15. Connect the horn wiring lead.
16. Connect the clockspring lead wire to the air bag module. Secure the module to the steering wheel. The clockspring wire will "snap" when a proper connection is made to the air bag module.
17. Attach the module to the wheel by installing the 4 tamper-resistant nuts using tool # 6239 and tighten them to 100 in.lbs. (11 N-m) torque.
WARNING: DO NOT RECONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS CHECK AS DESCRIBED
BELOW.
18. Connect a DRB II to the Air bag System Diagnostics Module (ASDM) diagnostic 6-way connector located behind the right kick panel.
19. From the passenger side of the vehicle, turn the ignition key to the ON position.
Exit the vehicle with the DRB II.
20. After checking that no one is inside the vehicle, reconnect the negative battery terminal.
21. Using the DRB II, read and record any active fault code data.
22. Read and record any stored fault codes.
23. Refer to the Diagnostic Test Manual if any fault codes are found in the two previous steps.
24. Erase the stored fault codes. If problems remain, the active fault codes will not erase.
25. With the ignition key still in the ON position, make sure no one is in the vehicle.
26. From the passenger side of the vehicle, turn the ignition key to OFF then ON and observe the instrument cluster air bag light. It should go on for 6 to 8 seconds, and then go out, indicating that the system is functioning normally.
NOTE: IF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT EITHER FAILS TO LIGHT, OR GOES ON AND STAYS ON, THERE IS A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. REFER TO THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST MANUAL TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.