Chrysler Stratus Convertible. Manual — part 43

Fig. 1 Steering Column

1 – INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLER
2 – INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
3 – LOWER STEERING COLUMN MOUNTING BRACKET
4 – TILT TORSION SPRING
5 – TILT LEVER
6 – IGNITION SWITCH

7 – SWITCH HOUSING
8 – TRIM RING
9 – LOCK CYLINDER HOUSING
10 – SHIPPING PIN
11 – STEERING COLUMN UPPER MOUNTING BRACKET
12 – INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FLEX JOINT

Fig. 2 Slap Coupler Intermediate Shaft

1 – INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
2 – STEERING GEAR SHAFT
3 – COUPLER
4 – BRAKE PEDAL
5 – PINCH BOLT
6 – NUT
7 – “E” CLIP

Fig. 3 Slider-Stage Intermediate Shaft

1 – INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
2 – PINCH BOLT

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STEERING

19 - 49

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

STEERING COLUMN

For diagnosis of conditions relating to the steering

column, refer to the STEERING SYSTEM DIAGNO-
SIS CHARTS in DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING in the
POWER STEERING section of this service manual
group.

STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT

The steering column intermediate shaft and its

flexible joint couplers (Fig. 1) must be inspected
whenever any of the following conditions exist:

• After the vehicle has been involved in a collision

which deploys the airbag, regardless of the extent of
damage done to the vehicle.

• After the vehicle has been involved in an under-

carriage impact which results in any type of damage
to the front suspension crossmember.

• Under any conditions which result in the steer-

ing column assembly or steering column shaft receiv-
ing a force great enough to move the steering column
or shaft forward of rearward in a vehicle.

Inspect the intermediate shaft and its flexible joint

couplers for any of the following conditions:

• seized or binding bearings

• loose bearing stakes

• bearings not fully seated in the coupler yoke

• bent intermediate shaft
Presence of any of the above faulty conditions call

for replacement of the entire steering column inter-
mediate shaft.

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

SERVICE WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS

WARNING: BEFORE

BEGINNING

ANY

SERVICE

PROCEDURES THAT INVOLVES REMOVING THE
AIR BAG. REMOVE AND ISOLATE THE NEGATIVE
(-) BATTERY CABLE (GROUND) FROM THE VEHI-
CLE 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.

WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE,
COMPLEX ELECTRO-MECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE, REMOVE OR INSTALL
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS YOU MUST
FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY
NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. FAILURE TO DO SO
COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT OF
THE AIR BAG AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
THE FASTENERS, SCREWS, AND BOLTS, ORIGI-
NALLY USED FOR THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS,
HAVE SPECIAL COATINGS AND ARE SPECIFI-
CALLY DESIGNED FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM.
THEY MUST NEVER BE REPLACED WITH ANY SUB-
STITUTES.

ANYTIME

A

NEW

FASTENER

IS

NEEDED, REPLACE WITH THE CORRECT FASTEN-
ERS PROVIDED IN THE SERVICE PACKAGE OR
FASTENERS

LISTED

IN

THE

PARTS

BOOKS.

BEFORE

SERVICING

A

STEERING

COLUMN

EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR BAG, REFER TO GROUP
8M, ELECTRICAL FOR PROPER AND SAFE SER-
VICE PROCEDURES.

WARNING: 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
component.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove the pivot pins
to disassemble the tilting mechanism. Damage will
occur.

STEERING COLUMN

WARNING: SAFETY GOGGLES SHOULD BE WORN
AT ALL TIMES WHEN WORKING ON STEERING
COLUMNS.

REMOVAL

(1) Remove remote ground cable (Fig. 4) from

ground stud on shock tower. Then correctly isolate
ground cable from vehicle by installing isolator on
stud (Fig. 5).

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STEERING

JX

(2)

Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before

starting to remove airbag from steering wheel.
This will allow the airbag system capacitor to
de-energize.

(3) Before beginning removal of steering column

assembly from vehicle, be sure front wheels of vehicle
are in the STRAIGHT AHEAD position.

(4) Remove fuse panel cover from left end of

instrument panel (Fig. 6). Then remove the screw
behind fuse panel cover, attaching the instrument
panel top cover (Fig. 6).

NOTE: When removing the center bezel, only use a
soft tool such as a trim stick (Fig. 7) to pry the cen-
ter bezel from the dash panel. Use of a hard tool
will damage dash panel.

(5) Remove center bezel surrounding radio and cli-

mate control panel from top cover of dash panel
(Fig. 7).

(6) Remove the 3 screws attaching the top cover to

the dash panel (Fig. 8).

(7) Remove the top cover from the dash panel.

Removal of the top cover is required to gain access to

Fig. 4 Remote Ground Cable At Shock Tower

1 – SPEED CONTROL SERVO
2 – LEFT STRUT TOWER
3 – GROUND STUD
4 – AIR CLEANER
5 – REMOTE GROUND CABLE
6 – MASTER CYLINDER

Fig. 5 Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable

1 – LEFT STRUT TOWER
2 – GROUND STUD

Fig. 6 Instrument Panel Top Cover Attaching Screw

1 – FUSE PANEL COVER
2 – TOP COVER SCREW

Fig. 7 Center Bezel

1 – RADIO
2 – DASH PANEL
3 – CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL
4 – CENTER BEZEL
5 – TRIM STICK

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STEERING

19 - 51

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

the screws (Fig. 9) attaching the top of the knee bol-
ster to the dash panel.

(8) Remove screws attaching the knee bolster to

the instrument panel (Fig. 9).

WARNING: WHEN

AN

UNDEPLOYED

AIRBAG

ASSEMBLY IS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STEER-
ING

WHEEL,

DISCONNECT

BATTERY

GROUND

CABLE AND ISOLATE. ALLOW SYSTEM CAPACI-
TOR TO DISCHARGE FOR TWO MINUTES, THEN
BEGIN AIRBAG REMOVAL.

(9) Remove the speed control switches (Fig. 10)

from the steering wheel. The speed control switches
are mounted to the steering wheel using 2 mounting
screws in the side of each speed control switch
(Fig. 10).

(10) Remove both speed control switches from the

wiring harness in the steering wheel.

WARNING: WHEN

HANDLING AN

UNDEPLOYED

AIRBAG MODULE DURING SERVICING OF THE
STEERING COLUMN THE FOLLOWING PRECAU-
TIONS

SHOULD

BE

OBSERVED. AT

NO

TIME

SHOULD ANY SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY BE PER-
MITTED NEAR THE INFLATOR ON THE BACK OF
THE AIRBAG MODULE. WHEN CARRYING A LIVE
MODULE, THE TRIM COVER SHOULD BE POINTED
AWAY FROM THE BODY TO MINIMIZE INJURY IF
MODULE ACCIDENTLY DEPLOYS. IF AIRBAG MOD-
ULE IS PLACED ON A BENCH OR OTHER SUR-
FACE, PLASTIC COVER SHOULD BE FACE UP TO
MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL
DEPLOYMENT.

Fig. 8 Instrument Panel Top Cover Attaching Screws

1 – TOP COVER SCREWS

Fig. 9 Knee Bolster Attaching Screw Locations

1 – KNEE BOLSTER SCREW LOCATIONS UNDER TOP COVER
2 – LOWER SCREW LOCATIONS

Fig. 10 Speed Control Switches

1 – STEERING WHEEL
2 – SPEED CONTROL SWITCHES
3 – AIRBAG
4 – MOUNTING SCREWS

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STEERING

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)