The steering wheel houses the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) Module and the horn contact assembly.
When the steering wheel is removed from the steering column, special care must be taken in handling.
The energy absorbing steering column includes two important features in addition to the steering function.
- The steering column is energy absorbing and is designed to compress in a front-end collision which will lessen the chance of injury to the driver.
- The multi-function lever provides for the control of the headlamp high beams, the cruise control and the windshield washer and wiper.
The steering column may be removed, disassembled and assembled with relative ease. It is important to use only the specified screws, bolts and nuts and to tighten them to the specified torque in order to ensure the proper energy absorbing functions. When the steering column assembly is removed from the vehicle, special care must be taken in handling. Using a steering wheel puller other than the one recommended in this manual, striking sharply on the end of the steering shaft lever, leaning on the assembly or dropping the assembly could shear off or loosen the plastic fasteners which maintain the steering column rigidity.
