Chrysler Sebring, Stratus sedan, Sebring Convertible. Manual — part 553

WARNING: WHEN AN UNDEPLOYED AIRBAG IS TO
BE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, DIS-
CONNECT BATTERY GROUND CABLE AND ISO-
LATE.

ALLOW

SYSTEM

CAPACITOR

TO

DISCHARGE FOR TWO MINUTES, THEN BEGIN AIR-
BAG REMOVAL.

(2) Wait for a minimum of 2 minutes before start-

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

(3) Remove fuse panel cover from left end of

instrument panel.

(4) Remove center bezel surrounding radio and cli-

mate control panel.

(5) Remove screw attaching bezel to instrument

panel behind climate control panel. Remove bezel.

(6) Remove

outside

mirror

switch

bezel

from

instrument panel.

(7) Remove silencer panel below steering column

knee bolster.

(8) Remove

screws

attaching

knee

bolster

to

instrument panel.

(9) Lower knee bolster and disconnect connectors

from rear, then remove bolster.

(10) Position

front

wheels

of

vehicle

in

the

straight-ahead position.

(11) Remove speed control switches (Fig. 3) from

steering wheel. Speed control switches are mounted
to steering wheel by screws (one screw, each switch)
which are accessible from back side of steering
wheel. Disconnect wire connector from each switch.

WARNING: WHEN HANDLING AN UNDEPLOYED
AIRBAG DURING SERVICING OF THE STEERING
COLUMN

THE

FOLLOWING

PRECAUTIONS

SHOULD BE OBSERVED. AT NO TIME SHOULD
ANY SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY BE PERMITTED

NEAR THE INFLATOR ON THE BACK OF THE AIR-
BAG 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 MODULE IS
PLACED ON A BENCH OR OTHER SURFACE, PLAS-
TIC COVER SHOULD BE FACE UP TO MINIMIZE
MOVEMENT IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL DEPLOY-
MENT.

(12) Remove 2 bolts attaching driver airbag to

steering wheel (Fig. 4).

(13) Lift driver airbag from steering wheel and dis-

connect electrical connectors from back of driver air-
bag (Fig. 5). Connectors are removed by compressing
latches on sides of connectors and pulling them
straight out of airbag. Do not twist the connectors
when removing them from airbag.

Fig. 2 Correctly Isolated Remote Ground Cable

1 - LEFT STRUT TOWER
2 - GROUND STUD

Fig. 3 Speed Control Switches

1 - STEERING WHEEL
2 - SPEED CONTROL SWITCHES

Fig. 4 Airbag Attaching Bolts

1 - AIRBAG
2 - STEERING WHEEL
3 - MOUNTING SCREWS

JR

COLUMN

19 - 11

COLUMN (Continued)

(14) Remove driver airbag.
(15) If

equipped

with

remote

audio

control

switches, disconnect 4–way connector between clock-
spring and steering wheel wiring harness (Fig. 6).

NOTE: Before removing steering wheel, verify front
wheels and steering wheel are in staight-ahead
position.

(16) Unscrew steering wheel retaining bolt (Fig. 7)

almost all the way out (approximately 15 mm). Do
not completely remove bolt.

CAUTION: When installing the wheel puller on the
steering wheel, be sure puller bolts are hand
threaded

no

more

than

5

revolutions

in

the

threaded holes of the steering wheel. Avoid contact
between the bolts and the face of the clockspring,
otherwise damage to the clockspring may result.

(17) Install puller on steering wheel as shown (Fig.

8).

CAUTION: Do not bump or hammer on steering
wheel or steering column shaft when removing
steering wheel from steering column.

(18) While holding steering wheel firmly in the

straight-ahead position, loosen steering wheel from
steering column shaft using wheel puller.

(19) Remove puller from steering wheel, then

remove steering wheel retaining bolt and steering
wheel.

Fig. 5 Airbag Electrical Connections

1 - HORN CONNECTOR
2 - DRIVER AIRBAG
3 - AIRBAG SQUIB CONNECTORS

Fig. 6 Remote Audio Switches Connector (If

Equipped)

1 - AUDIO SWITCHES CONNECTOR
2 - STEERING WHEEL

Fig. 7 Steering Wheel And Shroud Mounting

1 - UPPER SHROUD
2 - BOLT
3 - STEERING WHEEL
4 - LOWER SHROUD

Fig. 8 Puller Installed On Steering Wheel

1 - STEERING WHEEL PULLER
2 - STEERING WHEEL

19 - 12

COLUMN

JR

COLUMN (Continued)

(20) Remove 2 screws attaching upper and lower

shrouds to steering column (Fig. 7). First remove
upper shroud from steering column by pressing
inward on upper shroud just above the parting line
while pulling upper and lower shrouds apart. Next,
release tilt lever and tilt steering column to its high-
est point. Then remove lower shroud from steering
column.

(21) Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from

the clockspring (Fig. 9).

(22) Remove the 3 wiring harness connectors from

the back of the ignition switch (Fig. 10).

(23) If equipped, disconnect SKIM connector.
(24) Remove the 2 wiring harness connectors from

the multi-function switch (Fig. 10) (Fig. 11).

(25) If vehicle is equipped with an automatic

transaxle, rotate the key cylinder to the ON position.
Depress locking tab on shifter/ignition interlock cable
(Fig. 12) and remove the cable from the key lock
housing.

(26) Under the instrument panel, disconnect the

intermediate shaft from the steering gear shaft. To
do so, remove the pinch bolt from the intermediate
shaft coupler (Fig. 13), then slide the intermediate
shaft up and off the steering gear shaft.

(27) Remove the 2 upper steering column mount-

ing bracket-to-support bracket nuts. Then remove the
2 lower steering column mounting bracket-to-support
bracket nuts (Fig. 14).

Fig. 9 Wiring Harness Connection To Clock Spring

1 - CLOCK SPRING
2 - WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS

Fig. 10 Wiring Harness Connections To Ignition And

Multi-Function Switch

1 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH
2 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR
3 - IGNITION SWITCH

Fig. 11 Wiring Harness Connection To Multi-

Function Switch

1 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR
2 - MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH

Fig. 12 Shifter/Ignition Cable At Lock Cylinder

Housing

1 - KEY CYLINDER
2 - LOCKING TAB
3 - SHIFTER IGNITION INTERLOCK CABLE
4 - KEY LOCK HOUSING

JR

COLUMN

19 - 13

COLUMN (Continued)

(28) Remove steering column and intermediate

shaft from vehicle passenger compartment. Use care
to avoid damaging column harness or interior trim.

(29) If steering column is being replaced, perform

the following:

(a) Remove intermediate shaft. (Refer to 19 -

STEERING/COLUMN/INTERMEDIATE SHAFT -
REMOVAL)

(b) Remove SKIM.
(c) Remove halo ring from around key/lock cylin-

der.

(d) Remove key cylinder.
(e) Remove multi-function switch.
(f) Remove ignition switch (if required).

INSTALLATION - STEERING COLUMN

(1) If steering column is being replaced, perform

following:

(a) Install ignition switch (if required).
(b) Install multi-function switch.
(c) Install key cylinder.
(d) Install halo ring from around key/lock cylin-

der.

(e) Install SKIM.
(f) Install intermediate shaft. (Refer to 19 -

STEERING/COLUMN/INTERMEDIATE SHAFT -
INSTALLATION)
(2) Install steering column on studs in steering col-

umn support bracket (Fig. 14). Loosely install 4
steering column assembly attaching nuts.

(3) Tighten 2 lower steering column assembly

mounting nuts to hold steering column in place. Be
sure both break-away capsules are still fully seated
in slots of upper steering column mounting bracket
and mounting studs are centered fore-and-aft in plas-
tic capsules. Then equally tighten both steering col-
umn mounting nuts, until upper steering column
mounting bracket is seated against support bracket.
Tighten 4 steering column bracket to support bracket
nuts to 17 N·m (150 in. lbs.).

(4) If a new steering column is being installed in

vehicle, remove shipping (grenade) pin (if equipped)
from steering column.

(5) Ensure front wheels of vehicle are positioned

straight-ahead, and steering wheel master serra-
tion in steering column shaft is positioned at 12
O’clock.

(6) Under instrument panel, reconnect intermedi-

ate shaft to steering gear shaft. To do so, align flats
and slide intermediate shaft onto steering gear shaft
aligning pinch bolt hole with notch formed into steer-
ing gear shaft. Install a new pinch bolt in interme-
diate shaft coupler (Fig. 13), then tighten pinch bolt
to a torque of 44 N·m (32 ft. lbs.).

Fig. 13 Intermediate Shaft Attachment

1 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
2 - PINCH BOLT

Fig. 14 Steering Column And Intermediate Shaft

1 - INSTRUMENT PANEL
2 - STEERING COLUMN
3 - INTERMEDIATE SHAFT

19 - 14

COLUMN

JR

COLUMN (Continued)