2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 1999 Steering wheel/air bag removal ??

[continentaldrifter]

Did multiple searches and came up with nothing. Bought an oem steering wheel and need to replace my old worn out wheel. Are there any special instructions needed to do this without deploying the bag. Common sense tells me to remove both pos. and neg. cables but not too confident after that.



Anyone do this with some tips?? Thanx

 

[DavidC]

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE

The following procedure is for replacement of a

faulty or damaged driver side airbag module. If the

driver side airbag has been deployed, the clockspring

and the steering column assembly must also be

replaced. Refer to Clockspring in the Removal and

Installation section of this group for the additional

service procedures for the clockspring. Refer to

Steering Column in the Removal and Installation

section of Group 19 - Steering for the additional service

procedures for the steering column.

WARNING:

² THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COMPLEX

ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE

ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIRBAG

SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL,

STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS

YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE

THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE.

THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM

CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FURTHER SYSTEM

SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE

THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO THIS

COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT

AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

² WHEN REMOVING A DEPLOYED AIRBAG MODULE,

RUBBER GLOVES, EYE PROTECTION, AND A

LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT SHOULD BE WORN. THERE

MAY BE DEPOSITS ON THE AIRBAG MODULE AND

OTHER INTERIOR SURFACES. IN LARGE DOSES,

THESE DEPOSITS MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO THE

SKIN AND EYES.

REMOVAL

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable. If either of the airbags has not been deployed,

wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge

before further service.

(2) From the underside of the steering wheel,

remove the two screws that secure the driver side

airbag module to the steering wheel (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 Driver Side Airbag Module Remove/Install

Fig. 3 Vacuum Heater and A/C Outlets - Typical

BR/BE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS 8M - 7

SERVICE PROCEDURES (Continued)

(3) Pull the airbag module away from the steering

wheel far enough to access the two wire harness connectors

on the back of the airbag module.

(4) Disconnect the clockspring horn switch wire

harness connector from the horn switch feed wire

connector, which is located on the back of the airbag

module.

(5) The clockspring airbag wire harness connector

is a tight snap-fit into the airbag module connector

receptacle, which is located on the right side of the

housing on the back of the airbag module. Firmly

grasp and pull or gently pry on the clockspring airbag

wire harness connector to disconnect it from the

airbag module. Do not pull on the clockspring

wire harness to disengage the connector from

the airbag module connector receptacle.

(6) Remove the driver side airbag module from the

steering wheel.

(7) If the driver side airbag has been deployed, the

clockspring and the steering column must be

replaced. Refer to Clockspring in the Removal and

Installation section of this group for the clockspring

service procedures. Refer to Steering Column in the

Removal and Installation section of Group 19 - Steering

for the additional service procedures for the

steering column.

INSTALLATION

WARNING:

² USE EXTREME CARE TO PREVENT ANY FOREIGN

MATERIAL FROM ENTERING THE DRIVER

SIDE AIRBAG MODULE, OR BECOMING

ENTRAPPED BETWEEN THE AIRBAG CUSHION

AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG TRIM COVER.

FAILURE TO OBSERVE THIS WARNING COULD

RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES UPON AIRBAG

DEPLOYMENT.

² THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE TRIM

COVER MUST NEVER BE PAINTED. REPLACEMENT

TRIM COVERS ARE SERVICED IN THE ORIGINAL

COLORS. PAINT MAY CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH

THE MATERIAL OF THE TRIM COVER RESPONDS TO

AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. FAILURE TO OBSERVE

THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURIES

UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

(1) When installing the driver side airbag module,

reconnect the clockspring airbag wire harness connector

to the airbag module connector receptacle by

pressing straight in on the connector. You can be certain

that the connector is fully engaged by listening

carefully for a distinct audible click as the connector

snaps into place.

(2) Reconnect the clockspring horn switch wire

harness connector to the horn switch feed wire connector,

which is located on the back of the airbag

module.

(3) Carefully position the driver side airbag module

in the steering wheel. Be certain that the clockspring

wire harnesses in the steering wheel hub area

are not pinched between the airbag module and the

steering wheel.

(4) From the underside of the steering wheel,

install and tighten the two driver side airbag module

mounting screws. Tighten the screws to 10. 2 N·m (90

in. lbs. ).

(5) Do not reconnect the battery negative cable at

this time. Refer to Airbag System in the Diagnosis

and Testing section of this group for the proper procedures.

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE TRIM COVER

The horn switch is integral to the driver side airbag

module trim cover. If either component is faulty

or damaged, the entire driver side airbag module

trim cover and horn switch unit must be replaced.

WARNING:

² THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COMPLEX

ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE

ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIRBAG

SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL,

STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL

COMPONENTS YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT

AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND)

CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM

CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FURTHER

SYSTEM SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE

WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE

TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG

DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL

INJURY.

² THE HORN SWITCH IS INTEGRAL TO THE AIRBAG

MODULE TRIM COVER. SERVICE OF THIS COMPONENT

SHOULD BE PERFORMED ONLY BY

CHRYSLER-TRAINED AND AUTHORIZED DEALER

SERVICE TECHNICIANS. FAILURE TO TAKE THE

PROPER PRECAUTIONS OR TO FOLLOW THE

PROPER PROCEDURES COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL,

INCOMPLETE, OR IMPROPER AIRBAG

DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE OCCUPANT INJURIES.

REMOVAL

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative

cable. If either of the airbags has not been deployed,

wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge

before further service.

(2) Remove the driver side airbag module from the

steering wheel. Refer to Driver Side Airbag Module

in the Removal and Installation section of this

group for the procedures.

8M - 8 PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BR/BE

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

 

[BDaugherty]

What I've heard is that if you disconnect the batteries and let it sit overnight, the airbag capacitor will discharge making the chance of airbag deployment nearly zero. I've had mine apart several times I never did that.



Take the torx screws out of the back of the wheel. Lift the airbag and take the connectors loose. Mine had 2, I think. They may not come loose very easy, but you should be able to remove them by hand without too much hassle. If they won't come loose, take a break and let your hand rest ant then go back to it. This is the main time to be gentle.

Once the airbag is out of the way, remove the "Jesus nut" in the middle of the wheel. MARK the wheel and shaft in a way that allows you to reference the new wheel onto the shaft. Use a steering wheel puller to break the wheel loose from the shaft. If you don't have one, buy one. They're handy. I can't remember exactly how the clockspring goes on, but I think it's on top of the wheel with a little wire going to a connector on the column. You probably will have to remove that plastic panels around the column. This is less scary than the airbag, but much harder to do without breaking anything. There are several torx screws and a couple of "snap tabs". Now that you took the connector loose, remove the wheel and transfer everything to the new one. Take care to maintain clockspring orientation. Now put it all back roughly in reverse of how it came off. Make sure your new wheel is centered before torquing the nut.

 

[continentaldrifter]

thank you guys