- deformation or damage of the intermediate shaft, play in the cardan joint, damage to its terminal connections with the steering shaft and the steering gear shaft;
- deformation or damage of the steering shaft;
- damage to the splines connecting the shaft to the steering wheel hub;
- damage to the steering column adjustment mechanism.
You will need: a flat-blade screwdriver, 7, 11, and 12 mm heads.
1. Disconnect the wire from the negative terminal of the battery.
2. Remove the steering wheel (see "Removal and installation the steering wheel").
3. Remove the steering column cover (see "Removal and installation the steering column cover" P. 187);
4. Remove the steering column switches (see "Replacing steering column switches").
5. Pry it up with a screwdriver.
6. ...and remove the cover from the left end of the instrument panel, overcoming the elastic resistance of its clamps.
Helpful Hint: To avoid damaging the instrument panel trim surfaces, wrap the screwdriver in a cloth.
7. Remove one bolt of the upper mounting of the lower instrument panel trim, located under the cover.
8. Remove the two front bolts securing the lower instrument panel trim.
9. Overcoming the elastic resistance of the holders, move the lower trim away from the instrument panel.
10. Slide the lock.
11. ...and disconnect the wiring harness connector from the control unit for external lighting, headlight range control and instrument cluster lighting.
12. Remove the lower instrument panel trim.
13. Use a screwdriver to pry up and slide the airbag wiring harness connector retainer.
14. Disconnect the connector from the horn and airbag contact ring.
15. Disconnect the horn wire harness connector or contact ring.
16. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the immobilizer controller.
17. Slide the lock...
18. ...and disconnect the wiring harness block from the ignition switch (lock).
19. Press the clamps...
20. ...and remove the wiring harness bracket from the steering column housing.
21. Unscrew the clamp bolt of the lower universal joint clamp to the steering gear shaft and remove the joint from the steering gear shaft.
Helpful Hint: When removing the steering column, mark in any way possible the relative positions of the terminal connection of the lower cardan joint of the intermediate shaft and the steering gear shaft.
In addition, the splines of the steering gear shaft and the splines of the lower universal joint have chamfers that must be aligned during installation.
22. Unscrew the two nuts securing the left steering column bracket to the instrument panel amplifier.
23. Unscrew the two nuts securing the right-hand steering column bracket to the instrument panel amplifier.
24. Remove the steering column while simultaneously removing the lower joint from the steering gear shaft.
25. Remove four screws...
26. ...and remove the horn and airbag contact ring from the steering column.
27. Remove the immobilizer controller (see "Replacing the ignition switch (lock) contact group and immobilizer controller").
28. Remove the two screws securing the steering column paddle connector to the steering column...
29. ...and remove the connector.
30. Install the steering column, intermediate shaft and all removed parts in the reverse order of removal.
Caution: To avoid damaging the steering column when installing it, first tighten the two lower nuts securing the steering column bracket to the instrument panel reinforcement, then the two upper nuts.
Do not exceed the tightening torque of the steering column mounting nuts (in two stages: tighten to 22 Nm, then turn further by 45°), as this may adversely affect the ability of the steering column to fold in an accident.