Steering Wheel and Column Construction
Precautions: Precautions for Steering Wheel and Column · Precautions for Steering · General safety (00)
•The steering column is of a collapsible tube type. The column contracts in the event of a heavy frontal collision to absorb impact energy and thus helps reduce injuries to the driver. The steering column also has the following features:
—The steering column is provided with a telescopic and tilt adjustment mechanism. This mechanism allows step-less adjustment of the whole steering column in up-and-down and back-and-forth directions.
—The steering column incorporates a steering lock to help prevent theft. For ignition switch model, the ignition switch is installed on the steering column together with the steering lock.
—The steering column incorporates a steering lock to help prevent theft. For ignition switch model, the ignition switch is installed on the steering column together with the steering lock.
When servicing the steering column, it is important that only the specified fasteners are used and they are tightened exactly to specified torque to keep the collapsible steering column and other features fully workable. It is also important to carefully handle the steering column during and after its removal from the vehicle, such as preventing the use of a steering wheel puller and avoiding hammering the end of the steering shaft, leaning the removed steering column assembly against the wall or any other object, or dropping the assembly. These precautions should be observed to prevent the capsules that keep the designed length and position of the steering column from being loosened.
•The steering wheel has the driver air bag (inflator) module of the supplemental restraint (air bag) system installed at the center. During service operations on the steering wheel, the air bag (inflator) module should be handled carefully while observing all instructions in Precautions for Air Bag System Service to prevent accidental deployment.