Steering Column: Testing and Inspection

IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM

Will Not Unlock
^ Collapsed shear flange on sector shaft.
^ Damaged lock bolt.
^ Damaged lock cylinder.
^ Damaged housing.
^ Damaged sector or rack.
^ Damaged actuator rod.
^ Damaged ignition switch.
^ Damaged or incorrect key cut.
^ Shift lever not in PARK position.
^ Park lock cable incorrectly adjusted.
^ Park lock components damaged.

Will Not Lock
^ Broken or worn lock bolt spring.
^ Damaged sector.
^ Damaged lock cylinder;
^ Burr on lock bolt.
^ Damaged housing.
^ Damaged rack.
^ Interference between bowl and rack coupling.
^ Binding ignition switch.
^ Restricted actuator rod.
^ Sector installed incorrectly.
^ Shift lever not in PARK position.
^ Park lock cable incorrectly adjusted.
^ Park lock components damaged.

High Lock Effort
^ Damaged lock cylinder.
^ Damaged ignition switch.
^ Broken or deformed rack preload spring.
^ Burrs on sector, rack, housing, support or actuate rod coupling.
^ Bent sector shaft.
^ Damaged rack.
^ Extreme misalignment of housing to cover.
^ Distorted coupling slot in rack.
^ Damaged actuator rod.
^ Ignition switch mounting bracket bent.
^ Actuator rod restricted.
^ Damaged or incorrect key cut.
^ Park lock cable incorrectly adjusted.
^ Park lock components damaged.

Sticks in START
^ Deformed actuator rod.
^ Check items under High Lock Effort.

Key Cannot Be Removed in OFF-LOCK
^ Ignition switch not set correctly.
^ Damaged lock cylinder.
^ Improperly adjusted linkage.
^ Shift lever not in PARK position.

Lock Cylinder Can Be Removed
^ Missing lock cylinder retaining screw.

High Lock Cylinder Effort Between OFF And OFF-LOCK
^ Distorted rack.

Lock Bolt Hits Shift Lock In OFF Position and PARK
^ Ignition switch not set correctly.

STEERING COLUMN

Noise In Column
^ Loose intermediate shaft coupling pinch bolts.
^ Misaligned column.
^ Contact-ring not lubricated.
^ Lack of bearing lubrication.
^ Loose column components.
^ Worn or broken steering shaft bearings.
^ Shaft lock snap ring not seated.
^ Spherical joint not lubricated.
^ Dust seal rubbing column shaft coupling.
^ Worn or damaged contact ring or brushes.
^ Loose or improperly lubricated lock bolt.

High Steering Shaft Effort
^ Misaligned column.
^ Improperly installed or deformed dust seal.
^ Damaged upper or lower bearing.
^ Tight intermediate steering shaft universal joint.
^ Shroud rubbing on column cover.

Lash in Steering Column
^ Loose instrument panel-to-column upper and lower bracket mounting bolts.
^ Broken weld nuts on jacket.
^ Instrument Panel upper bracket capsule sheared.
^ Loose shoes in housing.
^ Loose tilt head pivot pins.
^ Loose shoe lock pin in support.
^ Loose support screws.
^ Loose column upper and lower bracket-to-jacket bolts.
^ Loose lower bracket-to-adapter and bearing assembly mounting screws.
^ Loose IP-to-jacket mounting bolts.

Steering Wheel Loose
^ Excessive clearance between holes in support or housing and pivot pin diameters.
^ Damaged or missing anti-lash spring in spheres.
^ Upper bearing not seated in housing.
^ Missing upper bearing inner race seal.
^ Loose support screws.
^ Missing or broken bearing preload spring.

Steering Wheel Loose Every Other Tilt Position
^ Loose fit between shoe and shoe pivot pin.
^ Shoe not free in slot.

Steering Column Not Locking In Any Tilt Position
^ Shoe seized on pivot pin.
^ Burrs or dirt in shoe grooves.
^ Weak or broken shoe lock spring.

Steering Wheel Fails To Return To Top Tilt Position
^ Binding pivot pins.
^ Broken or weak wheel tilt spring.
^ Turn signal switch wires too tight.

Noise When Tilting Column
^ Worn upper tilt bumpers.
^ Tilt spring rubbing in housing.

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH
This diagnosis covers mechanical problems only. Refer to Electrical Diagnosis for turn signal switch electrical troubleshooting.

Turn Signal Will Not Stay In Turn Position
^ Foreign material or loose parts impeding movement of yoke.
^ Broken or missing detent or canceling spring.

Turn Signal Will Not Cancel
^ Loose switch mounting screws.
^ Broken switch or anchor bosses.
^ Broken, missing, or out of position detent, return, or canceling spring.
^ Worn canceling cam.

Turn Signal Difficult to Operate
^ Turn signal lever screw loose.
^ Broken or distorted yoke. Replace switch.
^ Loose or mispositioned springs.
^ Interference caused by foreign material.
^ Loose turn signal switch mounting screws.

Turn Signal Will Not Indicate Lane Change
^ Broken lane change pressure pad or spring hanger.
^ Broken, missing, or mispositioned lane change spring.
^ Jammed base or wires.

IGNITION SWITCH

Electrical System Will Not Function
^ Damaged ignition switch.
^ Ignition switch not adjusted properly.
^ Loose connection at the ignition switch or column connectors.

Switch Cannot Be Set Correctly
^ Switch actuator rod deformed.
^ Sector engaged in wrong rack tooth.

KEY REMINDER

Reminder Continues to Operate with Key Out, But Stops When Driver's Door Closed

^ Foreign material in lock cylinder bore.
^ Sticking lock cylinder actuator tip.
^ Damaged or shorted reminder switch.

Reminder Does Not Sound with Key Fully Inserted in Lock Cylinder and Driver's Door Open

^ Power not available to reminder. Refer to Steering Controls "Diagnostic Aids" in Diagrams.
^ Open in chassis wiring:

Reminder Operates Continuously with Key in Lock Cylinder, Driver's Door Open Or Closed

^ Door jamb switch on driver's side misadjusted or inoperative.
^ Wire from signal switch to door jamb switch shorted.