1988 JEEP CHEROKEE ignition

* The lock inhibitor assembly consists of a lever that engages
lock levers (preventing locking of steering shaft), a button
to operate lever and a return spring. Assembly is attached to
lock housing in same location as shift gate is on column
shift. Lower steering shaft bearing is mounted in an aluminum
support.
* A spring is attached between shift housing and column jacket.
This spring keeps housing rotated counterclockwise against
rubber bumper.
OVERHAUL
STANDARD COLUMN
NOTE: All columns are similar except for appearance of covers.
Some models use ignition key light, while others do not.
Disassembly and reassembly procedures cover all models. Some
procedures may not apply to every steering column.
Disassembly
1) Pry out wiring trough retainers. Lift off trough. New
retainers may be required for reassembly. Use masking tape to protect
paint and a deep socket to back-up housing. Drive retaining roll pin
out with a punch to remove shift lever.
2) Remove breakaway capsules. Secure column in vise by
clamping at column bracket. DO NOT distort column. Remove turn signal
lever cover-to-lock housing attaching screws. Remove cover. Remove
wiper/washer switch assembly. Pull switch cover up wiper/washer lever.
Remove lever sleeve-to-switch attaching screws.
3) Rotate wiper/washer shaft to full clockwise position.
Remove shaft from switch. Remove turn signal switch and upper bearing
retaining screws. Remove retainer. Lift switch upward out of way.
Unclip horn ground wire. Remove ignition key light retaining screw.
Lift ignition key light out of way.
4) Remove bearing housing-to-lock attaching screws. Remove
snap ring from upper end of steering shaft. Remove bearing housing
from shaft. Remove lock plate spring and lock plate from shaft. Remove
shaft through lower end of column.
5) Remove ignition key. Remove warning switch retaining
screw. Lift out key warning switch. Remove 2 ignition switch-to-column
jacket retaining screws. See Fig. 2. Remove ignition switch by
rotating switch 90 degrees on actuator rod. Remove 2 dimmer switch
retaining screws. Disengage dimmer switch from rod.

Fig. 2: Removing Ignition Switch
6) Remove bellcrank mounting screws. Slide bellcrank up in
housing until it can be disconnected from ignition switch rod. Using
key, place cylinder in "LOCK" position. Remove key.
7) Using a small diameter screwdriver or similar tool, push
inward to release spring-loaded lock retainer while pulling lock
cylinder from housing bore. Pull lock lever and spring assembly out of
housing as an assembly.
8) Remove 4 lock housing-to-column jacket retaining screws.
Remove housing from jacket. On A/T models, loosen shift tube set screw
in shaft housing. On all models, using Shift Tube Remover (J-23072 for
Jeep), remove tube through lower end of jacket. See
Fig. 3.
9) To disassemble flexible coupling, remove 4 bolts and 2
cross straps. Remove flexible coupling. "Pot" coupling is removed by
prying cover tangs from coupling body and lifting seal and cover from
body. Drive dowel pin down into coupling. Discard "Pot" coupling. Pull
body off shaft and shoe assembly.

Fig. 6: Assembling Lock Lever & Spring Assembly
Fig. 7: Installing Lock Lever & Spring Assembly
6) Install ignition switch actuator rod from bottom through
oblong hole in lock housing. Attach rod to bellcrank. Position
bellcrank assembly into lock housing while pulling ignition switch and

rod down column. Install bellcrank onto its mounting surface.
Gearshift lever should be in "PARK" position.
7) Place ignition switch on actuator rod. Rotate switch 90
degrees to lock rod into position. Install ignition lock by turning
key to "LOCK" position. Remove key. Insert cylinder into housing far
enough to contact switch actuator. Insert key. Press inward. Rotate
cylinder.
8) When parts align, cylinder will move inward and spring
loaded retainers will snap into place, locking cylinder in housing.
With cylinder and ignition switch in "LOCK" position, tighten ignition
switch mounting screws.
9) Feed key warning switch wires behind wiring post and down
through space between housing and jacket. Remove ignition key.
Position cylinder in housing. Tighten mounting screws. Install lower
bearing support (floor shift), bearing and spring on steering shaft.
10) Install and lubricate rubber "O" ring in lower groove on
upper end of steering shaft. Insert steering shaft assembly into
column assembly. Press upper bearing into upper bearing housing.
Bearing must be fully seated.
11) Push up on steering shaft to compress bearing and spring.
Hold shaft in this position until snap ring is installed. Install lock
plate on steering shaft. Install upper bearing spring. Install upper
bearing housing with bearing previously installed. Tighten bearing
housing retaining screws to 35 INCH lbs (4 N.m).
12) Install upper bearing snap ring on steering shaft,
locking assembly into position. Install 4 screws attaching bearing
housing to lock housing. Install ignition key lamp assembly in bearing
housing. Install turn signal switch in bearing housing.
13) Feed turn signal switch and ignition key lamp wires
through opening between bearing housing and lock housing and down
along bottom of jacket. Install bearing retainer plate. Tighten
screws. Ensure that ground wires from turn signal switch are
positioned toward ground clips before tightening.
14) Assemble wiper switch, shaft, cover or speed control
switch, switch cover and knob. Place wiper/washer switch assembly into
lock housing, feeding wires through lock housing. Fasten wires to turn
signal switch. Install dimmer switch rod and dimmer switch.
15) Install turn signal lever cover. Install breakaway
capsules. Install wiring trough in place, being careful not to pinch
wires. Install new retainers (if necessary).

1) Remove lower bracket assembly-to-lower bearing support
bolts. On column shift models, remove shift housing cover. On floor
shift models, unsnap and remove shroud extensions. Remove wiring
protector from column jacket.
2) Mount column in vise at capsule bracket. Mount Holding
Fixture (C-4132) onto column. Mount holding fixture and column in
vise.
3) Remove tilt lever. To remove hazard warning knob, push in
knob while unscrewing. Remove ignition key light assembly. Pull knob
off wiper/washer switch assembly. Pull hider up switch lever. Remove 2
sleeve-to-wiper/washer switch retaining screws. Remove sleeve.
4) Rotate shaft in wiper switch fully clockwise. Remove shaft
by pulling straight out of wiper/washer switch. Carefully remove
plastic cover from lock plate. Using Lock Plate Depressor (J-23653-A
for Jeep), depress lock plate. Pry retaining ring from groove.
5) Remove lock plate, canceling cam and upper bearing plate.
Remove switch actuator screw and arm. Remove 3 turn signal switch
attaching screws. Place shift bowl in "LOW" position. Wrap a piece of
tape around wires to prevent snagging when removing switch. Remove
switch and wiring.
6) Remove key light. Place lock cylinder in "LOCK" position.
Insert a small screwdriver into slot next to switch mounting screw
boss. Depress spring latch at bottom of slot. Remove lock.
7) Using a paper clip, remove key warning switch. Bend one
end of clip into a hook. Insert hook into exposed loop of wedge
spring. Pull clip. Remove spring and switch. DO NOT allow spring to
fall into steering column.
8) Remove 3 housing cover screws. Remove housing cover.
Remove wiper/washer switch. Using a punch, press out wiper switch
pivot pin (if necessary). Tilt lever opening shield and dimmer switch
actuator rod may be removed from cap (if necessary).
9) Place column in fully upright position. Using a large
Phillips screwdriver, remove tilt spring retainer. Insert screwdriver
in opening. Push in approximately 3/16". Turn approximately 1/8 turn
clockwise until ears align with grooves in housing. Remove spring and
guide.
10) Remove dimmer switch mounting screws. Remove dimmer
switch. Separate dimmer switch from rod by pulling on rod. Push upper
steering shaft in far enough to remove steering shaft inner race seat
and inner race. With ignition switch in "ACC" position, remove
ignition switch mounting screws and switch. Place Pivot Pin Remover
(J-21854-01 for Jeep) over pivot pin. Thread small portion of screw
firmly into pin.
11) Hold screw from turning with one wrench while turning nut
clockwise with a second wrench to withdraw pivot pin from support.
Remove opposite pivot pin in same manner. Use tilt release lever to
disengage lock shoes. Remove bearing housing assembly by pulling
upward to extend rack fully.
12) Move housing assembly left to disengage rack from
actuator. Rotate housing clockwise to free dimmer switch actuator rod.
Remove activator assembly. Remove coupling from lower end of steering
shaft. Double coupling is retained to shaft with a roll pin. Remove
shaft assembly from upper end.
CAUTION: DO NOT drop or bump steering shaft as plastic pins may shear.
13) Disassemble steering shaft assembly by removing center
spheres and anti-lash springs. See Fig. 9. Remove 4 bolts securing
support to lock plate. Remove support from end of column jacket.
Remove 2 attaching screws and shift gate from support (if necessary).
Dimmer switch is removed with support.

jacket mounting plate. Tighten screws to 60 INCH lbs. (7 N.m). Install\
lower bearing on lower end of jacket (if removed).
8) Install centering spheres and anti-lash spring in upper
steering shaft. Install lower steering shaft from same side of spheres
that spring ends protrude. Perform a trial fit of assembly to ensure
that master serration of upper shaft is on same side as master
serration of lower shaft assembly.
9) Position shift bowl fully counterclockwise. Install
ignition switch actuator rod between bowl and jacket from bottom.
Guide back of coupling into support slot. Assemble bearing housing
over steering shaft. Engage rack over end of ignition switch actuator
rod.
10) Position access hole of bearing housing over end of
dimmer switch actuator rod. Rotate housing counterclockwise to
assemble. Holding lock shoes in disengaged position, assemble bearing
housing over steering shaft until pivot holes line up with holes in
support.
11) Install pivot pins. Assemble as far as possible, using
palm pressure of hand to prevent enlarging support pivot hole. Using a
small hammer and punch, tap pins into place. Replace wiper/washer
pivot assembly. Press pivot pin in cover (if removed). Check pivot
assembly for ease of movement.
12) If movement is restricted, tap other end of pin for
clearance. Install wiper/washer switch. Replace tilt lever opening
shield in cover (if removed). Position cap over dimmer switch actuator\
rod. Guide end of actuator rod into pivot slot during cover assembly.
Hold cap so that cover will slide over it.
13) Place housing in full upward position. Ensure there is
grease between guide and peg on support, tilt spring and tilt spring
retainer. Install guide. Using a screwdriver in retaining slot, turn
retainer clockwise to engage. Install bearing inner race and seat.
14) Install lock housing cover. Tighten 3 screws to 100 INCH
lbs. (11 N.m). Assemble key warning switch to spring clip with formed
end of clip under end of switch and with spring bowed away from switch
on side opposite contact. Push switch and spring into hole in lock
housing cover with contacts facing lock cylinder bore.
15) Install key light (if equipped). Install turn signal
switch wires and connector through cover, bearing housing and shift
bowl. Push in hazard plunger. Install turn signal switch. Tighten
screws to 25 INCH lbs. (3 N.m). Install hazard warning knob and screw.\
Pull knob out.
16) Install canceling cam spring, canceling cam (carrier
assembly) and lock plate. Using Lock Plate Depressor (J-23653-A for
Jeep), depress lock plate. See Fig. 12. Install a new retaining ring.
Install tilt release lever (if removed). Install turn signal switch
lever.
Fig. 12: Installing Lock Plate Retaining Ring

17) Install ignition lock. Turn key to "LOCK" position.
Remove key. Insert cylinder into housing far enough to contact shaft.
Press inward while moving ignition switch actuator rod up and down to
align parts.
18) When parts align, cylinder will move inward and a spring
loaded retainer will snap into place locking cylinder in housing. To
replace ignition switch, position key cylinder in "LOCK" position.
Remove key. Place ignition switch in "LOCK" position (second detent
from bottom).
19) Fit ignition switch actuator rod into slider hole.
Loosely install on column with 2 screws. Push switch lightly toward
lock housing to take out slack in actuator rod. Tighten screws to 34
INCH lbs. (4 N.m). DO NOT move switch out of detent position.
20) Install dimmer switch by firmly seating push rod into
switch. Compress switch until 2 (.093") drill bit shanks can be
inserted into alignment holes. Reposition upper end of push rod in
pocket of wiper/washer switch. Remove lower column cover (if
necessary).
21) With a light upward pressure on switch, install 2 screws.
Remove drill bits. Switch should click when lever is lifted and again
as lever returns, just before it reaches lower stop. Install wire
protector over wires on column jacket, being careful not to pinch
wires.
22) Remove column from vise. Position lower bracket assembly
on steering column. Install 2 bolts. Tighten to 105 INCH lbs. (12 N.
m). Aligning master splines, install coupling assembly on steering
shaft. Support coupling under joint. Drive in roll pin.
NOTE: DO NOT remove bearings from housing unless they are to be
replaced. Install new bearings if bearings are removed from
housing. Never reuse old bearings.
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS TABLE








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Application Ft. Lbs. (N.m)
Flexible Coupling Bolts .......................... 17 (23)
Steering Wheel Retaining Nut ..................... 45 (61)
Support Plate Bolts .............................. 17 (23)
INCH Lbs. (N.m)
Bearing Housing-to-Lock Housing Screws ............ 35 (4)
Bracket-to-Column Bolt .......................... 124 (14)
Column Clamp Stud ................................. 20 (2)
Column Clamp Stud Nut ........................... 106 (12)
Hazard Switch ..................................... 27 (3)
Housing Cover Screws ............................ 100 (11)
Ignition Switch Screws ............................ 35 (4)
Lock Housing-to-Jacket ........................... 90 (10)
Shift Tube Support Screws ......................... 60 (7)
Steering Column Lower Bracket Bolts ............. 106 (12)
Tilt Release Spring Retaining Screw ............... 35 (4)
Turn Signal Retaining Plate ....................... 27 (3)
Upper Bracket Nuts .............................. 106 (12)









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3) Loosen bolt on throttle control link. Pull on link end to
eliminate lash. Tighten adjusting bolt. Press extend button on
Exerciser Box. When ISA retracts, release button and disconnect
Exerciser Box. Connect ISA wiring and remove spring from throttle
control lever. Install and reconnect any parts removed and/or
disconnected.
999 Transmission with 6-Cylinder Engines
1) Disconnect throttle control rod spring. Use spring to
hold adjusting link in forward position, against nylon washer. Block
choke open and release fast idle cam.
2) Raise vehicle. Loosen both retaining bolts on adjusting
link clamp. DO NOT remove spring clip or nylon washer. Use a spare
spring to hold transmission throttle lever against forward stop.
3) Push adjusting link to eliminate lash and pull clamp to
rear so that bolt in rod bottoms in rear of slot in rod. Tighten
forward clamp retaining bolt.
4) Pull throttle control rod to the rear so that bolt in
rod bottoms in front of slot and tighten rear retaining bolt. Remove
spare spring. Lower vehicle and reconnect throttle control rod spring.
AW-4 Transmission with All Engines
1) With ignition off, retract cable self-adjusting mechanism
fully. Press cable button down and push cable plunger inward.
2) Rotate throttle lever to wide open throttle position.
While holding throttle lever in position, allow cable plunger to
extend. When plunger is fully extended, release throttle lever. Cable
is now adjusted.
SHIFT LINKAGE
Cable Linkage
1) Place gearshift lever in "P" position and raise vehicle.
Using a small screwdriver, unlock shift control cable by releasing
U-shaped cable adjuster clamp. Remove cable from mounting bracket.
2) Move transmission shift lever rearward until fully
seated into "P" detent. Ensure that driveshaft cannot be rotated.
Snap control cable into cable mounting bracket and replace U-shaped
cable adjuster clamp.
3) Lower vehicle and verify engine starting. Engine should
start only with shifter in "P" or "N" position.
Rod Linkage
1) Loosen shift rod trunnion jam nuts at transmission lever.
Remove shift rod-to-bellcrank lock pin. Disengage trunnion and shift
rod. Place selector lever in "P" position and lock steering column.
Move transmission shift lever to full rear Park position.
2) Adjust shift rod trunnion to obtain free pin fit in
bellcrank arm. Tighten jam nuts. On vehicles with shift lever on
column, make sure linkage lash is eliminated by pulling down on shift
rod and pushing up on outer bellcrank when tightening jam nuts.
3) Check steering column lock for ease of operation. Ensure
engine starts in "N" or "P", only. If starter engages in any drive
gear, or does not work in "N" or "P", check for proper shift linkage
adjustment or faulty neutral safety switch.
NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH
1) Switch combines functions of neutral safety switch and
back-up light switch. With transmission linkage properly adjusted,
switch should allow starter operation in "P" and "N" only.
2) To test switch, remove wire connector and test for
continuity between center pin of switch and case. Continuity should