1988 JEEP CHEROKEE clock

STE ER IN G C O LU M N S W IT C HES

1988 J e ep C hero ke e
1988 STEERING
Jeep Steering Column Switches
All Models
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
TURN SIGNAL & HAZARD FLASHER SWITCHES
Removal & Installation
1) Place front wheels in straight-ahead position. Disconnect
battery negative cable. Remove the steering wheel. Refer to the
STEERING WHEEL & HORN REMOVAL article.
2) On models with A/T, place selector lever in "PARK"
position. Remove selector lever retaining pin and lever. Using 2
screwdrivers, remove lock plate cover. On models with tilt column,
remove tilt lever.
3) Using Plate Compressor (J-23653-A), compress lock plate.
If shaft has metric threads, use Metric Forcing Screw (J-23653-4)
prior to installing compressor on shaft. Remove and discard lock plate
snap ring. Remove plate compressor
NOTE: The lock plate is under strong spring tension. DO NOT
attempt to remove snap ring without using lock plate
compressor.
4) Remove lock plate, canceling cam, upper bearing preload
spring, spring seat and bearing race (thrust washer on some models).
Depress hazard warning switch while unscrewing from column.
5) On vehicles with A/T, use a paper clip to compress lock
tab retaining shift quadrant light wire in connector block. Disconnect
wire. On all models, remove turn signal lever attaching screw and
lever.
6) On vehicles with cruise control, disconnect 2 of 4 wires
at switch connector. Fold wires back along harness. Tape wires to
harness. Tape a string to harness to aid in removal.
7) Disconnect turn signal switch wire harness at bottom of
steering column. Tape around turn signal switch harness connector to
aid in removal. Remove turn signal switch attaching screws. Remove
switch. To install, reverse removal procedure.
LOCK CYLINDER
Removal
1) Remove horn button and steering wheel. Refer to the
STEERING WHEEL & HORN REMOVAL article. Remove turn signal switch.
Remove key warning buzzer switch and contacts as an assembly, using
needle-nose pliers.
2) On models with standard column, turn ignition lock
cylinder (clockwise) 2 detent positions beyond the "OFF/LOCK"
position. On models with tilt column, turn lock cylinder to "LOCK"
position. On all models, compress lock cylinder retaining tab and
remove lock cylinder from housing. See Fig. 1.

Fig. 1: Removing Jeep Lock Cylinder
Courtesy of Chrysler Motors
Installation
1) To install, insert key in lock cylinder. Hold cylinder
sleeve while turning key clockwise until key stops. Align lock
cylinder retaining tab with keyway in housing. Insert cylinder into
housing.
2) Push lock cylinder inward until it contacts lock sector.
Rotate cylinder to engage it with lock sector. Push lock cylinder
inward until cylinder retaining tab engages in housing groove. To
complete installation, reverse removal procedure.
IGNITION SWITCH
Removal (Cherokee, Wagoneer & Wrangler)
Remove lower instrument panel trim panel. Insert key in lock

* 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.

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.

Fig. 9: Shaft Centering Spheres
14) Using a screwdriver, remove shift tube retaining ring.
Remove thrust washer. Remove 2 screws from lower bearing. Remove lower
bearing from jacket. Using Puller (J-23073-01 for Jeep), remove shift
tube from bowl. Insert bushing on end of puller in shift tube to force
tube from bowl. DO NOT hammer shift tube as plastic joints may shear.
Fig. 10: Removing Shift Tube from Bowl on Models With Tilt Wheel
15) From lower end of jacket, remove shift tube from jacket.
Remove jacket mounting plate by sliding from jacket notches and
tipping down toward bowl hub at 12 o'clock position under jacket

opening. Remove wave washer. Remove bowl from jacket. Remove shift
lever spring from bowl by winding spring up with pliers and pulling
out.
16) By removing spring retaining screw and moving spring
clockwise, remove lock bolt spring. Using a hammer and punch, lightly
tap drive shaft from sector. Remove drive shaft, sector and bolt.
Remove rack, spring and shim (if used). Remove tilt release lever pin.\
17) Relieve load on lever release by holding shoes inward.
Wedge a block between top of shoes and bearing housing. Remove release
lever and release lever spring. Using punch and hammer, remove lock
shoe pin. Remove lock shoes and lock shoe springs.
18) Remove bearings from bearing housing only if they are to
be replaced. Remove separator and ball from bearing. Place housing on
work bench. Using a punch against back surface of race, hammer race
from housing. DO NOT reuse bearings.
Reassembly
1) During reassembly, coat all friction surfaces with
multipurpose grease. Clamp column in vise so that both ends of column
are accessible. Install bearings in bearing housing (if removed).
2) Install lock shoe springs, lock shoes and shoe pin in
bearing housing. Use a .180" rod to line up shoes for pin
installation. With tilt lever opening on left side and with the shoes
facing up, the 4 slot shoe should also face up.
3) Install spring, release lever and pin in bearing housing.
Install drive shaft in housing. Lightly tap sector onto drive shaft
far enough to bottom on shaft. Install lock bolt. Engage lock bolt
with sector cam surface. Install rack and spring. Block tooth on rack
should engage block tooth on sector.
4) Install external tilt release lever. Install bolt spring
and spring retaining screw. Tighten to 35 INCH lbs. (4 N.m). Install
shift lever spring in bowl by winding up with pliers and pushing in.
Slide bowl into jacket. Install wave washer and jacket mounting plate.
5) Work jacket mounting plate into jacket notches by tipping
jacket mounting plate toward bowl hub at 12 o'clock position and under
jacket opening. Slide jacket mounting plate in jacket notches.
Carefully install shift tube in lower end of jacket.
6) Align key in tube with keyway in bowl. Using Puller (J-
23073-01 for Jeep), pull shift tube into bowl. See Fig. 11. DO NOT
push or tap on end of shift tube. By pulling bowl up and compressing
wave washer, install thrust washer and retaining pin.
Fig. 11: Installing Shift Tube on Models With Tilt Wheel
7) Slide dimmer switch actuator rod through hole in support.
Feed rod between bowl and jacket. Install support by aligning notch in
support with notch in jacket. Insert 4 screws through support into

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

shaft nut. Place reference mark in relation of pitman arm-to-sector
shaft. Using puller, remove pitman arm.
2) Remove sector shaft cover retaining bolts. Lift sector
shaft and cover from housing. Using a screwdriver, pry sector shaft
seal from housing. Use care not to damage housing area. Note direction
of seal installation.
3) Loosen sector shaft adjusting screw lock nut. Rotate
adjusting screw clockwise and remove cover from sector shaft. Inspect
gear lubricant for contamination. Steering gear must be overhauled if
contamination exists.
4) Lubricate new sector shaft seal with steering gear
lubricant. Position seal in housing bore. Using proper sized socket,
tap seal into housing until it bottoms.
5) Install sector shaft so center tooth of sector shaft
enters center tooth of ball nut. Fill housing with lubricant. Install
new sector shaft cover gasket on gear housing (if equipped). Apply a
thin bead of sealant to sector shaft cover on models which do not use
a gasket.
6) Using a screwdriver through the center hole, align
adjusting screw and install cover on sector shaft. See Fig. 1. Turn
adjusting screw counterclockwise until screw bottoms, then back off
1/4 turn.
7) Coat cover bolts with non-hardening sealant. On all
models, install cover retaining bolts. Tighten to specification.
Install sector shaft lock nut. Perform adjustments on steering box.
See ADJUSTMENTS in this article.
Fig. 1: Installing Sector Shaft Cover
OVERHAUL