1991 ACURA NSX Service Repair Manual

Energy-absorbing Steering Column/Wheel

Both the steering column and steering wheel are designed to absorb impact energy during a collision.

Steering Wheel

The steering wheel absorbs the energy of a collision through the deformation of the spoke portion. Should the impact

absorbing capacity of the column side decrease due to the deformation of the vehicle body during a collision, the steering

wheel will help absorb the impact.

Steering Column

The steering column is fastened on the body through a U-shaped plate, and the lower part of the column is inserted into

a lower holder. Due to this construction, the steering column will slide in its axial direction when a large impact is given

in the axial direction of the column. Since the U-shaped plate is fastened to the body, the U-shaped plate is bent and

deformed along the guide when the column slides in its axial direction. Through the deformation of the plate, the energy

is absorbed and the column slides forward. When exposed to a greater impact, a shear pin will break and the energy

is absorbed by the lower shaft.

< UNDER NORMAL CONDITION >

U-PLATE

< AT TIME OF IMPACT >
U-PLATE

GUIDE

The U-plates absorb an energy

while they are straightened by

the upper bracket.

< UNDER NORMAL CONDITION >

SHEAR PINS

< AT TIME OF IMPACT >

STEERING JOINT
< UNDER NORMAL CONDITION >

SPOKE

< AT TIME OF IMPACT >ProCarManuals.com

Inspection

Steering Wheel Rotational Play
1. Place the front wheels in a straight ahead position and measure the distance the steering wheel can be
turned without moving the front wheels.

2. If the
play
exceeds
the
service
limit,
check
all
steer- ing components.
Service Limit: 5 mm (0.2 in) maximum
Steering Effort Check (Manual Steering Only)
Operation Standard

Turn the steering wheel with a spring scale. Read the
measurement when the front wheels or steering wheel
start to move.Power Assist Check With Car
Parked (Electrical Power Steering

Only)

1. Raise the front wheels off the ground (see sec-
tion 1).

2. Turn the steering wheel with a spring scale and check its reading.
3. If the reading exceeds the service limit, adjust the steering gearbox as shown on the next page.
Service Limit: 20 N (2 kg, 4 Ibs) maximum Condition
Without power assist (engine off)
With power assist (engine running) Stationary Swing
operation load

120 N (12 kg, 26
Ibs)
maximum

42 N
(4.2
kg, 9.3
Ibs) maximumProCarManuals.com

Steering Gearbox Adjustment

Serious burns may result if you touch any
cooling components when the cooling system is hot.
Manual Steering:
1. Loosen the rack guide screw locknut.
2. Tighten, loosen and retighten the rack guide screw
two times to 5 N .
m (0.5 kg-m, 3.6 Ib-ft), then back

it off
15°.
RACK GUIDE SCREW
3. Tighten the locknut on the rack guide screw.
4. Check for tight or loose steering through the com- plete turning travel.
5. Recheck steering effort.
RACK GUIDE SCREW
LOCKNUT
68 N ·
m (6.8 kg-m, 49 Ib-ft)
CROW FOOT LOCKNUT
Electrical Power Steering:
1. Loosen the rack guide screw locknut.
2. Tighten, loosen and retighten the rack guide screw two times to 4 N·m (0.4 kg-m, 2.9 Ib-ft), then back
LOCKNUT
RACK GUIDE SCREW
3. Tighten the locknut on the rack guide screw with the special tool.
4. Check for tight or loose steering through the com- plete turning travel.
5. Recheck steering assist.
LOCKNUT
25 N .
m (2.5 kg-m, 18 Ib-ft) RACK GUIDE SCREW
LOCKNUT WRENCH. 40 mm

07916-SA50001
it off 20

WRENCH,ProCarManuals.com

Steering Wheel

Removal

Airbag Removal

Store a removed airbag assembly with the

pad surface up, if the airbag is improperly stored face

down, accidental deployment could propel the unit with

enough force to cause serios injury.

NOTE: Before removing the steering wheel, make sure

the front wheels are straight ahead.

CAUTION:
All SRS wiring harnesses are covered with yellow
outer insulation.

Before disconnecting any part of the SRS wire

harness, install the short connectors (see pages
23-328 and 329).

Replace the entire affected SRS harness assembly if
it has an open circuit or damaged wiring.
1. Disconnect both the negative cable and positive ca-
ble from the battery.

2. Remove the access panel from the steering wheel lower cover, then remove the short connector.
3. Disconnect the connector between the airbag and cable reel.
4. Connect the short connector to the airbag side of the connector.
AIRBAG 3-PCONNECTOR
SHORT CONNECTOR
(RED)

CABLE REEL 3-P
CONNECTOR

ACCESS PANEL
CRUISE CONTROL SET/RESUME

SWITCH

TORX ®
BOLT
AIRBAG ASSEMBLY (cont'd)

5. Remove the TORX
®
bolts using a TORX ®
T30 bit,

then remove the airbag assembly.
TORX ®
BOLTSProCarManuals.com

Removal (cont'd)

7. Disconnect the connectors from the horn and cruise control set/resume switches remove the airbag con-nector from its dips.

CRUISE CONTROL

SET/RESUME SWITCHES

4-P CONNECTOR
HORN
CONNECTOR

Disassembly/Reassembly
Store a removed airbag assembly with the
pad surface up. If the airbag is improperly stored face
down, accidental deployment could propel the unit with
enough force to cause serious injury.
NOTE: If an intact airbag assembly has been removed
from a scrapped car or has been found defective or

damaged during transit, storage or service, it should be
deployed (see section 23).

STEERING WHEELLOWER COVER STEERING WHEEL
ACCESS PANEL CRUISE CONTROL SET/RESUME SWITCH STEERING
WHEEL NUT
Replace. TORX
®
BOLT

10 N ·
m

(1.0 kg-m, 7 lb-ft)

Replace. AIRBAG ASSEMBLY

CAUTION:
Carefully inspect the airbag assembly before install-
ing. Do not install an airbag assembly that shows signs
of being dropped or improperly handled, such as dents,
cracks or deformation.
Always keep the short connector on the airbag con- nector when the harness is disconnected.
Do not disassemble or tamper with the airbag as-

sembly.
STEERING WHEEL

NUT
Replace.

8. Remove the steering wheel nut.
9. Remove the steering wheel by rocking it slightly from

side-to-side as you pull steadily with both hands.ProCarManuals.com

Removal (cont'd)

7. Disconnect the connectors from the horn and cruise control set/resume switches remove the airbag con-nector from its dips.

CRUISE CONTROL

SET/RESUME SWITCHES

4-P CONNECTOR
HORN
CONNECTOR

Disassembly/Reassembly
Store a removed airbag assembly with the
pad surface up. If the airbag is improperly stored face
down, accidental deployment could propel the unit with
enough force to cause serious injury.
NOTE: If an intact airbag assembly has been removed
from a scrapped car or has been found defective or

damaged during transit, storage or service, it should be
deployed (see section 23).

STEERING WHEELLOWER COVER STEERING WHEEL
ACCESS PANEL CRUISE CONTROL SET/RESUME SWITCH STEERING
WHEEL NUT
Replace. TORX® BOLT

10 N .
m

(1.0 kg-m, 7 lb-ft)

Replace. AIRBAG ASSEMBLY

CAUTION:
Carefully inspect the airbag assembly before install-
ing. Do not install an airbag assembly that shows signs
of being dropped or improperly handled, such as dents,
cracks or deformation.
Always keep the short connector on the airbag con- nector when the harness is disconnected.
Do not disassemble or tamper with the airbag as-

sembly.
STEERING WHEEL

NUT
Replace.

8. Remove the steering wheel nut.
9. Remove the steering wheel by rocking it slightly from

side-to-side as you pull steadily with both hands.ProCarManuals.com

Steering Wheel

Installation

NOTE: Before installing the steering wheel, make sure

the front wheels are straight ahead.

CAUTION:

Be sure to install the harness wires so that they are

not pinched or interfering with other car parts.

Do not replace the original steering wheel with any

other design, since it will make it impossible to proper-

ly install the airbag. (Use only genuine HONDA

replacement parts.)

After reassembly, confirm that the wheels are still

straight ahead and that steering wheel spoke angle

is correct. If minor spoke angle adjustment is neces-

sary, adjust the tie-rods only. Do not remove and

reposition the steering wheel.

Confirm that the airbag assembly is secure-

ly attached to the steering wheel; otherwise, severe per-

sonal injury could result during later airbag deployment.

1. Before installing the steering wheel, center the ca-

ble reel.

Do this by first rotating the cable reel clockwise un-

til it stops.

Then rotate it counterclockwise (approximately two

turns) until:

ARROW MARK

CABLE REEL

YELLOW GEAR TOOTH

ALIGNMENT MARK
2. Install the steering wheel.

NOTE: Be sure the steering wheel shaft engages the

cable reel.

50 N.m

(5.0 kg-m, 36 Ib-ft)

PIN

PIN

3. Insert the cruise control set/resume 4-P connector

and airbag 3-P connector to the steering wheel

clips.

4. Connect the horn connector.

CRUISE CONTROL

SET/RESUME SWITCHES

4-P CONNECTOR

HORN

CONNECTOR
The yellow gear tooth lines up with the mark on the

cover.

The arrow on the cable reel label points straight up.ProCarManuals.com

5.
Install
the
airbag assembly
with
new
TORX
®

bolts.
TORX ®
BOLT
10 N ·
m (1.0 kg-m, 7 Ib-ft)
Replace
TORX ®
BOLTS
10 N ·
m (1.0 kg-m, 7 Ib-ft)

Replace
AIRBAG ASSEMBLY
7. Disconnect the short connector from the airbag 3-P connector.
8. Connect the airbag 3-P connector and cable reel 3-P
connector.

9. Attach the short connector to the access panel, and install the access panel on the steering wheel
lower cover.
ACCESS PANEL SHORT CONNECTOR

(RED)
10. Connect the battery positive terminal and then con-
nect the negative terminal.
11. After installing the airbag assembly, confirm proper system operation:
Turn the ignition to II: the instrument panel SRSindicator light should come on for about 6
seconds and then go off.
Confirm operation of horn buttons.
Confirm operation of cruise control set/resume

switch.

Turn the steering wheel counterclockwise and
make sure the yellow gear tooth still lines up with
the alignment mark.
YELLOW GEAR TOOTH
ALIGNMENT MARKProCarManuals.com