1996 ACURA RL KA9 wheel

Precautions/Procedures
Steering-related Precaution s
Steering Whee l an d Cabl e Ree l Alignmen t
NOTE : T o avoi d misalignmen t o f th e steerin g whee l o n
reassembly , mak e sur e th e wheel s ar e turne d straigh t
ahea d befor e removin g th e steerin g wheel .
Rotat e th e cabl e ree l clockwis e unti l i t stops .
The n rotat e i t counterclockwis e (approximatel y 2
1/2
turns ) unti l th e arro w mar k o n th e cabl e ree l labe l point s
straigh t up . Steerin
g Colum n Remova l
CAUTION :
• Befor e removin g th e steerin g column , firs t disconnec t
th e connecto r betwee n th e cabl e ree l an d th e SR S
mai n harness .
• I f th e steerin g colum n is goin g to b e remove d withou t
dismountin g th e steerin g wheel , loc k th e steerin g b y
turnin g th e ignitio n ke y to 0-LOC K position , o r remov e
th e ke y fro m th e ignitio n s o tha t th e steerin g whee l
will no t turn .
NOTE :
• Whe n th e airba g an d cabl e ree l ar e disconnected , an d
th e batter y i s reconnecte d an d th e ignitio n switc h i s
turne d O N (II) , th e SR S uni t wil l stor e thi s a s a n ope n
i n th e driver' s airba g inflator , an d th e SR S indicato r
ligh t wil l com e on . I n suc h a case , confir m th e DTC ,
the n clea r th e SR S uni t memory .
• Fo r disconnectin g th e spring-loade d loc k typ e connec -
tor, refe r t o pag e 24-29 .
Do no t replac e th e origina l steerin g whee l wit h an y othe r
desig n becaus e i t will mak e i t impossibl e t o properl y
instal l th e airba g (us e onl y genuin e Hond a replacemen t
parts).
After reassembly , confir m th e wheel s ar e stil l turne d
straigh t ahea d an d tha t th e steerin g whee l spok e angl e is
correct . I f mino r spok e angl e adjustmen t i s necessary , d o
s o onl y b y adjustin g th e tie-rods , no t b y removin g an d
repositionin g th e steerin g wheel .
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Airbag
Replacemen t
Store a remove d airba g wit h th e pa d sur -
fac e up . I f th e airba g i s improperl y store d fac e down ,
accidenta l deploymen t coul d prope l th e uni t wit h
enoug h forc e to caus e seriou s injury .
CAUTION :
• D o no t instal l use d SR S part s fro m anothe r vehicle .
Whe n repairing , us e onl y ne w SR S parts .
• Carefull y inspec t th e airba g befor e yo u instal l it . D o
no t instal l a n airba g tha t show s sign s o f bein g
droppe d o r improperl y handled , suc h a s dents ,
crack s o r deformation .
• Alway s disconnec t th e airba g connector(s ) whe n th e
harnes s is disconnected .
• D o no t disassembl e o r tampe r wit h th e airbag .
1 . Mak e sur e yo u hav e th e anti-thef t cod e fo r th e
radio , the n writ e dow n th e frequencie s fo r th e
radio' s prese t buttons .
2 . Disconnec t th e batter y negativ e cable , the n discon -
nec t th e positiv e cabl e fro m th e battery , an d wai t a t
leas t 3 minutes .
3 . Disconnec t th e airba g connector(s) :
Driver' s Airbag :
• Remov e th e acces s pane l fro m th e steerin g wheel ,
the n disconnec t th e 2 P connecto r betwee n th e driv -
er' s airba g an d cabl e reel .
'9 6 - 9 8 Model s Fron
t Passenger' s Airbag :
• Remov e th e glov e bo x (se e sectio n 20 ).
• Disconnec t th e 2 P ('9 6 - 9 8 Models ) o r 4 P ('9 9 - 0 1
Models ) connecto r betwee n th e fron t passenger' s
airba g an d SR S mai n harness .
NOTE : Whe n disconnected , th e airba g connecto r i s
automaticall y shorted .
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Airbag

Replacement (cont'd)

CAUTION: Be sure to install the SRS wiring so that it is

not pinched or interfering with other parts.

5. Install new airbag(s):

Driver's Side: Place the driver's airbag in the steering

wheel, and secure it with new Torx bolts.

'96-98 Models
Front Passenger's Side:

• Place the front passenger's airbag in the dashboard.

• Tighten the front passenger's airbag mounting nuts.

'99 - 01 ModelsProCarManuals.com

6. Reconnect the airbag connector(s):

Front Passenger's Airbag:

• Connect the front passenger's airbag connector to

the SRS main harness connector, then install the

glove box.
Driver's Side:

• Connect the driver's airbag 2P connector to the cable

reel 2P connector, then install the access panel on the

steering wheel.

'96 - 98 Models

7. Reconnect the battery positive cable, then connect

the negative cable.

8. After installing the airbag, confirm proper system

operation:

• Turn the ignition switch ON (II); the SRS indica-

tor light should come on for about 6 seconds and

then go off.

• Make sure horn button works.

• Take a test drive, and make sure the cruise con-

trol switches work.

9. Enter the anti-theft code for the radio, then enter the

customer's radio station presets.
'99 - 01 ModelsProCarManuals.com

'96-98 Model s
4. Mak e sur e th e wheel s ar e aligne d straigh t ahead .
5 . Remov e th e dashboar d lowe r cover .
6 . Remov e th e driver' s airba g fro m th e steerin g whee l
(tw o T3 0 Tor x bolts) .
7 . Disconnec t th e connector s fro m th e horn , radi o remot e
switch , an d cruis e contro l set/resume/cance l switches ,
the n remov e th e steerin g whee l nut .
'9 6 - 9 8 Model s
Replacemen t
Store a remove d airba g wit h th e pa d sur -
fac e up . I f th e airba g i s improperl y store d fac e down ,
accidenta l deploymen t coul d prope l th e uni t wit h
enoug h forc e to caus e seriou s injury .
CAUTION :
• Carefull y inspec t th e airba g befor e installin g it . D o
no t instal l a n airba g tha t show s sign s o f bein g
droppe d o r improperl y handled , suc h a s dents ,
crack s o r deformation .
• D o no t disassembl e o r tampe r wit h th e airbag .
1 . Mak e sur e yo u hav e th e anti-thef t cod e fo r th e
radio , the n writ e dow n th e frequencie s fo r th e
radio' s prese t buttons .
2 . Disconnec t th e batter y negativ e cable , the n discon -
nec t th e positiv e cabl e fro m th e battery , an d wai t a t
least s minutes .
3 . Remov e th e acces s pane l fro m th e steerin g wheel ,
the n disconnec t th e 2 P connecto r betwee n th e driv -
er' s airba g an d cabl e reel .
NOTE : Whe n disconnected , th e airba g connecto r i s
automaticall y shorted . '9
9 - 0 1 Model s
Cable Ree l
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'99-01 Models
'99 - 01 Models
8. Remove the steering wheel using a commercially

available steering wheel puller.

'96 - 98 Models
'99 - 01 Model

9. Remove the steering column covers.

'96 - 98 ModelsProCarManuals.com

11. Remove the cable reel from the column.
13. Carefully install the cable reel on the steering col-

umn shaft. Then connect the 4P connector to the

cable reel, and connect the 2P connector to the SRS

main harness, then attach the cable reel 2P connec-

tor to the connector holder.

'96-98 Models
'99 - 01 Models
CAUTION:

• Before installing the steering wheel, the front

wheels should be aligned straight ahead.

• Be sure to install the harness wires so that they

are not pinched or interfering with other vehicle

parts.

• After reassembly, confirm that the wheels are

still turned straight ahead and that the steering

wheel spoke angle is correct (road test). If minor

spoke angle adjustment is necessary, do so only

by adjusting the tie-rods, not by removing and

repositioning the steering wheel.

12. Set the cancel sleeve so that the projections are

aligned vertically.
Replacement (cont'd)

10. Disconnect the 4P connector between the cable reel

and combination switch harness, and remove the

2P connector between the cable reel and SRS main

harness.

'96 - 98 Models
Cable ReelProCarManuals.com

'99 - 01 Models
'99 - 01 Models

16. Install the steering wheel, then connect the radio

remote switch connector, horn connector and cruise

control set/resume/cancel switch connector.

'96 - 98 Models

14. Install the steering column covers.

15. If necessary, center the cable reel. (New replace-

ment cable reels come centered.) Do this by first

rotating the cable reel clockwise until it stops. Then

rotate it counterclockwise (about 21/2 turns) until the

arrow mark on the cable reel label points straight

up.

'96 - 98 Models

'99 - 01 ModelsProCarManuals.com