1997 ACURA NSX Service Repair Manual

Inspection
Steering Whee l Rotationa l Pla y
1. Plac e th e fron t wheel s i n a straigh t ahea d position ,
an d measur e th e distanc e th e steerin g whee l ca n b e
turne d withou t movin g th e fron t wheels .
2 . I f th e pla y exceed s th e servic e limit , chec k al l steer -
ing components .
Power Assis t Chec k Wit h Vehicl e
Parked
Turn th e steerin g whee l wit h a sprin g scale . Rea d th e
measuremen t whe n th e fron t wheel s o r steerin g whee l
start t o move .
Steerin g Gearbo x Adjustmen t
1. Loose n th e rac k guid e scre w locknut .
Seriou
s burn s ma y resul t i f yo u touc h an y
coolin g component s whe n th e coolin g syste m is hot .
2. Tighten , loose n an d retighte n th e rac k guid e scre w
two time s t o 4 N- m (0. 4 kgf-m , 2. 9 Ibf-ft) , the n bac k i t
of f
3. Tighte n th e locknu t o n th e rac k guid e scre w wit h
th e specia l tool .
4 . Chec k fo r tigh t o r loos e steerin g throug h th e com -
plete turnin g travel .
5. Rechec k steerin g assist .
LOCKNU T WRENCH , 4 0 m m
0791 6-SA5000 1
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Steering Whee l
Remova l
Airbag Remova l
Stor e a remove d airba g assembl y wit h th e
pa d surfac 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 .
NOTE : Befor e removin g th e steerin g wheel , mak e sur e
th e fron t wheel s ar e straigh t ahead .
SR S component s ar e locate d i n thi s area . Revie w th e
SR S componen t locations , precautions , an d procedure s
i n th e SR S ( sectio n 24 ) befor e performin g repair s o r ser -
vice .
1. Disconnec t bot h th e negativ e cabl e an d positiv e
cabl e fro m th e battery .
2 . Remov e th e acces s pane l fro m th e steerin g whee l
lowe r cover , the n remov e th e shor t connector .
3 . Disconnec t th e connecto r betwee n th e airba g an d
cabl e reel .
4 . Connec t th e shor t connecto r t o th e airba g 3 P con -
nector .
5. Remov e th e Tor x bolt s usin g a Tor x T3 0 bit , the n
remov e th e driver' s airba g assembly .
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Steering Wheel

Removal (cont'd)

7. Disconnect the connectors from the horn and cruise

control set/resume switches, then remove the cable

reel 3P connector from its clips.
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 Whee l
Disassembly/Reassembl y
Store a remove d airba g assembl y wit h th e
pa d surfac 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 .
NOTE : I f a n intac t driver' s airba g assembl y ha s bee n
remove d fro m a scrappe d vehicl e o r ha s bee n foun d
defectiv e o r damage d durin g transit , storag e o r service ,
it shoul d b e deploye d (se e sectio n 24 ). CAUTION
:
* Carefull y inspec t th e driver' s airba g assembl y befor e
installing . D o no t instal l a n driver' s airba g assembl y
that 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 kee p th e shor t connecto r o n th e airba g 3 P
connecto r whe n th e harnes s i s disconnected .
* D o no t disassembl e o r tampe r wit h th e driver' s
airbag assembly .
STEERING WHEE L
STEERIN G WHEE LLOWER COVE R
ACCES S PANE L
DRIVER' SAIRBAG ASSEMBL Y
17-44
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4. Connect the horn connector.
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 prop-

erly 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 driver's airbag assembly

is securely attached to the steering wheel; otherwise,

severe personal injury could result during later airbag

deployment.

1. Before installing the steering wheel, center the

cable reel.

Do this by first rotating the cable reel clockwise

until it stops.

Then rotate it counterclockwise (approximately two

turns) until:

— The yellow gear tooth lines up with the mark on

the cover.

— The arrow on the cable reel label points straight

up.
2. Install the steering wheel.

NOTE: Be sure the steering wheel shaft engages

the cable reel.

3. Attach the cruise control set/resume switches 4P

connector to the steering wheel clips.ProCarManuals.com

7. Connec t th e airba g 3 P connecto r an d cabl e ree l 3 P
connector .
8. Attac h th e shor t connecto r t o th e acces s panel , the n
instal l th e acces s pane l o n th e steerin g whee l lowe r
cover .
Steerin g Whee l
Installatio n (cont'd )
5. Instal l th e airba g assembl y wit h ne w Tor x bolts .
6 . Disconnec t th e shor t connecto r fro m th e airba g 3 P
connector . 9
. Connec t th e batter y positiv e terminal , an d the n con -
nec t th e negativ e terminal .
10 . Afte r installin g th e airba g assembly , confir m prope r
syste m operation :
• Tur n th e ignitio n t o II : th e instrumen t pane l SR S
indicato r ligh t shoul d com e o n fo r abou t si x sec -
ond s an d the n g o off .
• Confir m operation of hor n buttons .
• Confir m operatio n o f cruis e contro l set/resum e
switch .
• Tur n th e steerin g whee l counterclockwis e an d
mak e sur e th e yello w gea r toot h stil l line s u p
wit h th e alignmen t mark .
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Steering Colum n
Remova l
SRS component s ar e locate d i n thi s area . Revie w th e
SR S componen t locations , precautions , an d procedure s
in th e SR S (sectio n 24 ) befor e performin g repair s o r ser -
vice .
1. Disconnec t bot h th e negativ e cabl e an d positiv e
cabl e fro m th e battery .
2 . Remov e th e driver' s airba g assembl y an d steerin g
whee l fro m th e colum n (se e pag e 17-43 ).
3 . Remov e th e dashboar d lowe r panel , dashboar d
lowe r pad , an d dashboar d brace . 6
. Remov e th e colum n covers .
NOTE : B e carefu l no t t o damag e th e colum n covers .
7 . Disconnec t th e TC S senso r connector .
4
. Disconnec t th e connecto r betwee n th e cabl e ree l
an d th e SR S mai n harness , the n remov e th e con -
necto r holder .
5. Remov e th e colum n lowe r panel .
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Steering Column

Removal (cont'd)

8. Remove the combination switch assembly from the

column shaft.

NOTE: The combination switch can be removed by

disconnecting only the TCS sensor connector.
10. Remove the steering joint bolts and toothed lock

washers from the steering joint.

9. Remove the steering joint cover.
11. Disconnect the ignition switch connectors and

remove the column holder, then remove the steer-

ing column assembly by removing the 8 mm bolts

and flange nuts.ProCarManuals.com