(3) Align and seat the one pin and the two mount-
ing ears on the clockspring case to their respective
holes in the multi-function switch mounting housing.
(4) Install and tighten the two clockspring mount-
ing screws. Tighten the screws to 2.5 N´m (22 in.
lbs.).
(5) Reconnect the two instrument panel wire har-
ness connectors for the clockspring to the two connec-
tor receptacles below the steering column on the back
of the clockspring case.
(6) Position the lower tilting steering column
shroud onto the steering column (Fig. 16).
(7) Install and tighten the screw that secures the
lower tilting steering column shroud to the multi-
function switch mounting housing. Tighten the screw
to 2 N´m (17 in. lbs.).
(8) Position the upper tilting column shroud onto
the steering column with the hazard warning switch
button inserted through the hole in the upper surface
of the shroud. Align the upper tilting steering column
shroud to the lower shroud and snap the two shroud
halves together.
(9) Align the snap features on the upper and lower
shrouds and apply hand pressure to snap them
together.
(10) Reinstall the steering wheel onto the steering
column. (Refer to 19 - STEERING/COLUMN/STEER-
ING WHEEL - INSTALLATION).
(11)
Reconnect the steering wheel wire harness con-
nectors to the upper clockspring connector receptacles.
(12) Reinstall the driver airbag onto the steering
wheel. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/
DRIVER AIRBAG - INSTALLATION).
DRIVER AIRBAG
DESCRIPTION
The injection molded, thermoplastic driver airbag
protective trim cover is the most visible part of the
driver airbag (Fig. 18). The driver airbag is located in
the center of the steering wheel, where it is secured
with two screws to the two horizontal spokes of the
four-spoke steering wheel armature. A stamped, satin
polished emblem with the Jeeptlogo is applied to the
center of the trim cover. Concealed beneath the
driver airbag trim cover are the horn switch, the
folded airbag cushion, the airbag retainer or housing,
the airbag inflator, and the retainers that secure the
inflator to the airbag housing.
The airbag cushion, housing, and inflator are
secured within an integral receptacle molded into the
back of the trim cover. The driver airbag trim cover
has locking blocks molded into the back side of it
that engage a lip formed around the perimeter of the
airbag housing. Two stamped metal retainers then fitover the inflator mounting studs on the back of the
airbag housing and are engaged in slots within the
upper and lower trim cover locking blocks, securely
locking the cover into place.
The resistive membrane-type horn switch is
secured within a plastic tray that is inserted in a
pocket or pouch sewn onto the airbag cushion
retainer strap, between the trim cover and the folded
airbag cushion. The horn switch ground pigtail wire
has an eyelet terminal connector that is captured on
the upper right inflator mounting stud between the
inflator and the upper trim cover retainer. The horn
switch feed pigtail wire has a white, molded plastic
insulator that is secured by an integral retainer to a
mounting hole located in the upper trim cover
retainer near the upper left corner on the back of the
airbag housing, and is connected to the vehicle elec-
trical system through a take out and connector of the
steering wheel wire harness.
The airbag used in this model is a multistage, Next
Generation-type that complies with revised federal air-
bag standards to deploy with less force than those used
in some prior models. A radial deploying fabric airbag
cushion with tethers is used. The airbag inflator is a
dual-initiator, non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit with
four mounting studs and is secured to the stamped
metal airbag housing using four hex nuts with washers.
Two keyed and color-coded connector receptacles on the
driver airbag inflator connect the two inflator initiators
to the vehicle electrical system through two yellow-
jacketed, two-wire pigtail harnesses of the clockspring.
The driver airbag cannot be repaired, and must be
replaced if deployed or in any way damaged. The driver
airbag trim cover and the horn switch are available
individually, and may be disassembled from the driver
airbag for service replacement.
Fig. 18 Driver Airbag Trim Cover
1 - STEERING WHEEL
2 - TRIM COVER
8O - 18 RESTRAINTSWJ
CLOCKSPRING (Continued)
