Page 195 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN 3C1-11
1. Steering column
2. Steering column mounting bolt
3. Steering column lower seal
1. Shift (key) interlock cable
2. Screw
1. Capsule
2. Steering column bracket
3. Plate
1. Steering column assembly ªaº
8) Remove steering column mounting bolts (6 pieces).
9) If equipped with shift (key) interlock cable, remove shift (key)
interlock cable screw and then disconnect its cable from igni-
tion switch.
10) Remove steering column from vehicle.
INSPECTION
NOTE:
Vehicles involved in accidents resulting in body damage,
where steering column has been impacted or air bag
deployed, may have a damaged or misaligned steering col-
umn.
CHECKING PROCEDURE
1) Check that two capsules are attached to steering column brack-
et securely. Check clearance between capsules and steering
column bracket. Clearance should be 0 mm (0 in.) on both sides.
If found loose or clearance, replace steering column assembly.
2) Check two plates for any damages such as crack or breakage.
If anything is found faulty, replace as steering column assembly.
3) Take measurement ªaº as shown. If it is shorter than specified
length, replace column assembly with new one.
Length ªaº: 895 0.8 mm (35.24 0.03 in.)
Page 196 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Steering column
2. Mounting bolt
3. Steering column lower seal
4. Dash panel
1. Steering column lower seal
In engine room
In cabin
1. Shift (key) interlock cable
2. Screw
3C1-12 AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
4) Check steering column lower seal for breakage or deformation.
If found defective, replace.
5) Check steering shaft joints and shaft for any damages such as
crack, breakage, malfunction or excessive play.
If anything is found faulty, replace as steering lower shaft assem-
bly or steering column assembly.
6) Check steering shaft for smooth rotation.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
7) Check steering shaft and column for bend, cracks or deforma-
tion.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
INSTALLATION
CAUTION:
After tightening steering column mounting bolts, steering
shaft joint bolts should be tightened.
1) Be sure that front wheels and steering wheel are in straight-
ahead position.
2) If equipped with shift (key) interlock cable, install shift (key) inter-
lock cable to ignition switch.
Tightening Torque
(a): 2.2 N
.m (0.22 kg-m, 1.6 lb-ft)
3) Install steering column assembly to dash panel and upper
bracket so that boss of steering column lower seal and all around
it project out of hole in dash panel into engine room. Tighten
steering column lower bolts (4 pieces) first and then upper bolts
(2 pieces) to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(b): 23 N
.m (2.3 kg-m, 17.0 lb-ft)
Page 197 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Steering shaft joint
2. Steering shaft (column side)
3. Marks
1. Steering shaft joint
2. Bolt (column side)
3. Bolt (lower shaft assembly side)
1. Steering column hole cover
1
AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN 3C1-13
4) Install steering shaft joint to steering shaft by matching it to
marks made before removal.
5) Install shaft joint bolt (column side) to steering shaft joint. Tighten
shaft joint bolt (column side) to specified torque first and then
shaft joint bolt (lower shaft assembly side) to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(c): 25 N
.m (2.5 kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft)
6) If contact coil and combination switch assembly is removed,
install it, referring to ªCONTACT COIL AND COMBINATION
SWITCH ASSEMBLYº in this section.
7) Connect all connectors that have been removed in removal.
8) Install steering column hole cover.
9) If steering wheel is removed, install it by referring to ªSTEER-
ING WHEELº in this section.
10) Connect negative battery cable.
11) After installing steering column assembly, be sure to enable air
bag system by referring to ªENABLING AIR BAG SYSTEMº un-
der ªSERVICE PRECAUTIONSº in Section 10B.
Page 198 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3C1-14 AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
1. Steering column
2. Steering lock 1
2
1. Center punch (with sharp point)
2. Steering lock mounting bolt
1. Steering column
2. Steering shaft
STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY (IGNITION
SWITCH)
REMOVAL
1) Remove steering column. Refer to ªSTEERING COLUMNº in
this section.
2) Using center punch as shown, loosen and remove steering lock
mounting bolts.
NOTE:
Use care not to damage aluminum part of steering lock
body with center punch.
3) Turn ignition key to ªACCº or ªONº position and remove steering
lock assembly from steering column.
INSTALLATION
1) Position oblong hole of steering shaft in the center of hole in col-
umn.
2) Turn ignition key to ªACCº or ªONº position and install steering
lock assembly onto column.
3) Now turn ignition key to ªLOCKº position and pull it out.
4) Align hub on lock with oblong hole of steering shaft and rotate
shaft to assure that steering shaft is locked.
5) Tighten new bolts until head of each bolt is broken off.
6) Turn ignition key to ªACCº or ªONº position and check to be sure
that steering shaft rotates smoothly. Also check for lock opera-
tion.
7) Install steering column. Refer to ªSTEERING COLUMNº in this
section.
Page 199 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN 3C1-15
1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
3. Steering lower shaft assembly
4. Bolt (column side)
5. Bolt (lower shaft assembly side)
1. Steering lower shaft assembly
2. Steering lower shaft assembly
lower joint bolt
3. Steering shaft joint
STEERING LOWER SHAFT ASSEMBLY
CAUTION:
Never turn steering wheel while steering lower shaft assem-
bly is removed.
Should it have been turned and contact coil (on combina-
tion switch) have got out of its centered position, it needs
to be centered again. Also, turning steering wheel more
than about two and a half turns will break contact coil.
REMOVAL
1) Turn steering wheel so that vehicle's front tires are at straight-
ahead position.
2) Turn ignition switch to ªLOCKº position and remove key.
3) After removing bolt on column side of shaft joint and loosening
bolt on its lower shaft assembly side, move shaft joint to lower
shaft assembly side (in arrow direction in figure).
4) Remove lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt and then remove
lower shaft assembly.
5) Remove shaft joint bolt (lower shaft assembly side) from shaft
joint and then remove shaft joint from lower shaft assembly.
Page 200 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
2
1
1. Steering shaft joint
2. Bolt (Steering column assembly side)
3. Bolt (Steering lower shaft assembly side)1. Steering shaft joint
2. Steering lower shaft assembly
1. Steering lower shaft
assembly
2. Steering lower shaft
assembly lower joint
3. Steering lower shaft
assembly lower joint bolt
4. Steering shaft joint
5. Mark
6. Slit
1. Steering column assembly
2. Steering shaft joint
3C1-16 AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
INSTALLATION
1) Be sure that front wheels and steering wheel are in straight
ahead position.
2) Align flat part ªAº of lower shaft assembly with bolt hole ªBº of
shaft joint as shown. Then insert shaft joint into lower shaft as-
sembly.
3) Install shaft joint bolt (lower shaft assembly side) to shaft joint.
Then tighten it by hand.
4) Insert pinion shaft into lower shaft assembly lower joint with slit
of lower joint, marks on pinion shaft and gear case aligned.
And then install lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt to lower
shaft assembly lower joint. Tighten it to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(a): 25 N
.m (2.5 kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft)
5) Install steering shaft joint to steering shaft.
NOTE:
Be sue that front wheels and steering wheel are in straight-
ahead position.
6) Install shaft joint bolt (column side) to shaft joint. Tighten shaft
joint bolt (column side) to specified torque first and then shaft
joint bolt (shaft lower assembly side) to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(b): 25 N
.m (2.5 kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft)
Page 201 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN 3C1-17
1. Capsule
2. Steering column bracket
3. Plate
1. Steering column assembly
1. Steering column lower seal ªaº
CHECKING STEERING COLUMN FOR
ACCIDENT DAMAGE
NOTE:
Vehicles involved in accidents resulting in body damage,
where steering column has been impacted or air bag
deployed, may have a damaged or misaligned steering col-
umn.
CHECKING PROCEDURE
1) Check that two capsules are attached to steering column brack-
et securely. Check clearance between capsules and steering
column bracket. Clearance should be 0 mm (0 in.) on both sides.
If found loose or clearance, replace steering column assembly.
2) Check two plates for any damages such as crack or breakage.
If anything is found faulty, replace as steering column assembly.
3) Take measurement ªaº as shown. If it is shorter than specified
length, replace column assembly with new one.
Length ªaº: 895 0.8 mm (35.24 0.03 in.)
4) Check steering column lower seal for breakage or deformation.
If found defective, replace.
5) Check steering shaft joints and shaft for any damages such as
crack, breakage, malfunction or excessive play.
If anything is found faulty, replace as steering shaft lower assem-
bly or steering column assembly.
6) Check steering shaft for smooth rotation.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
7) Check steering shaft and column for bend, cracks or deforma-
tion.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.
Page 202 of 801
YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Lower position
2. Upper position
3C1-18 AIR BAG STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN
09944-36011
Steering wheel remover
ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN RELEASE
LEVER
INSPECTION
Check to make sure that the following:
Steering column moves smoothly when adjustable steering col-
umn release lever is at lower position (i.e., steering column is not
locked).
Steering column is fixed securely when adjustable steering col-
umn release lever is at upper position (i.e., steering column is
locked).
TIGHTENING TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
FasteningpartsTightening torqueFastening artsN.mkg-mlb-ft
Driver air bag (inflator) module bolt90.96.5
Steering shaft nut333.323.5
Steering column mounting bolt232.317.0
Steering shaft joint bolt252.518.0
Steering lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt252.518.0
Shift (key) interlock cable screw2.20.221.6
SPECIAL TOOL