Steering Column Removal/Installation

All vehicles 

1. Remove the steering column opening trim.
2. Using a suitable cutting tool, carefully cut through the 2 cutoff lines and discard the instrument panel cutoff panel.
   Fig 1: Locating Cutoff Lines And Instrument Panel Cutoff Panel

   Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
3. Remove the 4 screws and the steering column opening panel.
   • To install, tighten to 8 N.m {0.8 kgf.m, 71 in.lbf}.
4. Remove the LH instrument panel side finish panel.
5. Through the side finish panel opening, remove the ground wire eyelet bolt.
   • Position the 2 ground wire eyelets and wires aside.
6. Through the side finish panel opening, disconnect the 2 instrument panel wiring harness electrical connectors and, if equipped, the battery high-voltage jumper switch electrical connector.
   • Position the harnesses and connectors aside.
7. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position and rotate the steering wheel clockwise until the steering column coupling-to-steering column bolt is accessible.
8. Through the side finish panel opening, remove and discard the steering column coupling-to-steering column bolt.
   • To install, tighten to 83 N.m {6.4 kgf.m, 46 ft.lbf}.
9. Remove the clockspring. See CLOCKSPRING REMOVAL/INSTALLATION .

   Vehicles with manual transmission 

10. Rotate the clutch pedal position (CPP) switch clockwise and position the switch aside.

    All vehicles 

11. Disconnect the following electrical connectors:
    • Multifunction switch
    • Ignition switch
    • Passive anti-theft system (PATS) transceiver (if equipped)
    • Headlamp switch
    • Headlamp dimmer adjuster
    • Message center (if equipped)
    • Electronic power assist steering (PSCM) 8-pin
    • PSCM 2-pin
12. Detach the 2 electrical harness pin-type retainers from the steering column.
13. Detach the data link connector (DLC) from the DLC mounting bracket.
14. Position all electrical harnesses and connectors aside.
15. Detach the steering column coupling from the steering column.
16. CAUTION:

    • Do not remove the steering column through bolt at this time or damage to the steering column can occur.

      Loosen the steering column through bolt. 7.

17. CAUTION:

    • Support the upper end of the steering column while removing the 2 steering column mounting bolts or damage to the steering column can occur.

      Remove the 2 steering column mounting bolts.

    • To install, tighten to 28 N.m {2.8 kgf.m, 21 ft.lbf}.
18. CAUTION:

    • Do not release the tilting mechanism while lowering the steering column or damage to the steering column can occur.

      Carefully lower the upper end of the steering column.

CAUTION:

• Support the lower end of the steering column while removing the through bolt or damage to the steering column can occur.

  Remove the steering column through bolt and carefully remove the steering column through the steering column opening.

19. • To install, tighten to 25 N.m {2.5 kgf.m, 18 ft.lbf}.
CAUTION:
• Do not allow the steering column upper and lower halves to become separated. If the column halves become separated, make sure that the upper and lower column shaft master (larger) splines are correctly aligned. Once the splines are correctly aligned, the column halves will slide together easily using hands only. Do not force the upper and lower column halves together or damage to the column may occur.

  To install, reverse the removal procedure.

  Fig 2: Locating Steering Column Upper And Lower Splines

  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
21. Reconfigure the PSCM module. See MODULE CONFIGURATION .
    NOTE:

    • When a new steering column is installed, the PSCM module in the steering column assembly must be reconfigured.
22. Calibrate the steering wheel position sensor. See STEERING SYSTEM .
    NOTE:

    • When a new steering column is installed, the steering column position sensor must be calibrated.