### Steering Wheel

#### REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

##### Sentra, 200SX and 300ZX

###### Without Air Bag

1. Position the wheels in the straight ahead direction. The steering wheel should be right side up and level.
2. Disconnect the battery ground cable.
3. Some vehicles have countersunk screws on the back of the steering wheel, remove the screws and pull off the horn pad.

   NOTE: Some vehicles have a horn wire running from the pad to the steering wheel; disconnect it.

4. Remove the rest of the horn switching mechanism, noting the relative location of the parts. Remove the mechanism only if it hinders subsequent wheel removal procedures.
5. Matchmark the top of the steering column shaft and the steering wheel flange.
6. Remove the attaching nut. Using the steering wheel remover tool ST27180001 or equivalent, pull the steering wheel from the steering column.

   NOTE: Do not strike the shaft with a hammer, which may cause the column to collapse.

   To install:

7. Prior to installing the steering wheel, apply multi-purpose grease to the entire surface of the turn signal cancel pins and the horn contact ring. Install the steering wheel in the reverse order of removal and align the punch marks. DO NOT drive or hammer the wheel.
8. Tighten the steering wheel nut to 29–40 ft. lbs. (39–54 Nm).
9. Install the horn button, pad, or the ring.

###### With Air Bag (SRS)

CAUTION
To avoid rendering the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) inoperative, which could lead to personal injury or death in the event of a severe frontal collision, extreme caution must be taken when servicing the electrical related systems. All SRS electrical wiring harnesses and connectors are covered with

YELLOW outer insulation. Do not use electrical test equipment on any circuit related to the SRS (air bag).

NOTE: On vehicles equipped with an air bag, turn the ignition switch to OFF position and properly disable the air bag system.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable and wait for 10 minutes. The 10 minute wait is to allow the SRS system to de-energize. Always install SRS components with the arrow facing the front of the vehicle.
2. Remove the lower lid from the steering wheel and disconnect the air bag module connector.
3. Remove the steering column side lid. Using a T50H Torx® bit, remove the left and right special screws. The air bag module can be removed by disconnecting the spiral cable connector.
4. Set the steering wheel straight ahead and disconnect the horn connector and remove the nuts.

   NOTE: Do not strike the shaft with a hammer, which may cause the column to collapse.

5. Using a steering wheel puller, remove the steering wheel.

   To install:

6. Prior to installing the steering wheel, apply multi-purpose grease to the entire surface of the turn signal cancel pins and the horn contact ring. Install the steering wheel and torque the nut to 22–29 ft. lbs. (29–39 Nm).
7. Connect the spiral cable connector. Install the air bag module and tighten the special Torx® screws to 24 inch. lbs. (4.0 Nm) on 300ZX models and 11–18 ft. lbs. (15–25 Nm) on all other models.

   NOTE: The Torx® bolts must be replaced with new bolts whenever removed.

8. Enable the supplemental restraint system.
9. Install the cover lids.
10. Connect the negative battery cable and check operation.

    NOTE: When the ignition switch is first turned on, the AIR BAG lamp should illuminate for approximately seven seconds. After seven seconds, the lamp should extinguish. If the lamp does not extinguish or illuminate, check the air bag self diagnostic system for a malfunction.

    Fig. 1: Service points of air bag removal — 300ZX

##### 240SX

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Disarm the air bag system.

   CAUTION
   The air bag system must be disarmed before removing the steering wheel. Failure to do so may cause accidental deployment, property damage or personal injury.

3. Remove the access cover on the side of the steering wheel.
4. Remove and discard the special bolt from the side of the steering column.
5. Remove the steering wheel pad/air bag module assembly from the steering wheel.

   CAUTION
   Always carry an air bag assembly with the bag and trim cover away from your body. Store the assembly facing upward; never place the assembly face down on any surface.

6. Matchmark the steering wheel to the steering column shaft.
7. Remove the steering wheel hold down nut.
8. Remove the steering wheel with a suitable puller tool.

   To install:

9. Install the steering wheel and align the matchmark located on the steering column shaft.
10. Install the steering wheel hold down nut.
11. Torque the nut to 22–29 ft. lbs. (29–39 Nm.).
12. Install the steering wheel pad/air bag module.
13. Install a new steering wheel pad/air bag module assembly securing bolt and tighten the bolt to 11–18 ft. lbs. (15–25 Nm).
14. Install the access cover to the side of the steering column.
15. Connect negative battery cable and re-arm the air bag system.

##### Altima

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Disable the air bag system.

   CAUTION
   Be sure to follow proper procedures for disabling the air bag. Failure to do so may result in bodily injury and damage to the vehicle.

   NOTE: The air bag module mounting bolts are coated with a special bonding agent. Replace with new bolts whenever they are removed.

3. Remove the air bag left and right retaining bolts and remove the air bag assembly.
4. Remove the steering wheel hold-down nut.
5. Verify that the wheels are in the straight ahead position. Make a matchmark on the steering shaft and a matching one on the steering wheel.
6. Remove the steering wheel with the proper pulling tool.

   To install:

7. Install the steering wheel, be sure to align the matchmarks.
8. Install the steering wheel hold-down nut.
9. Torque the hold-down nut to 25–29 ft. lbs. (33–39 Nm.).
10. With the front wheels raised off the floor, verify that the steering wheel turns freely and an equal number of turns to the left and the right from the center.
11. Install the air bag and tighten the mounting bolts to 11–18 ft. lbs. (15–25 Nm).
12. Enable the air bag system.
13. Connect the negative battery cable.

##### Maxima

###### Without Air Bag

1. Position the wheels in the straight-ahead direction. The steering wheel should be right side up and level.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Pull out the horn pad. If the vehicle has a horn wire running from the pad to the steering wheel, disconnect it.
4. Remove the rest of the horn switching mechanism, noting the relative location of the parts. Remove the mechanism only if it hinders subsequent wheel removal procedures.
5. Matchmark the top of the steering column shaft and the steering wheel flange.
6. Remove the steering wheel-to-steering column nut. Using the steering wheel puller tool ST27180001, or equivalent, pull the steering wheel from the steering column.

   NOTE: Do not strike the shaft with a hammer, which may cause the column to collapse.

   To install:

7. Apply multi-purpose grease to the entire surface of the turn signal cancel pin (both portions) and the horn contact slip ring.
8. Install the steering wheel by aligning the matchmarks. Do not drive or hammer the steering wheel into place or the steering column will be damaged.
9. Tighten the steering wheel-to-steering column nut to 22–29 ft. lbs. (29–39 Nm).
10. Install the horn pad and connect the negative battery cable.

###### With Air Bag

1. Position the wheels in the straight-ahead direction. The steering wheel should be right side up and level.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

   CAUTION
   Wait 10 minutes after the battery cable has been disconnected, before attempting to work on the air bag unit. The air bag unit is still armed and can inflate, during the 10 minute period, and possibly causing bodily injury.

3. Remove the lower lid from the steering wheel and disconnect the air bag unit electrical connector.
4. Remove both side lids from the steering wheel.
5. Using a T50H Torx® bit, remove the air bag-to-steering wheel bolts from both sides of the steering wheel; discard the bolts.
6. Lift the air bag unit upward and place it in a safe, clean, dry place with the pad side facing upward; be sure the temperature in the area will not exceed 212°F (100°C).
7. Disconnect the horn connector and remove the nuts.
8. Matchmark the top of the steering column shaft and the steering wheel flange.
9. Remove the steering wheel-to-steering column nut. Using the steering wheel puller tool ST27180001, or equivalent, pull the steering wheel from the steering column.

   NOTE: Do not strike the shaft with a hammer, which may cause the column to collapse.

   To install:

10. Apply multi-purpose grease to the entire surface of the turn signal cancel pin (both portions) and the horn contact slip ring.
11. Install the steering wheel by aligning the matchmarks. Do not drive or hammer the steering wheel into place or you may cause the (collapsible) steering column to collapse, in which case you'll have to buy a whole new steering column unit.
12. Torque the steering wheel-to-steering column nut to 25–29 ft. lbs. (33–39 Nm).
13. Connect the horn electrical connector and install the nuts.
14. Align the spiral cable correctly with the alignment mark and install the air bag unit into the steering wheel.
15. Using new air bag-to-steering wheel Torx® bolts, install them into both sides of the steering wheel and torque to 11–18 ft. lbs. (15–25 Nm).
16. Install both side lids to the steering wheel.
17. Connect the air bag unit electrical connector and install the lower lid to the steering wheel.
18. Connect the negative battery cable and make sure the air bag red indicator light turns ON. The AIR BAG light should extinguish after about seven seconds. If the light does not extinguish, check the air bag self diagnostic system for a malfunction.