Lexus 45250-0E081 Column Assembly, Electrical

To remove the steering column, park the vehicle with the wheels straight and disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery. Next, remove the steering wheel and turn the ignition key to the LOCK position to prevent the steering shaft from turning, as failing to do so could damage the airbag clock spring. Then, take off the lower finish panel under the column and the knee bolster behind it, followed by the steering column covers. Disconnect the electrical connector(s) for the steering column harness and mark the relationship of the steering shaft U-joint to the intermediate shaft before removing the pinch bolt. After that, remove the steering column mounting fasteners, lower the column, and pull it to the rear, ensuring nothing is still connected. Separate the intermediate shaft from the steering shaft and remove the column. For installation, guide the steering column into position, connect the intermediate shaft, and install the mounting fasteners without tightening them yet. Once in place, tighten the column mounting fasteners to the specified torque, install the pinch bolt, and tighten it to the specified torque. The remainder of the installation follows the reverse order of removal.