2015 Ecoboost Premium Upper Steering Column Removal HELP!

[Ecto1]

So I'm trying to remove the upper steering column on my 'stang but I'm stuck. I have it ready to come out but there's a 2-pin electrical connector at the rear of the adjustable steering column assembly that I can't figure out. See image below. There must be a latch on it somewhere but there isn't enough room to see up in this area as well as I need. I've used inspection mirrors and still can't see how the little connector is held in place. I could use some advice from someone who's already figured it out.

I'm afraid to drop the steering column before separating this connector. I'm afraid I'll break the wires or the connector itself. There's very little slack in the wiring and it runs directly under the rear of the adjustable steering column.

Thanks.

Sponsored

 

[Ecto1]

Excess!

 

[Buldawg76]

Did you mean success not excess? That yellow connector indicates it is an airbag related connector, and that connector is the steering wheel airbag,

BD

 

[Ecto1]

Did you mean success not excess? That yellow connector indicates it is an airbag related connector, and that connector is the steering wheel airbag,

BD

Excess. It took me 2 days to figure this d$#@! thing out. I suspected it might be for the Horn Button Air Bag given where it connected. But it's so tiny and there's no way to get under the dash to see what the h3ll I'm doing. When I suspected that there must be a little tab between the Yellow connector shell and the receptacle on the column I tried a slip not on a string wrapped around where I hoped the tabs were. No Joy. Then I tried a twist tie from a loaf of bread but I couldn't get enough leverage to twist it tight enough to release the tab. I wanted to try a cable tie but I didn't have one narrow enough to fit between the Yellow connector shell and the receptacle. So I had to diddle with my jeweler's screwdrivers for an hour until I finally figured out there must be tabs on BOTH sides. So I diddled for another hour until I finally got the d$#@! thing free.

I posted the pic for the next guy. It was a BEAR to figure out.

Now I have the Dash out and I'm ready to pull the Climate Control Housing...

 

[Buldawg76]

So I had to diddle with my jeweler's screwdrivers for an hour until I finally figured out there must be tabs on BOTH sides

Correct, both yellow tabs have to be depressed at the same time to get to release connector and that is because it's an SRS related wiring connector. The SRS systems will store energy in the capacitors even after the battery has been disconnected for quite a while, so it is possible for an airbag to deploy even with battery disconnected.

BD

Sponsored