Many owners have complained that the steering wheel of the Jimny remains off-centre while driving straight though the wheel alignment is perfect. In fact, this issue has also been observed in brand-new vehicles.
To overcome this problem, many have had the steering angle sensor reset and the drag links adjusted ie got the wheel alignment done. However, sometimes the issue remains unresolved, and the vehicle may even start pulling to one side.
From the day one of purchasing my Jimny I faced this issue of steering wheel position out, though there was no pulling of vehicle on any side. To overcome this issue I repositioned the steering wheel directly from the steering column. This adjustment should only be made if the vehicle’s wheel alignment is otherwise in order.
I went with this procedure:
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Disconnect the negative terminal of the vehicle’s battery. This is a critical safety step when working with airbags.
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Remove Airbag Assembly:
- Locate the two spring locks on the inner sides and one spring lock below the steering wheel through holes.
- insert a small screwdriver or hex in the hole & gently press each lock to release the steering airbag assembly.
- Once the airbag is loose, carefully disconnect the yellow airbag cable by lifting its plastic lock.
- Next, disconnect the black cable by pressing its small metal lock.
- Carefully keep the airbag assembly aside, facing upwards.
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Remove Steering Wheel:
- Unscrew the lock nut located on the steering column. Do not unscrew completely. Since the steering wheel is tightly fitted on the column, pull it from one side & then from the opposite side. Repeat this till the wheel gets free. Thereafter unscrew the nut completely. Mark the original position of wheel on the column with a marker as a reference.
- Next pull the steering wheel from the steering column.
- Refit the steering wheel by re-aligning the grooves on the wheel with the splines on the steering column. This can be done by turning the steering wheel clockwise or counterclockwise, as needed, to achieve a straight position. In most cases, shifting by a single spline is sufficient to bring the steering wheel in straight line.
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Initial Alignment Check:
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Reinstall the lock nut on the steering column (do not fully tighten it).
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Reconnect the vehicle’s battery.
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Drive the vehicle briefly to assess if the steering wheel is now straight while driving in a straight line. If not, repeat the above step to readjust the steering wheel alignment as necessary.
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Once satisfied with the alignment, disconnect the battery again.
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Fully tighten the central steering nut on the steering column. Advised to tighten to a torque of 33 Nm using a torque wrench.
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Reconnect the yellow airbag cable, ensuring the plastic lock is pressed down firmly.
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Reconnect the black cable.
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Carefully refit the airbag assembly into its housing until it clicks securely into place.
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Finally, reconnect the negative battery terminal.
This method effectively centres the steering wheel without the need for reset of steering angle sensor and adjustment of drag links.
Safety Note: Ensure the battery remains disconnected throughout the entire process of removing and reinstalling the airbag assembly.
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This work should only be done by someone who has the technical ability.
