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Old 09-13-2007, 06:52 AM
denisond3 denisond3 is offline
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Re: bad multifunction switch?

You can safely work on removing the steering wheel and the steering column cover - both of which I believe have to come off to remove the multifunction switch. We have a 97, but I think the procedure is the same for the later Neons.
WHAT YOU MUST TO DO is to disconnect the car's battery - and wait ten minutes before you start working on the steering wheel. This period of time lets the airbag Control Module under the shifter console 'shut down'. It has a large value electrolytic capacitor inside it, whose purpose is to deploy the airbag in an accident even if the accident has already smashed the battery/wiring. It takes a little while to discharge fully.
If you have a radio that has the security feature where you need a 'code' to ever power it up again - you would need to take care of that before disconnecting the battery. I dont have one of those radios, so have no idea how to do it.
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