If your Jeep Cherokee has recently been broken into and someone had tried to hot-wire it, perhaps you need to remove the steering column to effect repairs. You could take your Cherokee to a mechanic, or you can do the job yourself, keeping what you'd spend at the repair shop for your own uses. You only need common tools to perform this task,
Remove the cover off the steering wheel. You should be able to pop it off its connectors around the wheel, but if you are struggling to remove it, use a flat-head screwdriver to pry it off.
Disconnect the electrical connectors for the horn and air bag. Use a wrench to remove the retaining nut. Pull the steering wheel up and lift it off the shaft. Place it in a safe area for reattachment later.
Remove the windshield wiper and turn signal switches. Unscrew their mounting screws and unhook them from the electrical connectors. Take the lower and upper steering column covers off.
Use a wrench to remove the bolts attached to the steering lock and upper sleeve. This will allow you to remove the upper and lower clamp bolts and the retaining bolts for the upper column. Pull the upper steering shaft and tubing out of the vehicle in one unit.
Repeat the process on the lower steering column. Use a wrench to remove the clamp bolt and retaining bolt for the dust boot. Remove the lower steering column from the vehicle.
