For the most part, your reliable 1994 Honda Civic requires you to perform little maintenance. Still, components wear out over time, requiring replacements now and then. And one of them could be the ignition switch. Fortunately, this switch is readily accessible under the steering column covers. The key part of your task, though, is to properly disarm and re-arm the air bag system to avoid serious injuries.
Detach the negative battery cable (black) first and the positive battery cable (red) second, using a wrench. Wait for three minutes for your Honda air bag system to disarm.
Unfasten the two mounting bolts from the lid on the lower section of the steering wheel using a hex wrench.
Remove the shorting connectors from under the lid.
Reach the air-bag connector under the steering wheel cover through the access provided when you removed the lid. Unplug the connector and install one of the shorting connectors you removed from under the lid into the air bag side of the connector.
Remove the glove box using a Phillips screwdriver.
Unplug the air bag connector and install the second shorting connector into the air bag side of the connector.
Detach the cover(s) from under the dashboard using a Phillips screwdriver and/or a hex wrench.
Find the fuse/relay box under the dashboard and disconnect the five-pin connector from the box.
Unplug the seven-pin connector from the main harness under the dashboard.
Remove the upper and lower steering-column covers using the Phillips screwdriver.
Turn the ignition switch to the “On” position.
Unfasten the two ignition-switch mounting screws using the Phillips screwdriver and remove the ignition switch from the steering column.
Place the new ignition switch in position and secure the two mounting screws using the Phillips screwdriver.
Turn the ignition switch to the "Off" position.
Replace the upper and lower steering column covers using the Phillips screwdriver.
Plug the seven-pin connector on the main harness under the dashboard.
Connect the five-pin connector to the fuse/relay box under the dashboard.
Attach the cover(s) under the dashboard using the Phillips screwdriver and/or the hex wrench.
Remove the shorting connector from the passenger side air-bag connector and plug the electrical connector.
Install the glove box using the Phillips screwdriver.
Remove the shorting connector from the driver-side air bag connector and plug in the electrical connector.
Replace the shorting connectors under the lid.
Replace the lid on the steering wheel and secure the two mounting bolts using the hex wrench.
Attach the positive battery cable (red) first and the negative battery cable (black) second, using the wrench.
Turn the ignition switch to the “On” position. The air bag warning light on the dashboard should light for approximately six seconds and then go out (see the Tips section at the bottom for more information).
