Removing the steering wheel from a 2001 Ford Focus is a straightforward task that should take only a few minutes for you to complete. The steering wheel is held on by a single nut. The trick to tackling this job is removing the air bag and wiring that are installed in front of the nut. You need to handle the air bag carefully to prevent it from being inflated.
Lift the hood and prop it open. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery with a socket wrench, followed by the positive cable. Pull the cables away from the battery. Wait five minutes to allow all the power to dissipate. Holding the horn button down will also help.
Unscrew the two bolts behind the steering wheel with a socket wrench.
Pry the air bag cover off the front of the steering wheel by hand. The air bag is held on by four small clips.
Disconnect the wiring harness that is exposed. Lift the locking tab up and pull the connectors apart.
Unbolt the nut in the middle of the steering wheel with a socket wrench.
Pull the steering wheel off the shaft. Tap the back of the steering wheel with a hammer if the wheel is stuck.
