Removal & Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Marauder, 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, and 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . RCM is located on center tunnel, under instrument panel. Disable air bag system. On models equipped with center console, set parking brake and place gear shift lever in Neutral position. On all models, disable air bag system. See DISABLING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM.
- Release ashtray retaining tabs and remove ashtray. Remove ashtray bracket retaining screws, located under instrument panel center stack. Slide ashtray bracket forward, releasing bracket retainers, and position ashtray bracket out of way.
- On models equipped with center console, pull out on center console gauge assembly finish panel and position assembly aside. Pull up on center console finish panel to release retaining clips and rotate finish panel out of way. Carefully remove shift cable socket from the shifter ball. See Fig 1 . Push in on shift cable release tab and separate shift cable from shifter assembly.
- Push in on shift interlock cable release tab and separate shift interlock cable from shifter assembly. See Fig 2 . Remove RCM mounting bolts and remove RCM. See Fig 3 . Disconnect RCM electrical connector locking clip and disconnect connector.
- To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten RCM mounting bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Reconnect negative battery cable. With air bag simulators installed at all deployable devices, perform system operation check. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK . Activate air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM .