Don't worry these air bags **** no one, unlike recents ones !
I did around 5-6 times this job with no prob. I let the bat connected because I like to have music when doing something on the car. Even if youre near the air bag, youre not working near a wire of it. Then, it cannot be triggered by a bad move and I let it in place.
One day or another, these switch will "forgot" an intermittent speed and it's the begining of the end. What is your trouble precisely ? If it's an intermittent speed is not going correctly or wiper jam when rotating it, it's that for sure. I remember that someone posted on V8SHO a method to clean them because lot of dirt can enter into by the hazard button. But it seems complicated to clean, I prefer to find a good one at scrapyard (rather than pay 50$ for that) and just put it in place. (But if youre doing this, plug the switch and try it right after that before all was bolted in place, just in case.) Now, I conserve 2-3 spares of that, they have tendancy to bug over time (dirt+aging electrical contacts).
Unbolting is not hard, rebolting the lower screw however... I forgot the torx size needed for that but if youre able, take one with a magnetized end. That will help to put it in place. I admit that I retreive only the steering column upper cap. The lower one is on the way of the lower screw.
Unpluging the switch is a little bit tricky too. There is 2 plugs, these are each held by 2 snapped clips. Not so easy without scrapping them. Take 2 plane screwdrivers, squeeze them between the switch at the same time. Press (gently) on each screwdriver and keep some fingers to pull on the plug (if someone near, ask him to pull, it's easier). Same technique for the second.
(And if you're asking : No, you can't unplug a plug trying to just unsnap one clip at the time.)
Good luck,
