Steering column covers
 

Yeah I'm having trouble removing the steering column covers, The haines manual says it's in chapter 10 but I couldn't find it. Do you have to remove the steering wheel to pull it off? I don't want to break any more plastic clips on the car lol.

Edit: 97 mercury Tracer by the way

you may have to take the steering wheel off to get the top cover of the steering column off, but usually the bottom cover will come off just by removing the screws that hold the two halves together. You may have to take the knee panel off to get to it, but at least that half should come off. of course that is if there aren't any screws covered by the steering wheel.

No pulling the steering wheel is needed. Just keep looking, the screws are there. What are you trying to replace or repair anyway?

I'm trying to find out what's wrong with the windshield washer. There is no power getting to the pump but the wipers work. I figure there's a broken wire somewhere. I want to see if it's in the switch or in the car's wiring.

The washer button on my Ranger is acting up and it's the kind where the whole end of the arm is the switch. I really have to give it a good whack with my palm sometimes and then it works for awhile. Does yours have the button or the tab type? I would try and spray some electrical contact cleaner in there because the washer switch wearing out is very common. Unless you already know it is a broken wire that is. Usually something will give out on a column arm that serves more than two or three purposes (a signal, wiper/washer, cruise control, etc). Grab your test light and let us know.

Sorry took me so long to reply back on this. The covers come off using some elbow grease, apparently I wasn't giving it enough effort. I tested the switch and found it good, after which I found that one of the hoses coming from my tank was clogged. Thanks guys for your help!!