I have removed the steering wheel and air bag on our 2001 Cherokee XJ Sport and now need to remove the plastic cover surrounding the steering column so I can replace the clock spring. I see some holes in the plastic cover but my Phillips headed screwdriver does not seem to fit into the head of whatever fastener(s) are up in there out of sight. Does anyone know how many fasteners need to be removed to get the cover off and what kind of tool is needed? Thank you!

 

Think it might have been bolts.
Was so long ago. LOL.
Smaller.
5/16" maybe.

 

There were two small bolts holding the air bag itself (which are removed as a first step in the process), but the access holes for what I am asking about appear to be just large enough to fit the shaft of a screwdriver inside.

Update:

One of the three screws holding the plastic cover were missing. The other two screws turned out to be Phillips headed. I don't know if those two screws were factory screws because it was evident the clock spring had been replaced at least once before based on:

The installed clock spring had yellow paint markings where it had evidently been lifted from a vehicle at a wrecking yard. The installed clock spring did not have the contact plug for the cruise control either (and this vehicle has cruise). Oh, and one of the two threaded holes used to pull the steering wheel was wasted/crossed and the bolt from the wheel puller tool would not thread in. Fortunately, I had a tap on hand so I could rethread the damage and complete the job.

After replacing the clock spring, the horns now turn off (they were stuck on before) and the "airbag" light on the dash is no longer permanently lit. The clock spring I removed had one of the two locking/locating tabs broken off.

​​​​​​Thank you Ralph77 for responding

 

I couldn't be sure what was in there securing the those upper and lower covers around the steering column.
Cruise Control was one of the first options that I added to my '00 that she did not come with about 8 years ago so....
Of course that sent me down the rabbit hole wanting to add every possible option to my '00 that she did not come with.
I always wondered if one those tabs being broken really mattered.
They really don't secure the clockspring, just kinda go in the hole, and figure they keep the clockspring from rotating in there.
Both being broken is probably not good but one?