Clockspring Assembly / Spiral Cable: Service and Repair

WARNING: TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, AIRBAG, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, IMPACT SENSOR, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE, THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PERFORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

REMOVAL
The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be replaced if faulty or damaged, or if the driver airbag has been deployed.

NOTE: Before starting this procedure, be certain to turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.

1. Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position.
2. Remove the driver airbag from the steering wheel.
3. Disconnect the clockspring upper pigtail wire connectors from the terminals of the horn switch located in the hub cavity of the steering wheel.
4. Remove the steering wheel from the steering column.
5. Remove the steering column opening cover from the instrument panel.

Clockspring Remove/Install:

6. Disconnect the two clockspring lower pigtail connectors from the vehicle wire harness connectors located between the steering column and the back of the fuse block underneath the steering column.
7. Loosen the two screws that secure the clock-spring to the multi-function switch housing far enough to engage the clearance holes in the clock-spring rotor and to disengage the clockspring case from the switch housing.
8. Remove the clockspring from the multi-function switch housing. The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be replaced if faulty or damaged, or if the driver airbag has been deployed.
9. If the removed clockspring is to be reused, be certain that the clockspring rotor is secured to the clockspring case to maintain clockspring centering until it is reinstalled on the steering column. If clock-spring centering is not maintained, the clockspring must be centered again before it is reinstalled.

INSTALLATION
The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be replaced if faulty or damaged, or if the driver airbag has been deployed.

If the clockspring is not properly centered in relation to the steering wheel, steering shaft and steering gear, it may be damaged, refer to adjustments. Service replacement clocksprings are shipped pre-centered and with the mounting screws backed out from the case far enough to engage the access holes in the upper surface of the rotor. The clockspring mounting screws should not be tightened into the clockspring case until the clockspring has been installed on the steering column. If the screws are tightened into or removed from the case before the clockspring is installed on a steering column, the clockspring centering procedure must be performed.

NOTE: Before starting this procedure, be certain that the front wheels are still in the straight-ahead position.

1. Carefully slide the centered clockspring down over the steering column upper shaft until the screws in the clockspring case are aligned with the mounting holes on the multi-function switch housing.
2. Tighten the two screws that secure the clock-spring to the multi-function switch mounting housing. Tighten the screws to 2 Nm (18 in. lbs.).
3. Reconnect the two clockspring lower pigtail connectors to the vehicle wire harness connectors located between the steering column and the back of the fuse block underneath the steering column.

Clockspring Pigtail Routing:

4. Route the clockspring lower pigtail wires around the lug on the bottom of the multi-function switch housing and behind the fuse block underneath the steering column.
5. Reinstall the steering column opening cover onto the instrument panel.
6. Reinstall the steering wheel onto the steering column.
7. Reconnect the clockspring upper pigtail wire connectors to the terminals of the horn switch located in the hub cavity of the steering wheel.
8. Reinstall the driver airbag onto the steering wheel.