Clockspring Assembly / Spiral Cable: Service and Repair

STANDARD PROCEDURE - CLOCKSPRING CENTERING

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 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 SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.






CAUTION: Always turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position. Then, prior to disconnecting the steering column from the steering gear, lock the steering wheel to the steering column. If clockspring centering has been compromised for ANY reason, the entire Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) and clockspring unit MUST be replaced with a new unit.

Like the clockspring in a timepiece, the clockspring tape has travel limits and can be damaged by being wound too tightly during full stop-to-stop steering wheel rotation. To prevent this from occurring, the clockspring is centered when it is installed on the steering column. Centering the clockspring indexes the clockspring tape to the movable steering components so that the tape can operate within its designed travel limits. However, if the steering shaft is disconnected from the steering gear, the clockspring rotor spool can change position relative to the fixed steering components.

Clockspring centering must always be confirmed by viewing the inspection window (3) on the clockspring rotor (1). If the black squares (2) on the clockspring tape are not visible through the inspection window, clockspring centering has been compromised and the SCCM must be replaced with a new unit. Steering Column Module - Installation.

The service replacement SCCM is shipped with the clockspring pre-centered and with a red plastic locking tab installed. This locking tab should not be removed until the SCCM has been properly installed on the steering column. If the locking tab is removed before the SCCM is installed on a steering column, clockspring centering must be confirmed by viewing the black squares on the clockspring tape through the inspection window on the clockspring rotor. If the black squares of the clockspring tape are not visible through the inspection window, clockspring centering has been compromised and the SCCM must be replaced with a new unit. Steering Column Module - Installation. Proper clockspring installation may also be confirmed by viewing the Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) data using a diagnostic scan tool.