Procedures

STANDARD PROCEDURE - CLOCKSPRING CENTERING

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with air bags, 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 removing the clockspring from the steering column or disconnecting the steering column from the steering gear, lock the steering wheel to the steering column or securely fasten the clockspring rotor to the clockspring case. If clockspring centering has been compromised for ANY reason, the entire clockspring and Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) 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 and the SAS integral to the clockspring to the movable steering components so that the tape can operate within its designed travel limits and the SAS can accurately monitor and communicate steering wheel inputs. However, if the clockspring is removed from the steering column or if the steering shaft is disconnected from the steering gear, the clockspring spool and the SAS can change position relative to the movable steering components and relative to each other. The clockspring must be replaced if proper centering has been compromised or the tape may be damaged and Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) or faults may be set within the SAS.

Service replacement clocksprings are shipped pre-centered and with a plastic locking pin installed. This locking pin should not be removed until the clockspring has been installed on the steering column. If the locking pin is removed before the clockspring is installed on a steering column, the clockspring must be replaced with a new unit. Proper clockspring installation must also be confirmed by viewing the SAS Menu Item, Data Display function using a diagnostic scan tool.