Restraints Control Systems: CLOCKSPRING: Removal

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

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.

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

Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position.
Remove the driver airbag from the steering wheel. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/DRIVER AIRBAG - REMOVAL) .
Disconnect the clockspring upper pigtail wire connectors from the terminals of the horn switch located in the hub cavity of the steering wheel.
Remove the steering wheel from the steering column. (Refer to STEERING/COLUMN/STEERING WHEEL - REMOVAL) .
Remove the steering column opening cover from the instrument panel. (Refer to BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/STEERING COLUMN OPENING COVER - REMOVAL) .

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. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Clockspring Remove/Install

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - CLOCKSPRING

2 - SHROUD

3 - LOWER PIGTAIL CONNECTOR (2)

Loosen the two screws that secure the clockspring to the multi-function switch housing far enough to engage the clearance holes in the clockspring rotor and to disengage the clockspring case from the switch housing.
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.
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 clockspring centering is not maintained, the clockspring must be centered again before it is reinstalled. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/CLOCKSPRING - STANDARD PROCEDURE - CLOCKSPRING CENTERING) .