Clock Spring Repair
- Preparations. Turn off your car and remove the negative and positive battery cable after. Wait for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove The Airbag. Remove the bolts that keep the airbag attached under the steering wheel. This will separate the...
- Locate The Clock Spring. Remove the center bolt using a wrench. Highlight the location of the steering column and...
Can You reuse a clock spring after a repair?
After a repair, there is no problem reusing a clock spring if you removed the clock spring correctly. In most car models, you need to make sure the steering wheel is in the middle when you remove it. You should also mark the position on the steering axle compared to the steering wheel.
What happens if your clock spring is broken?
If your clock spring is broken, it means that the connection between your steering wheel and your airbag has been lost. This is extremely dangerous, as it means that your airbag will not deploy in the event of an accident. Can a Clock Spring Be Repaired?
How do you remove a clock spring from a steering wheel?
Remove the clock spring while the steering wheel is in a neutral position and be sure not to turn the clock spring after you remove it. Reinstall the clock spring in the same neutral position.
How often do clock springs fail on a car?
If the car is dr4iven often, with a lot turning the steering wheel back and forth, the clock spring can fail within the first 80,000 miles. The replacement of clock springs can be do-it-yourself job or you can take it to the repair garage.
How do you fix a clock spring on a car?
0:364:55How to Replace a Clock Spring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCover underneath the steering column there's a yellow connector here and that's for the airbag inMoreCover underneath the steering column there's a yellow connector here and that's for the airbag in the steering wheel now at the top here we have the clock spring connection.
What happens if clock spring is broken?
If your clock spring is broken, it means that the connection between your steering wheel and your airbag has been lost. This is extremely dangerous, as it means that your airbag will not deploy in the event of an accident.
What causes a clock spring to break?
Clocksprings wear in time or become damaged during repairs to the steering column, or when removing a rack and pinion gear, gearbox, or coupling. If the steering wheel is allowed to spin freely, the clockspring's connection may break, resulting in an open circuit and an illuminated airbag light.
Can I drive my car with a broken clock spring?
Driving a vehicle with a broken clock spring is not advisable. This stems from the fact that a vehicle's clock spring provides power/ground to a couple of critical vehicle safety functions. These include a vehicle's horn and airbag.
Can you drive with a damaged clock spring?
A bad clock spring can afflict you with more than broken volume controls. You could be left without cruise control, a functioning horn, or most importantly, a functioning airbag. In this situation, you would be unable to alert an inattentive driver and the airbag may not deploy in the event of a collision.
What is another name for clock spring?
Clock springs are also known as mainsprings or power springs and have a multitude of uses. They offer a circular movement and provide a useful alternative to torsion springs, particularly when a circular motion is required in a small space.
How do you test a clock spring?
1:052:15Airbag Systems How to Test a Clock Spring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSpring. It's going to come down through here and short out and come back the other side. You've gotMoreSpring. It's going to come down through here and short out and come back the other side. You've got your tone that will indicate you have a good clock spring.
How do I know if I need a new clock spring?
Common signs you have faulty clock spring include: Illumination of the SRS/Airbag light. No sound when hitting the horn. Noises coming from the steering column.
What does a steering clock spring do?
In vehicle steering systems a clock spring or clockspring is a spiral-wound special rotary electrical connector which allows a vehicle's steering wheel to turn while still making an electrical connection between the steering wheel airbag and/or the vehicle's horn and other devices and the vehicle's electrical systems.
How do I check my clock spring?
1:052:15Airbag Systems How to Test a Clock Spring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you take and you probe one leader of the clock. Spring. It's going to come down through hereMoreSo if you take and you probe one leader of the clock. Spring. It's going to come down through here and short out and come back the other side.
What is another name for clock spring?
Clock springs are also known as mainsprings or power springs and have a multitude of uses. They offer a circular movement and provide a useful alternative to torsion springs, particularly when a circular motion is required in a small space.
What happens when a clock spring is worn out?
This is also the case with the clock spring. Worn out circuit bands on the clock spring will send a soft-code error to the airbag control module, which activates the airbag light.
How long does it take for a clock spring to fail?
If the car is dr4iven often, with a lot turning the steering wheel back and forth, the clock spring can fail within the first 80,000 miles. The replacement of clock springs can be do-it-yourself job or you can take it to the repair garage.
What is a clock spring?
A clock spring, also sometimes referred to as a coil assembly or cable reel assembly, is a component which works with the steering system in your car which assists in keeping control of the vehicle. The spring keeps the airbag, airbag module, steering wheel, and horn connected with wiring as the steering wheel is in motion. The clock spring allows the wheels to turn in a circular motion and also maintains the electrical connection with the wiring. Typically, the clock spring is located between the steering wheel and the steering column.
Why is my horn not working?
Horn will not work – The horn is another part of the warning system. When the horn will not blow, it could mean several things. It could be a broken horn relay, a blown fuse, a bad switch inside the steering wheel, a corroded ground or broken wire, and last but not least, a broken clock spring.
Where is the clock spring located?
Typically, the clock spring is located between the steering wheel and the steering column. The clock spring is a circular disk-like component with coils that come in different sizes, depending on the manufacturer. The coil spring, or helical spring, is a shock absorber that also maintains the force between the contacting surfaces.
Why does my clock spring break?
Electrical problems – When there are problems with the electrical system, the clock spring may malfunction or stop working completely. You Treat Your Car Like Shit – If you fail to look after components in your car, it can lead to several components failing which can cause your clock spring to break.
Is a compression helical spring a tension helical spring?
The spring comes as either a tension helical spring or a compression helical spring. These springs are simple in design; therefore, they can be assembled with ease with many ranges. The spring rates are constant and performance is generally predictable.
How much does it cost to replace a clock spring?
The clock spring itself isn’t a terribly expensive part—typically costing between $30 and $200. The replacement of a clock spring isn’t overly complex, but it can take up to a couple of hours to complete for people who don’t have a lot of experience. A mechanic shop should be able to get the job done in under an hour, two max—putting your labor cost anywhere from $70 all the way up to $250 depending on where you get the work done.
What happens if your clock spring is sprung?
Other issues you’ll likely notice if your clock spring has sprung are your steering wheel buttons or car horn not working at all, or not working when the steering wheel is turned in various positions . You may notice flickering or sporadic warning lights and your horn or steering wheel media controls working only intermittently if your clock spring is having issues.
What the Heck Is a Clock Spring?
Despite its name, a clock spring is neither a clock nor a spring. The clock spring got its name from what its internal mechanism looks like: a coiled ribbon wrapped around a shaft. Clock springs can go by a bunch of different names such as cable reel, contact reel, spiral cable, airbag clock spring, and steering wheel clock spring.
Where is the clock spring located?
As you might be guessing by those last two names, the clock spring is located inside the steering wheel of virtually every car on the road these days. Its purpose is to maintain an electrical connection between the steering wheel and all its electronic components such as any media controls, cruise control, and horn buttons found on your steering wheel. It also maintains a connection to the driver’s airbag controls—making it a very important safety mechanism.
How long do clock springs last?
Clock springs are designed to last throughout the life of the vehicle, or roughly 80,000 miles on average, and don’t require any regular maintenance or replacement like other parts in your car.
Can you replace a clock spring at home?
Replacing the clock spring at home is doable, but it’s definitely not a task for the faint of heart. The most important thing to know if you do want to try replacing your clock spring at home is that you must disconnect the battery before you get started because of the airbag. The entire steering wheel and airbag housing must be disassembled to get to the clock spring, and this poses the risk of your airbag detonating, which can cause serious injury or even death.
Can you drive without a clock spring?
Technically, you can operate your vehicle without a clock spring; however, you will be placing yourself in danger by doing so, as a broken clock spring can prevent your airbag from deploying properly in the event of a crash. A broken clock spring can also prevent your horn from working—another potential safety issue that will prevent you from alerting other drivers quickly.
How much does it cost to replace a clock spring?
The average clock spring replacement cost is between $100 and $800, depending on the car model and labor costs. A clock spring costs $50 to $500, and the labor costs $50 to $300.
Why is it so expensive to replace a clock spring?
This can cause the labor work to become expensive because you often need special diagnostic tools.
Why does my traction control light up?
This also means that if the connection to the cruise control buttons in the steering wheel becomes bad, it can also cause the traction control warning light or the electronic throttle warning light to light up. To determine if it is the clock spring causing these lights to light up, you have to check the trouble codes with an OBD2 scanner.
How to tell if clock spring is bad?
Here are the 5 most common symptoms of a bad or faulty clock spring: 1. Airbag Warning Light. Even if your car does not have a lot of fancy functions, one thing it most likely has is an airbag inside the steering wheel. The airbag is a susceptible system, and the slightest fault will light up the airbag warning light.
What does a clock spring do?
The clock spring ensures that you can turn the steering wheel while having electrical functions integrated in it. Here are the signs to look for if you think it's faulty
Why does my horn make no sound?
If you were about to use the horn, but no sound came from it when you pushed the button, it may be caused by a faulty clock spring.
Where is the clock spring located?
The clock spring is located behind the steering wheel , often integrated with the unit where the turn signal lever is installed. To reach or even see the clock spring, you have to remove both the steering wheel and the covers around the steering wheel axle.
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What happens if you break a clock spring?
A broken clock spring will leave these systems in a degraded state, if they continue to function at all.
How to tell if clock spring is bad?
You may notice several seemingly unrelated issues, such as steering wheel buttons that don’t work accompanied with an airbag warning light.
What is a Clock Spring?
A clock spring is a coil of flat wires wound inside an assembly in the steering wheel . One part of the outer assembly follows the steering wheel, and the other part attaches to the steering column.
Where is the Clock Spring Located?
The clock spring is usually located on the steering column behind the steering wheel. Almost every road going vehicle with a steering wheel has one of these devices.
Can You Re-use a Clock Spring?
If you remove the clock spring while performing a repair, it is often possible to reuse the clock spring. Remove the clock spring while the steering wheel is in a neutral position and be sure not to turn the clock spring after you remove it. Reinstall the clock spring in the same neutral position.
Why is a clock spring important?
This is exactly what a clock spring is designed to prevent. Because the airbag in your steering wheel is dependent on a functional clock spring, it’s crucial that the clock spring is in good working condition. Keep reading to understand how a clock spring works, what symptoms of a broken clock spring are, and the average replacement cost is.
How did clock springs get their name?
The clock spring is not really a spring at all, but it gets its name from the look of the coiled ribbon inside the housing. This coiled ribbon resembles the shape of a spiral torsion spring, but does not compress and release stored energy the way an actual spring would.
How to remove a broken clock mainspring?
Removing a broken clock mainspring. To remove this force a sharp wide object (I used a sharpened bradel) in between the wound spring layers. You want to lift the spring so you can get some long nosed pliers in the gap . Once you have done this grip the spring with the pliers and STOP.
How thick is a mantle clock spring?
Springs are measured in three dimensions for specifications purposes. Firstly the thickness which ranges from .3mm to about .7mm for a typical mantle clock. Your going to have to bend a portion of the spring flat in order to get an accurate reading.
How to tell if a mainspring is broken?
You can tell if your mainspring is broken because the clock key will offer little or no real resistance when you try and wind the clock. If the spring has broken in the middle this may be a little different; in this case the clock will wind for maybe two or three turns but then you will hear the spring move and the resisitance on ...
How far has the spring broken from a spiggot?
As you can see from this picture the main spring here has broken and needs replacing. Note the that spring has broken about five or ten centimeters from the barrel spiggot and there is still about 120 cm of spring braced tightly to the edge of the barrel.
What happens if you pull a spring out?
Once you have done this grip the spring with the pliers and STOP. If you pull the spring out now it will unwind like a whip cracking and you could easily be injured because your likely to be holding the barrel with your other hand and this is the area the spring will be at its most dangerous.
How far away should you work from a wound spring?
Work with your head at least a couple of feet (60cm) away from the wound spring at all times. This is a job you do at arms length.
What gauge do you use to measure a chiming spring?
Once the spring is out then you need a vernier gauge or micrometer to measure the spring in order to source an identical replacement. If the movement is worn then you might like to go for a stronger thicker spring but not by more than .1 or .2mm. This can put a bit of life into the chiming spring if the coggs are worn in the clock and its all a bit loose.
