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Clockspring Assembly / Spiral Cable: Service and Repair

WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COMPLEX ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIRBAG SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FURTHER SYSTEM SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

REMOVAL
1. Turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position before starting the procedure.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. If the airbag has not been deployed, wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
3. Remove the driver side airbag module from the steering wheel. See Airbag Module Replacement for the procedures.
4. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional vehicle speed control, unplug the wire harness connectors from the speed control switches in the steering wheel.
5. Remove the nut that secures the steering wheel to the steering column upper shaft.
6. Remove the steering wheel with a steering wheel puller (Special Tool C-3428-B).
7. Remove the knee blocker from the instrument panel. Refer Instrument Panel, Gauges and Warning Indicators/Instrument Panel to Knee Blocker
8. If the vehicle is so equipped, remove the tilt steering column lever by grasping the lever firmly and pulling it sharply away from the column.

Lower Steering Column Shroud Screws:




9. Remove the two screws from the bottom of the lower steering column shroud that secure it to the upper shroud.
10. Unsnap the front and both sides of the lower shroud from the upper shroud.

Lower Steering Column Shroud Remove/Install:




11. Tilt the lower shroud downward and slide it back to disengage the hooks from the pivots on the upper shroud.

Upper Steering Column Shroud Remove/Install:




12. Remove the two screws that secure the upper shroud to the steering column.
13. Remove the upper shroud from the steering column.

Steering Column Tie-Wraps:




14. Remove the two upper wire harness tie wraps, but not the clockspring wire harness tie wrap or the overdrive switch wire harness tie wrap.
15. Unplug the wire harness connector between the clockspring and the instrument panel wire harness, located on the left side of the steering column wire harness connector mounting bracket.

Clockspring Remove/Install:




16. Using snap ring pliers, remove the snap ring that secures the clockspring to the upper steering column shaft.
17. To remove the clockspring, carefully lift the locating fingers of the clockspring assembly from the steering column as necessary. The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be replaced if faulty or damaged, or if the airbag has been deployed.

INSTALLATION
1. Before reinstalling the clockspring on the steering column, be certain that the wave washer is in place on the upper steering column shaft.

CAUTION: Before reinstalling the clockspring, be certain that the front wheels are still in the straight-ahead position, the alignment spline on the upper steering column shaft is in the 12 o'clock position, and that the clockspring is centered. See Clockspring Centering in the Adjustments for the centering procedure. Failure to follow these procedures may result in damage to the clockspring.

2. Align the hole in the clockspring hub with the horn tower and slide the clockspring onto the upper steering column shaft.
3. Reinstall the snap ring onto the upper steering column shaft. Be certain that the snap ring is fully seated in the groove on the shaft.

NOTE: The clockspring wire harness tie-wrap must be positioned above the upper steering column wire harness tie-wrap.

4. Route the clockspring wire harness along the steering column wire harness and secure the harnesses with two new tie-wraps. Be certain that the new tie-wraps are installed in the same positions as those that were removed and that the steering column wire harnesses are routed so that they will not be pinched or stretched.
5. Plug the clockspring wire harness connector into the instrument panel wire harness connector. Be certain that the connector latches are fully engaged.

NOTE: Before reinstalling the upper shroud on the steering column, be certain that the upper shroud spacer mounting stud is fully seated to the mounting boss on the inside surface of the shroud.

6. Reinstall the steering column shrouds. Be certain that the upper shroud spacer mounting stud is fully seated to the mounting boss on the inside of the shroud. Tighten the upper shroud mounting screws to 1.4 N.m (12 in. lbs.). Tighten the lower shroud mounting screws to 3.4 N.m (30 in. lbs.).
7. Reinstall the steering column opening cover and the knee blocker to the instrument panel. Refer to Steering and Suspension/Steering/Steering Column Opening Cover and to Knee Blocker.
8. Install the steering wheel being certain to index the alignment splines in the hub of the steering wheel with the splines on the upper steering column shaft. Pull the wire harnesses from the clockspring between the steering wheel back trim cover and the steering wheel armature. Tighten the steering wheel nut to 61 N.m (45 ft. lbs.). Be certain not to pinch the wiring between the steering wheel and the nut.
9. If the vehicle is so equipped, plug in the wire harness connectors to the vehicle speed control switches.
10. Install the driver side airbag module onto the steering wheel. See Airbag Module Replacement.

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