Technical How to recentre the airbag clockspring

[siwilks200]

So after I damaged my clock spring I have ordered the correct part number for an indicator stalk which has the clock spring attached.

it has arrived taped down after my request so that it doesn't rotate in transports but it's arrived 180 degrees turned round off Centre and I do not know which way to turn it back so its back into its original position. See photo.

I don't want to turn it whatsoever but it needs to go back up one way 180 degrees so I can attach it back onto the wheel! is there a method to recentre the clock spring? For all I know it's clock spring might have been rotated many times already more than 180 degrees

thanks in advance

 

[Davren]

When you buy a new clockspring, the two parts are locked together in the correct position with a red snap-off locking clip (as in my picture below). You can see the remaining part of the red clip on the lower part of the clockspring in your picture above.

Without the red locking clip fitted, you will find that the top half of the clockspring can be turned about 90º each way before it stops, but if you hold the central sprung ring down, it can be turned further (when the steering wheel is fitted, the sprung ring is held permanently down).

While holding the sprung ring down, turn the top half of the clockspring to the left until you feel a resistance (don't force it past the resistance). Then count the number of 360º turns it takes to turn it until you feel the resistance in the opposite direction (will probably be about 5 turns).

Turn it back to the left, half the number of turns it took from full left to full right (about 2½). The coiled ribbon cable inside the clockspring will now be centralised, but the top and bottom halves may not be exactly aligned.

To align the two halves, turn the top half the shortest distance (either left or right), until the two square red locking clip holes are aligned with each other, then put a cable tie through the two square holes to stop them turning.

When aligned correctly, the remaining part of the red clip will be roughly in the 1 o'clock position, and the cable connector will be at the 12 o'clock position so as to align with the square hole in the steering wheel boss.

Remember to cut the cable tie off before the steering wheel is fitted.
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[siwilks200]

Fantastic thank you!let's hope this fixes my airbag warning about the driver side airbag and squib as well as making my Horn work once again. I'm sure I tore the cable behind the clock spring would this be connected to the horn?

Do you know if even after changing this that I'll need the warning codes to be cleared via a diagnostic tool?

 

[Davren]

I'm sure I tore the cable behind the clock spring would this be connected to the horn?

All cables for the steering wheel electrical functions, i.e. horn, airbag and audio control buttons (if fitted) pass through the clockspring.

The horn connector is the white one in the first picture below. If you don't have audio buttons, the horn connector will go directly from the clockspring to the corresponding socket in the steering wheel. If you have audio controls, then the horn wiring will go to a multiplexer (the black horseshoe shaped part in the centre if the steering wheel in the second picture below), then to the socket in the steering wheel.

From the picture in your first post above, it looks like the airbag connector locking clips are missing.

Do you know if even after changing this that I'll need the warning codes to be cleared via a diagnostic tool?

Which codes?
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[siwilks200]

1. Driver's side airbag explosive charge 2nd stage.

2. Drivers airbag squib

I'll be able to get the actual codes later for you. Thanks

 

[siwilks200]

Oh the diagnosis screen didn't have the codes on

 

[Davren]

I've never had a problem with the steering wheel airbag, so I'm not sure whether the codes self delete once the fault has been fixed.

When I've had connector problems with the seat airbags, the airbag warning light has gone out immediately after fixing the problem.
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[siwilks200]

So far mate this HAS WORKED! I followed your directions and advice as normal and the airbag warning went off after one last initial warning bleep....! since then it's had the check ok sign come up upon every start and the warning has not come back on! I'm the happiest person alive!

I sure did rip the old clockspring wire as it just spins around and around. I didn't centre it when I put it back on obvs as I remember hearing the crunching when I went full lock ages ago