Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Clockspring

I have searched this time and time again I have replaced all fuses checked all connections, except one, the clockspring. I would like to get a picture of the clockspring so i can go to a junkyard and get the part.

But to keep on topic here in troubleshooting i still want to ask for some advice or guidance.

The issue i have is no cruise controls, no horn and no hazard/fourway lights. The airbag light is NOT blinking. Everything i have searched in the archives has all 4. I'm just wondering if there is anything else that could be the root of my problem.

Thanks in advance for the help.

i would recommend going to ford and just buying a new clockspring... there only like 35 bucks or so... i bought one about a month ago and paid around 30 bucks with a 10% employee discount...

It is also called an airbag sliding contact.
Autozone has a good schematic
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/ce/fd/0900823d801bcefd.jsp

and instructions to remove.
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/d5/e5/0900823d801bd5e5.jsp

The replacement seems simple enough. I have a flashing airbag light, no horn, but do have cruise. I'll have to check the hazard lights. My guess was the clockspring. Is this something that is difficult to replace? Anybody ever done it themselves?

i have the same problems. occasional airbag light and my horn only works about 50% of the time

Where can i get this part in Canada?

In the AutoZone instructions it says:

1) Position the vehicle with the front wheels in a straight ahead position.

2) Disconnect both battery cables, negative cable last. [WAIT at least 1 minute for the air bag backup power supply to deplete its stored energy before continuing.]

3) Disconnect the air bag backup power supply.

4) ...

Where is the "air bag backup power supply" that it references in #3 to disconnect?

Wait at least 10 minutes rather than 1 minute to be safe. The airbag backup supply is the capacitor which stores the energy. The waiting takes care of this issue. I'm not sure if the capacitor is in the air bag module.

From 1996 Ford CD manual. Clockspring a.k.a. air bag sliding contact.

Module, Driver Side Air Bag
Removal

Note:
If the driver side air bag module did not deploy in a collision, it may not have been needed. Complete all diagnostics before replacing the driver side air bag module.

1. WARNING: THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT NECESSARY FOR SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT IS POWERED DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY. TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MUST BE DISCONNECTED PRIOR TO SERVICING OR REPLACING ANY SYSTEM COMPONENTS.

Disconnect battery ground cable.

2. Disconnect positive battery cable and wait one minute for back-up power supply energy to be depleted.

3. Remove five retaining screws and upper and lower steering column shroud from steering column tube.

4. Rotate steering wheel to remove air bag retaining bolts (one on either side) from steering column side of steering wheel.

5. Carefully remove driver side air bag module from steering wheel.

6. WARNING: PLACE AIR BAG MODULE ON BENCH WITH TRIM COVER FACING UP TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL INJURY.

Disconnect the air bag electrical connector from air bag sliding contact connector. Remove driver side air bag module.

Installation

1. Note: Fill out and return air bag traceability postcard for new air bag with VIN numbers and note diagnostic trouble code.

Connect air bag electrical connector to air bag sliding contact connector.

2. Position driver side air bag module to steering wheel and secure with two retaining bolts. Tighten to 4-5 N-m (35-45 lb-in).

3. Reconnect positive battery cable.

4. Reconnect battery ground cable.

5. Prove out air bag system.



Sliding Contact Air Bag
Removal and Installation

1. Make sure that vehicle's front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.

2. Remove steering wheel and driver side air bag module as outlined.

3. Remove steering column shrouds as outlined.

4. Disconnect air bag sliding contact wiring harness.

5. Apply tape across air bag sliding contact assembly stator and rotor to prevent accidental rotation.

6. Release three air bag sliding contact locking tabs and lift air bag sliding contact from steering column.

7. To install, reverse Removal procedure.

One minute is more than adequate. If more time were required, the warnings in the manual would say so.

The "backup supply" is in the airbag control module. It only needs to maintain power for less than 200 msec in the event of a crash (and loss of primary supply) in order to activate the system.

It's a small capacity. There's no need to be timid around it, but it does need to be respected.

Steve