Restraint Systems (Service Information): CLOCKSPRING: Installation

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, occupant classification system, 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.

CAUTION: A service replacement clockspring is shipped with the clockspring pre-centered and with a molded plastic locking pin installed. This locking pin should not be removed until the clockspring has been installed on the steering column. If the locking pin is removed before the clockspring is installed on a steering column, the clockspring centering procedure must be performed. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/CLOCKSPRING - STANDARD PROCEDURE - CLOCKSPRING CENTERING) .

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

Fig 1: Clockspring Remove/Install

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1. Carefully slide the centered clockspring (3) down over the steering column upper shaft until the two integral plastic latches on the back of the clockspring case are fully engaged through their openings in the steering column lock housing (1).
2. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional Electronic Stability Program (ESP) there will be an applied pigtail wire connector located below the steering column on the back of the clockspring case for the Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) that is internal to the clockspring. Reconnect the instrument panel wire harness connector for the SAS to the pigtail connector.
3. Reconnect the two instrument panel wire harness connectors for the clockspring to the two connector receptacles located below the steering column on the back of the clockspring case.
4. Position the upper (2) and lower (5) shrouds onto the steering column.
5. Align the snap features on the lower shroud with the receptacles in the upper shroud and apply hand pressure to snap them together.
6. From below the steering column, install and tighten the two screws (4) that secure the lower shroud to the upper shroud. Tighten the screws to 2 N.m (18 in. lbs.).
7. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional tilt steering column, move the column back to the fully raised position and move the tilt release lever back to the locked (up) position.
8. If a new clockspring has been installed, remove the plastic locking pin that secures the clockspring rotor to the clockspring case to maintain clockspring centering.
9. Reinstall the steering wheel onto the steering column. (Refer to STEERING/COLUMN/STEERING WHEEL - INSTALLATION) .
   NOTE: Be certain that the steering wheel mounting screw is tightened to the proper torque specification to ensure proper clockspring operation.
10. Reconnect the steering wheel wire harness connector to the upper clockspring connector receptacle.
11. Reinstall the driver airbag onto the steering wheel. (Refer to ELECTRICAL/RESTRAINTS/DRIVER AIRBAG - INSTALLATION) .
12. Reconnect the battery negative cable.