Standard Procedure - CLOCKSPRING Centering
To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, Occupant Classification System (OCS), 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 SRS. Failure to follow these instructions may result in accidental airbag deployment.
Always turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position. Then, prior to disconnecting the steering column from the steering gear, lock the steering wheel to the steering column. If clockspring centering has been compromised for ANY reason, the entire Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) and clockspring unit MUST be replaced with a new unit.
Like the clockspring in a timepiece, the clockspring tape has travel limits and can be damaged by being wound too tightly during full stop-to-stop steering wheel rotation. To prevent this from occurring, the clockspring is centered when it is installed on the steering column. Centering the clockspring indexes the clockspring tape to the movable steering components so that the tape can operate within its designed travel limits. However, if the steering shaft is disconnected from the steering gear, the clockspring rotor spool can change position relative to the fixed steering components.
The service replacement clockspring is shipped pre-centered and with a yellow plastic locking tab installed. This locking tab should not be removed until the clockspring has been properly installed on the steering column. If the locking tab is removed before the clockspring is installed on a steering column, clockspring centering has been compromised and the entire Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) must be replaced with a new unit. Refer to MODULE, STEERING COLUMN CONTROL (SCCM), REMOVAL .