6 Symptoms of a Broken Clock Spring
Have you ever wondered how the electronics in your steering wheel stay connected when you can turn it over and over in any direction? If you run a regular cable to your steering wheel controls, it will eventually tangle and break with just daily use.
Your steering wheel airbag relies on a functioning clockspring, so it’s important that your clockspring is in good condition. Learn how a clockspring works, the symptoms of a broken clockspring, and the average cost of a replacement. What is a clock spring? A clock spring is a flat coil of wire that is assembled and wound inside the steering wheel. One part of the outer assembly follows the steering wheel and the other part is attached to the steering column.
A clock spring is not actually a mainspring, but gets its name from the coiled band visible inside the case. This coiled band is similar in shape to a helical torsion spring, but it does not compress and release stored energy like a real spring.
What does a clock spring do?
When you turn your steering wheel, the coils of wire in the clock spring wind up and down, maintaining the electrical connection to the airbag and steering wheel controls.
You might think that the clock spring is responsible for returning the steering wheel to a neutral position, but that’s not the case. When you let go of the steering wheel, it’s the vehicle’s caster angle that causes the steering wheel to return to a centered position, not a clock spring.
Most vehicles have a positive caster angle. When you turn the front wheels, a positive caster angle exerts a force on the front tires, returning them to a neutral position where they point straight ahead.
The steering wheel is subject to this centering force because it is in direct contact with the tires. Additionally, such small true springs may not be able to overcome the inertia of most vehicles’ steering assemblies. Where is the clock spring located?The clock spring is usually located on the steering column behind the steering wheel. Nearly all road vehicles with a steering wheel have one of these devices.
However, if your vehicle does not have airbags, steering wheel controls, or a horn button, it may not have a clock spring.
Symptoms of a faulty clock spring
1) Airbag warning light
One of the most common signs of a bad clock spring is the airbag warning light on the dashboard. If the electrical connections in the clock spring are faulty, the airbag light may come on, indicating a problem with the vehicle’s safety features.
2) Traction Control and Stability Control Lights
In some cases, a faulty clock spring may also cause the traction control or stability control light (such as Service AdvanceTrac) in the instrument cluster to come on. This indicates that the clock spring is not properly relaying information between the steering wheel and the vehicle’s control module.
3) Steering Wheel Buttons
Another sign of a faulty clock spring is when the buttons on your steering wheel do not function properly. You may notice that the horn, media controls, and other buttons on your steering wheel are unresponsive or only work intermittently. As with warning lights, damaged electrical connections within the clock spring can cause these issues.
4) Intermittent Alerts and Button Function
In some cases, the symptoms listed above (warning lights and steering wheel buttons or horn) will work when the steering wheel is in one position, but will stop working as soon as you touch or turn the steering wheel. Intermittent connections can manifest as flickering warning lights or sporadic, inconsistent function.
5) Grinding Noises
A grinding or scraping noise heard from inside the steering wheel when turning is another sign of a faulty clockspring. This noise usually occurs when the clockspring is damaged or worn, causing metal or plastic parts to come into contact with each other when you turn the steering wheel. 6) Steering wheel is hard to turn
In some cases, a frayed or broken ribbon cable can get pinched between the two halves of the clock spring housing, making the steering wheel slightly harder to turn. A faulty clock spring can do more than just cause a faulty volume control.
It can cause the cruise control, horn, and most importantly, the airbags to stop working. In this situation, there is no way to warn an inattentive driver, and the airbags may not deploy in the event of a collision. Some vehicles also use the steering wheel angle in traction or stability control calculations, and a broken clock spring will affect these systems even if they are still functional.
