Help, Holy $550 to Replace Clock Spring

I just installed the 4th clock-spring in my Taco. Can do it in less than 20 min now. I get two Cheapos at a time from ebay for about $30. Yes, they will go bad sooner than an oem. Mine have averaged 2-3 years. It controls cruise control, airbag, horn, and radio controls.

I don't give air bag functionality a high priority - my first car only had a lap belt! But as soon as one of the other functions stop working, I immediately replace the clock-spring. My oem one went out within 5 years.

 

I had to replace the clock spring in my 2011 a couple of years ago. I got an OEM part and did it on my dime. Can I take the receipts to local dealership and get reimbursed for the part?

 

Call corporate - I think you got a better shot at getting your money back then a local dealer.

 

I am on my fourth clock spring. Replaced with OEM than Ebay $30 and another Ebay $30 one. im thinking about maybe trying the $220 rock auto model.

 

I'm suspect about all the multiple failures.

Are steps taken to make sure the steering wheel is perfectly straight?

 

I see you're a cheapo clock spring expert. I just bought a $30.00 clock spring and it is missing a spot to plug in one of the three truck wiring harness plugs I have. Everyone of the cheapo clock springs I see on eBay or Amazon don't have that third white plug in down low on my clock spring. Please see picture attached. Does anyone have an Idea what that white plug on the lowest place is for?

 

Does your truck have steering wheel radio controls?

 

IIRC you are supposed to transfer it over from the old clockspring to the new for these aftermarket ones.

see post#8 in this thread, go to 3:40 in the video in that post:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ug-but-everything-works.696977/#post-24657966

 

My 2013 Tacoma did not from the factory, but I am trying to add them. I bought a steering wheel off of eBay that was of the same vintage but in better condition than mine. The new wheel came with the audio and cruise controls. My original clock spring is fine but it doesn't have the place to plug in the cruise or audio wires, that's why I need a new clock spring with the 12 pin and 4 pin receptacles for these wires. The truck does have the factory radio with Bluetooth music and Bluetooth hands free phone.

 

Thanks for the heads up on this. This is exactly what I needed to know. looks like my cheapo $30.00 clock spring might work after all.

 

Hymm. Might be a later Gen 2 connector plug to transfer over. All the clocksprings I’ve put in my 07 Taco have been plug-and-play.