Air Bag Light

I thought there is a recall for the clockspring. I got a letter last year to wait for parts before taking the truck in. It can cause a problem with the airbag and might show the red warning light I haven't done it yet...

 

2009 base model accsess cab

 

My brother had a 2005 (2WD) Tacoma that qualified for the recall. Yet my 2005 had the exact same light, and according to a VIN# list, I am not part of the recall. I have to get my truck safety/emissions before registering it. Hopefully they will not care, since it is not flashing.

 

go to this link http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/resources/recalls
put your Vin number in and check for recalls.. did mine today as my airbag light came on and bam their is a recall for the spiral cable and no charge to replace it...

 

When I bought mine the dealer told me that the airbag light had been on and it was the sensor for the passenger seat that was bad. He even left the old one in the glovebox. Might be something to check for some of you.

 

I realize this is an old thread but it came up in my search and seemed like the appropriate place to post. I have an '05 subject to the "spiral cable assembly" recall, aka clockspring, which the dealer addressed (fixed?) back in 2012 - I just called to confirm. IIRC, the air bag light was not coming on at the time. Now some 9 years later, it is. After reading this, I am not sure what good replacing the clockspring back then would have done. Shouldn't any steering column vibration be fixed before replacing the clockspring? It doesn't make any sense, and the dealer pretty much closed the door on me for any logical explanation. If anyone has something more enlightening, please post.

Taking specific note of the air bag light the other day, it was off after first starting the truck. Once I turned the wheel to pull out of my driveway, the light came on. I don't stare at the light while driving, but even after the light comes on, I swear it turns back off from time to time, and shortly comes back on again. The couple/few times I bumped the horn while the light was on, the horn works just fine. Thinking, there must an electrical short occurring at a specific angle of the steering wheel, which causes the air bag light to turn on for some extended period of time, until the computer thinks everything is ok again? So chances are, the air bag will deploy in the event of an accident?? Regardless, I have another trip coming up and would like to get this taken care of.

In the meantime, these things look really easy to replace. I just ordered an aftermarket clockspring for about $45 after tax. OEMs are more like $200-300. If my OEM clockspring bit the dust, why replace with another expensive OEM. The repair garage that I normally use quoted me about $400 with labor. (Never mind, I got this!)

 

Let me know how your clockspring worked out I think mine's broke from doing power steering flush. Tia

 

Not sure how power steering flush would have any effect on the clockspring. It's located directly behind the airbag. Couple of short pigtails to plug in right there, and that's it.

 

Uh, No.

You may have a broken spiral cable, but it wasn't due to a power steering flush.

 

any recent work........accessories added or modifications

any recent repairs

 

The method I used to flush power steering was Jack front disconnected return line and went lock to lock with steering wheel and about 2 days later air bag light came on. Haven't pulled codes so clockspring is just a guess

 

Ah ok... if that's the case, the clockspring was probably on its way out anyway, and turning the wheel stop-to-stop just exacerbated it.

Got email notice that my new clockspring was shipped yesterday from USPS in Arizona. It's gotta travel all the way across the country so it'll be a few days. Oh well - all the ebay vendors were based in China, and although half the price (~$20), no thanks. I've gone that route before and you get what you pay for.

 

Clockspring was sitting on porch when I got home yesterday. Installed just now. Even with taking my time, it's only about a 30 minute or so job. Drove around the block after the install, and no more light. Saved $400.

 

How’s the clock spring holding up? My light has been on for a few months and I’m finally getting around to addressing it. Curious if your light ever came back on or if the issue was resolved with the aftermarket replacement.