clockspring

the lady at toyota of tampa bay told me my clockspring is bad and my airbag can deploy at any time. is this true?

 

I would guess that if you clock spring is bad your Airbag light is on?? And my understanding is that failsafes the system and it will not deploy at all.

 

Have heard of folks unplugging the sensor under the seat or wiring a cutoff into the airbag system for offroading...

 

I may be in the same boat. Has anyone replaced theirs? I was reading up on it and read something about having to have a special tool to pull off the wheel so that you can slide the clock spring off the shaft.

On the upside, from what I read, there is a chance its just a matter of soldering a broken wire back together once you pull it all apart. Also they are supposedly more or less a universal part you should be able to scrounge from a junk yard.

 

Your clock spring / spiral cable is the wire harness that runs in the steering wheel, it works kinda like a tape measure. Mine is also broken but the dealer told me it won't deploy if I meet in an accident cause the wire is broken, which makes sense.

 

I have considered soldering also but be careful if you take the clock spring out of a junk yard truck, if the airbag deployed chances are it's melted by the gases from the air bag.

 

Ya my clockspring is broke also. Dealer quoted me $90 to fix. Still isn't fixed

 

Probably a pack of shit. I will never step foot back in my shitty dealer. I knocked their front doors off its runner last time I left. . .

 

Crap, I bet that is my problem! I was trying to shove my machette under my seat and it wouldn't go so I forced it. All the connections are in place, but I bet I messed up that sensor.

Couldn't I just bypass it though? I mean why would the airbag deploy when the car is in motion and there isn't someone in the seat?

 

My clockspring was bad as well. I drove with the airbag light on for about 6 months until I found someone on here that had a used one for sale. Its not the end of the earth, but obviously the system wont deploy should you get in a wreck.

Also, the guy who said they would fix it for $90 bucks, you should jump all over that. The dealer told me it would be almost $500 to fix. It wasnt covered under my extended warranty.

 

yea toyota of tampa bay said it would be around 350 dollars. it didnt seem that sitting next to the 1800 dollar timing chain gasket repair.

 

Generally, if the clockspring is bad, you can lose airbag, horn, and cruise.

 

I had mine replaced at the dealer for around 350 I think. Light was on, but cruise and everything else worked. Seems like there are too many people who have had to have it replaced if you ask me.

 

Anyone see that new toyota commercial stating that they put 1mill into safety research every hr? Doesn't look like we got the right year tacoma. haha

 

clock springs shipped 60 bucks http://www.ranchotoyotatruckparts.com/toyota-tacoma.html


and for install http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=697181

 

i definitely agree with yall, this should have been a recall along with a few other things i see going wrong with everyone elses.

 

Yeah I had the same problem when I tried putting my grenade launcher under there ...



DOAH!

 

Yea, when my broke I did a lot of reading, and that does seem to be the case. Theres no TSB's on it though.

Everything worked on mine, but the light was on as well.

As far as you guys who did push stuff under the seat, be sure to check all of your connections under there, as one of them could have come apart and thats all it is.

 

My airbag light is on. Guessing that it's the clock spring because it came on after I was driving my truck around a tight log landing in 4-Low loaded with wood. My guess is turning to the extent of the turning radius repeatedly broke it. I'm going to get the diagnostic run just to be sure that's the problem.

I like the "how to" posted here, but it's for an older Tacoma. Has anyone had their airbag off on an 05 or newer? One connector comes out easily, but the other seems molded into the plastic on the clock spring. I was trying not to mess with the wires in the back of the airbag. I know I have to pull off the steering wheel, but before I do it, I want to be sure I disconnect things properly so I don't fudge up the airbag. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

thanks for the info i just had my frame replaced it seems like my taco is starting to fall apart. replaced tie rod ends inner/outer u joints and this week no air bag cruise or horn. some days i really wish they would have bought her back. B