How to check if Clock spring is faulty

[damo_]

Hi,

Is there a way to test clock spring is working correctly?

 

[wamboin23]

check for continuity through all the connections.

 

[moose man]

no no no no. please don't do that. You're likely to zap the SRS module.

Does the airbag warning light illuminate for 2-3 secs when you start the car?
Does the horn work?

If both of these happen, your clockspring is fine.

 

[damo_]

OK, thanks

The car is a recent purchase VX Acclaim

The airbag light does come on when car is started, but when purchased neither the horn or steering wheel controls were working, by simply taking out fuse to inspect then replacing, they both started to work, until the next time the car was driven, fuse was still fine. Also worked straight after battery reconnection, disconnected overnight while replacing manifold gasket, but nothing since.

I have checked the error codes and shows nothing,

i have managed to pick up another wheel with controls and sus looking clock spring and just wondering if there was a way to test before swapping over

Thanks for your reply
Damo..

 

[wamboin23]

horn/steering wheel controls use a different connection to the airbags.

you can safely test for continuity as long as both ends are disconnected, to avoid damaging the SRS module or setting off the airbag.

 

[moose man]

Good work wamboin, I didn't know about the second clock spring. I stand corrected.

 

[Heath]

check for continuity through all the connections.

Hi everyone.
To dig up a previous question here.
I have changed my clockspring to fix an airbag issue unsuccessfully.
When testing the clockspring, is there meant to be continuity through all wires and pins?
Mine has steering wheels controls and the horn and audio connectors have full continuity but the airbag connector has continuity through only pin.
Is this a healthy clockspring as i have heard some people say this is normal?

Thanks

 

[Holden65]

Hi everyone.
To dig up a previous question here.
I have changed my clockspring to fix an airbag issue unsuccessfully.
When testing the clockspring, is there meant to be continuity through all wires and pins?
Mine has steering wheels controls and the horn and audio connectors have full continuity but the airbag connector has continuity through only pin.
Is this a healthy clockspring as i have heard some people say this is normal?

Thanks

Hi There Heath. I was wondering the same thing. I have my VX SS clock spring removed but can only get continuity through one leg of each connector. My airbag light works fine, the horn works fine, but the radio controls on the steering wheel don’t. I have replaced the controls but same issue.
Did you ever figure the problem out?
Cheers,
Keith

 

[mechanic]

can only get continuity through one leg of each connector.

All air bag wiring connectors have a shorting bar inside the connector designed to join the terminal pins and bleed off any stray voltage or static electricity and minimise the chance of accidental deployment when being disassembled or repaired. You will need to defeat this shorting bar if you want to test each wire individually.

 

[Holden65]

Hi everyone.
To dig up a previous question here.
I have changed my clockspring to fix an airbag issue unsuccessfully.
When testing the clockspring, is there meant to be continuity through all wires and pins?
Mine has steering wheels controls and the horn and audio connectors have full continuity but the airbag connector has continuity through only pin.
Is this a healthy clockspring as i have heard some people say this is normal?

Thanks

Hi Heath, I purchased a second hand clock spring, which has 12 months warranty, and tested the connector wiring between connectors and harness pins. I found the horn and radio wires both had continuity but could also only get one wire of the airbag connector to buzz through. Therefore I also tend to agree this must be normal for a good clockspring. Do your steering wheel buttons work correctly as mine don’t?