Snapped clock spring

[ringfeder3]

having just paid $165 for a new clock spring, I was most surprised to hear a snap two weeks later and discover that the airbag lead had completely broken in two...that bloody airbag chime again. Only clue was that when we bought the car, there was a steering column in the boot. Anyone else experienced this? I am fearing an expensive problem. And, yes, it was installed by a qualified person and no, they can't shed any light on what happened either....

[Ian Johnston]

My daughters VT clubby has had the airbag light on forever, and havent bothered yet to fix it,
but have been told its a clock spring. Did you use a genuine spring?, or cant you get aftermarket ones?

[lufkin]

if my daughters car had the airbag light on, i would be fixing it asap, as she would have no working airbags

[BlackVXGTS]

Sounds like the clock spring coil may not have been centered properly when it was installed:

CENTRING THE CLOCK SPRING COIL
1. The steering gear MUST be in the centralised position before the installation of the coil spring assembly, otherwise irreparable damage to the clock spring coil may result.
2. To centralise the clock spring prior to installation:
a. Hold the clock spring coil outer housing with the left hand.
b. Then, while holding each of the two locking lugs inward as shown, rotate the inner member in a clockwise direction until a mechanical stop is felt.
c. While still holding the locking lugs as before, rotate the inner member of the clock spring assembly in the opposite direction, approximately 2.5 turns, until the green indexing tab (1) is seen full width in the upper window.
NOTE:
It is possible to have a partial view of the green tab without the clock spring coil being in the correct, centred position.
d. Release the locking lugs and the inner rotor should now be locked to the outer member with the clock spring in the centralised position.

[accentstencil]

The only way I can see that happening is if the clock spring was not locked into place and was able to rotate ( not the inner part which is supposed to rotate but the outer part). The clock spring has 4 tab things that click into position and stop it from turning, maybe something is broken allowing the whole clock spring to rotate. I changed mine the other day and when you buy them new they are already centred and locked into position until the clock spring is clicked in.

[mr031]

did you get a wheel alignment or does the steering feel incorrect at all?

If the wheels arnt straight when it is put on it will snap.

[accentstencil]

I could be wrong but from my reading of the original post it is the cable that connects to the airbag, which doesn't rotate, that has snapped.

[ringfeder3]

The actual electrical tape inside the unit snapped.

[accentstencil]

The actual electrical tape inside the unit snapped.

Oh, I see, then it must not have been centred properly as stated earlier, or the wheels were not in a straight ahead position.