Bad Clock Spring

My 2011 started making a clicking sound at times when I turn the wheel last year. Sound would come and go. Researched a bit and suspected clock spring. No other symptoms and meant to replace it and then horn started working intermittently and now doesn’t work. All other steering wheel controls work.

Sounds like clock spring to me, but no other symptoms except the horn not working and the initial clicking when turning wheel usually backing down a trailer.

Where would I see airbag light on dash where other lights display or center dash display below radio that has airbag icons on the screen?

What years was the recall for? Read a few threads and seemed like only early 2nd Gens? But Toyota kept putting in the same shitty part!? My truck is a 2011 bought in 2010 172k. I’m guessing if recall even applied to my 2nd gen they won’t honor it anymore?

Based on the reports here I think I’m just gonna buy the factory part.

Is a steering wheel puller absolutely necessary for this?

Thanks!

 

You can get off spec replacement units for like 30$ they work fine, You just hope the airbag goes off when it should
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Yeah I saw there are some aftermarket options, but heard a lot of guys had issues putting them in because some didn’t work properly after install or they failed quickly. Not crazy about idea of airbag not working when it should or when it shouldn’t lol Sure is tempting though, just called my local dealer they want $320 plus tax now for OEM!

 

Mine works fine. e b a y

 

Check some online dealers. $220 or so.

 

Just my experience doing the clock spring last year:

I got an OEM replacement at local Toyota dealer last year. It was about $ 300. Yes, it was a crazy high price, but as I did the job myself and it involved work around the airbag I did not want to tempt fate twice by using an EBay part. According to the parts guy, there are many varieties of clock spring and the only way to get the right one is by VIN match. I had to wait 3 days for the right part.I did the blower resistor a while back using ebay as a source and the part lasted only 10 months.

I dis see some sellers on ebay stating that the part they were selling was OEM, but the part did not come in a sealed Toyota bag and they could not tell me if the part matched the VIN. As far as I was concerened those parts were not OEM and could not be guarnteed to work

There is a really good utube video on the repair that you should look at before you attempt the fix

 

The clock springs are not all the same for gen2 Tacomas. When the steering wheel changed around 2012 or so, so did the clock spring. And I’m pretty sure it’s also different pets before that based on whether you have steering wheel buttons for the infotainment system

 

I buy clock springs two at a time at about $15 each off eBay. They are a wear item, so eventually most will fail. Daughter’s 07 Corolla CS has been replaced, also got two (first one didn't resolve air bag light; second one did). Im on 4th on my Taco (the third one did not work); this 4th has been working well after three years. I didn't need a puller on my Taco, but I did for the Corolla.

 

Yeah but the shitty aftermarket ones will fail sooner, or at the worst time. This is a part where OEM is worth shelling out for, IMHO.

 

Plug your VIN in to the Toyota web site and see if there's a recall against your truck.

Did you pinpoint the clicking sound to the steering wheel hub area and not farther down the steering shaft?

Pull the airbag and make sure the horn wire blade connector hasn't simply fallen off the airbag frame.

Steering wheel puller isn't needed. Loosen the steering column nut but leave it hanging by a couple of threads. Slide the seat forward a bit so your posture has good leverage, then given the wheel a good tug.

 

If they fail, it doesn't affect the vehicle’s drivability. Thus, shelling out that much $$ for oem is not worth it to me.

 

The eBay/Amazon ones tend to have shorter life, usually about a year. Get OEM unless you plan to replace it yearly. The plastic steering angle sensor ('09+) that snaps into the back of clock spring may not survive multiple removals.

 

I may just go OEM. I called dealer near me and he said no active recalls for my VIN, but maybe he just wants $320 lol

 

When I called dealer I have my vin and asked about recalls and he claimed there wasn’t one for my truck.

Hasn’t made the clicking sound in a while, but seemed pretty far up around where clock spring would be. Shortly after I stopped hearing the clicking the horn started to work intermittently then eventually stopped working. Cruise, signals, and stereo controls all still work.

 

i havent had to buy a clock spring for my new tacoma, however i did have to purchase a clock spring for my 2012. i purchased mine from a site called clock spring experts. i didnt want to pay $400+ at the dealer but also didnt want to buy a cheap ebay part either. so i decided they were a good mid grade option @ $85. took away all the dash lights and lasted for 4ish years before i crashed her :/. id def purchase again. Also it only took 3 days for delivery. this is the one i bought https://clockspringexperts.com/prod...2-7l-4-0l-new?_pos=1&_psq=tacoma&_ss=e&_v=1.0