Better get a new or used clockspring?

I don't know if I will have to change it, but if it turns out my clockspring is indeed causing my airbag light to be on, is it better to buy a new clockspring or get one from the junkyard?

For an electric part like this, it is better to get it new or used will do?

thanks

 

I know I am slow but just what is a Clock Spring and what does it do??

 

it is located between the steering wheel and column. It allows the steering wheel to be turned in any direction while maintaining the electrical connection with the wiring system. It's like an electrical cable in a reel, basically.

Sometimes, this just goes bad, causing the airbag light to come on, random horn and turn signals problems. Often happening when you turn the steering wheel, which is a direct symptom of a bad clockspring

it is also known as spiral cable, cable reel, coil spring, contact reel

 

Don't know what year your truck is, but there has been some recalls for this. Check the Toyota website for recalls.



https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/abo...of-certain-vehicles-for-spiral-cable-assembly

 

Im getting ready to toss a used one in mine so i will let you know how that goes.

 

I knew about this, but this does not concern my tacoma as it is a 2000 :/

yes, it would be good to know

 

junkyards arent supposed to sell clock springs i thought, but id get new one dont want airbag deploying on me lol dont forget to unhook the battery before you change it.

 

I have a used one from a 96 if you're interested in buying one, supposed to have tested good when I bought it. Didn't end up needing it though

 

I had to upgrade the spiral cable (clockspring) on my '10 Corolla
so's I could upgrade the control stocks (fog cntrl/vari. wipers)
Bought it off ebay for less then probably a salvaged unit...
Seems to get it done and have had no issue in over a year's use.

I probably wouldn't be too concerned about installing one of those
on my Tacoma if I needed to.

Once one has learned how to swap them...
it's not too difficult to do.

Tho' IMO factory oem is most always better in quality.
Tho' it could be a hit or miss when purchasing salavaged units.

 

Make sure it's the clock spring....cruise control work? I bought a clock spring ended up being my airbag control module.

 

Thank you sir for sharing this so long ago lol


I currently believe my clock spring may be partially broken. As the horn stopped working. On its last leg it would work, by turning it to the right. My turn signals, cruise control and everything else’s work however.

My truck is from Canada and it does fit the year range. Would suck if I had to drive up there to get it fixed though.

 

turned out to be an old code that wasn't erased from memory. Got it erased and it never came back

 

Hmm ok. My horn works, turn signals as well, bit CC does not and I have an SRS light on. I'm going to go through the electrical connections for the CC and SRS to try to get the light off and CC working. I'm trying a couple things before I go try to put a new clock spring in. I tried checking current codes for the SRS by taking a piece of chicken wire and connecting the certain ports in the plug by the pedals but no blinking code, idk if it was the wire I used or not.

Just bought the 1996 on Sunday and I can't remember if the turn signals worked on the way home? Cause I turned them on but didn't hear blinking and tried looking for the indicators but didn't see them till I drove the truck the next day.

 

This trick does not work with the ODB2 port. YOu have to use the DIAGNOSIS port in the engine bay (it is near the intake). Short the Tc and E1 pins (diagram is inside the cover when you flip it open). The SRS light will blink in a pattern, telling you the code

 

Yeah. Just noticed that after looking over the FSM someone sent. So I'll be checking that this afternoon's. Thank you!

 

So I got the codes. They are 12 and 31. Have the FSM and looked over it. Going to actually take the steering pad off today to voltage check the squib circuit and start from there.
I am not good with electricity and it often gets me confused even though it's a pretty easy concept V=IR.
So I'm gonna do all my best to interpret the readings I get.
My Cruise control turns on but doesn't work and the horn sounds a tad wimpy so I'm assuming it is the Clock spring but we'll see because the 31 code says it may be the airbag sensor ECU, but that would mean I would have to troubleshoot CC and the horn may just be wimpy

 

Did you find a good write up on how to replace the clock spring? I prolly will need to and my buddy sent a 4runner one but it didn't really make sense.

 

codes 12 and 31 together means a bad ECU. Something has failed inside the airbag computer and you need to replace it. If it was only the clockspring, you wouldn't get a code 31, only 12

code 12 = malfunction of clockspring OR airbag computer
code 31 = malfunction of airbag computer

weak horn may be the horn relay or the horn itself or a bad ground

 

That's true. But since my horny is wimpy and my Cruise control doesn't work I was thinking it was the clockspring. Do you think replacing the airbag ECU will bring back my CC too? I have a new clockspring and ECU from a 1996 ready to be shipped out. I was going to get both thinking the clockspring would fix anything with the steering wheel (CC, horn, and the SRS), if not I also have the ECU that should fix the SRS

 

no, the airbag ECU has nothing to do with the CC. It will fix the SRS issue, but not the Cruise Control. Did you check fuses and relays?