Horn,Air bag light,cruse control button light’s> I have a problem

[Aussie Explorer]

Horn not working, Air bag light Flashing/On and light’s on cruse control buttons not working on the left side of the steering wheel.

I have the above problems. They all happened in the last 10,000k’s, first the horn then the Airbag light and now the lights in the ON and OFF cruse buttons.

I thought I fixed the airbag, Blown fuse but it has since returned, and I just noticed the light’s last night.

Could all these thing be connected as they all seem to centre around the steering wheel?. If yes, how do you go about fixing it, and most importantly is it quick and easy and not too expensive.

98XLT 4WD, 137,000k’s (Kilometres)

 

[2000Sportdriver]

yes it is a clock spring

 

[MONMIX]

He is 100% correct

 

[Aussie Explorer]

Ok, How hard is this to do, dose the airbag need to come out, I have never touched one of these thing’s and I am not too keen to start playing around with it.

What is a new clock spring worth $$??, I will most likely have to get it from a dealership as have no other option over hear, aside from ordering from the U.S and getting it shipped.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I don't know how much it is there, but here they go for around $100, more or less. First of all, always disconnect the battery, and wait at least 10 minutes before working on anything that has to do with the air bag. This will drain out any back up power that is stored. Then you pull out the airbag along with the steering wheel. Once you go deeper into the column, you will see the clock spring. It is the part where all of your terminals come into contact.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I did a search for clock spring, and found a few good threads: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147895&highlight=Clock+spring
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150421&highlight=Clock+spring
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151514&highlight=horn+work
Here is a picture of one:

Here is a fuse panel/distribution box diagram:

I hope that this might make it easier to troubleshoot. Fuse #10 is for the horn, and the horn relay is identified in the diagram.

 

[Aussie Explorer]

Thanks for taking the time to post those photos and links to past threads , will check them out later.

$100 hay, so it will be anywhere from $100-$350 over hear easy.

 

[MONMIX]

Brooklybay hit the nail on the head.

Just to add a few tid bits you want to dinsconect BOTH terminals of the battery.

Also the steering wheel needs to be removed. Before you remove the stering wheel make sure it is 100% dead on pointing straight ahead.

The clock spring comes with a little pull tab on it. DO NOT remove this pull tab untill the clock spring has been instaled.

 

[BrooklynBay]

One idea that I was thinking about might be to mark a line on the threaded shaft that is connected to the steering wheel, and continue that line onto the inner part of the wheel where the nut is connected. This way, you will have the exact mark where the column, and wheel meet. There wouldn't be any alignment doubts of the wheel when it is reinstalled.