Talon747
Member
- Joined
- March 11, 2018
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 7
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2011 Explorer, Limited
I had issues with steering controls not working or intermittently working on both sides, , Turn out the issue was with the clock spring, here are the steps I took to replace it
Steps to de-arm the airbags
1.Make sure the explorer is parted straight and the wheel are in straight line.
2.Turn Ignition all accessories off and turn ignition /power off.
3.Locate Fuse 37 “Restraint control module” in the fuse panel under steering wheel (awkward to get at) Pic 1A and 1B
4.Turn the ignition. After about 30 sec you should see a solid Airbag light if the correct fuse was removed.
5.Turn the ignition back off and remove the Negative battery cable
6.Wait a few minutes before doing anything else. Above steps will disarm the airbags.
Remove Steering Wheel
7. Now comes the tricky part, you need a bit of patience and gentle touch for this bit
8. Locate the two holes on the side of the steering wheel, see Pic 2A . Find suitable screwdriver or allen Key that will fit the hole snugly. As you push it in keep it in a straight line till you hit the spring. If you get it right as you press on the spring the airbag should pop up slightly. Refer to Pic 2B.
9. This might take few goes as its easy to slide off the clips. Refer to Pis 2B for the Airbag retain clip that you are trying to move.
10. Repeat the step on the other side. Once it pops up, remove the air bad and remove the clips from the airbag by pressing on the sides. Store the airbag away from your work area.
11. Use the appropriate Torx bit to remove the steering wheel bolt (T46). Try and keep the steering wheel as steady as you can, once the nut is off, mark the steering wheel for realignment when putting back Ref to Pic 3A
12. Unclip the steering wheel control wiring harness. Note the Yelllow airbag wires do not unclip.
13. Lift the steering wheel out
Remove Clock spring
14. Remove the Top and bottom cowling Ref to pic 4A /4B bolts are 7MM
15. You should now see see the ****spring, (Ref Pic 5A). Remove the three screws and connector at the bottom.
16. Lift the clock spring straight out (don’t wiggle)
17. If you car has auto parking, you should see another module behind the clock spring, I think this is the steering angle sensor , don’t remove that part. If it comes out don’t rotate it and push it back on the steering column. See pic 5C
18. Install new clock spring, don’t remove the anti-rotation clip Refer to Pic 6A
19. Re install all the components, torque the steering wheel to 48Nm (35lb-ft)
20. Now you can pull the clock spring retention clip out, Reconnect the steering controls tot eh clock spring,
21. Reconnect the airbag wires to the back to the airbag. Push the airbag into the steering wheel and you should hear a click. It should be flush as it was before it was removed.
Rearming the Airbag
I have a push button start, so the procedure is slightly different to ignition key
22. Reinstall Fuse 37. Under the Fuse box in the hood, locate Run/start relay 88
23. Remove the relay
24. Install 30 AM fuse to cavities 3 and 5 Ref pic 7A/7B
25. Reconnect the negative terminal of the battery
26. Wait 30 sec and remove the fuse that was installed (step 23)
27. Reinstall the relay 88
28. Turn power on and then off, wait min 10 sec.
29. Power on the car and test our your control.
Good luck
Full Album pics
Steps to de-arm the airbags
1.Make sure the explorer is parted straight and the wheel are in straight line.
2.Turn Ignition all accessories off and turn ignition /power off.
3.Locate Fuse 37 “Restraint control module” in the fuse panel under steering wheel (awkward to get at) Pic 1A and 1B
4.Turn the ignition. After about 30 sec you should see a solid Airbag light if the correct fuse was removed.
5.Turn the ignition back off and remove the Negative battery cable
6.Wait a few minutes before doing anything else. Above steps will disarm the airbags.
Remove Steering Wheel
7. Now comes the tricky part, you need a bit of patience and gentle touch for this bit
8. Locate the two holes on the side of the steering wheel, see Pic 2A . Find suitable screwdriver or allen Key that will fit the hole snugly. As you push it in keep it in a straight line till you hit the spring. If you get it right as you press on the spring the airbag should pop up slightly. Refer to Pic 2B.
9. This might take few goes as its easy to slide off the clips. Refer to Pis 2B for the Airbag retain clip that you are trying to move.
10. Repeat the step on the other side. Once it pops up, remove the air bad and remove the clips from the airbag by pressing on the sides. Store the airbag away from your work area.
11. Use the appropriate Torx bit to remove the steering wheel bolt (T46). Try and keep the steering wheel as steady as you can, once the nut is off, mark the steering wheel for realignment when putting back Ref to Pic 3A
12. Unclip the steering wheel control wiring harness. Note the Yelllow airbag wires do not unclip.
13. Lift the steering wheel out
Remove Clock spring
14. Remove the Top and bottom cowling Ref to pic 4A /4B bolts are 7MM
15. You should now see see the ****spring, (Ref Pic 5A). Remove the three screws and connector at the bottom.
16. Lift the clock spring straight out (don’t wiggle)
17. If you car has auto parking, you should see another module behind the clock spring, I think this is the steering angle sensor , don’t remove that part. If it comes out don’t rotate it and push it back on the steering column. See pic 5C
18. Install new clock spring, don’t remove the anti-rotation clip Refer to Pic 6A
19. Re install all the components, torque the steering wheel to 48Nm (35lb-ft)
20. Now you can pull the clock spring retention clip out, Reconnect the steering controls tot eh clock spring,
21. Reconnect the airbag wires to the back to the airbag. Push the airbag into the steering wheel and you should hear a click. It should be flush as it was before it was removed.
Rearming the Airbag
I have a push button start, so the procedure is slightly different to ignition key
22. Reinstall Fuse 37. Under the Fuse box in the hood, locate Run/start relay 88
23. Remove the relay
24. Install 30 AM fuse to cavities 3 and 5 Ref pic 7A/7B
25. Reconnect the negative terminal of the battery
26. Wait 30 sec and remove the fuse that was installed (step 23)
27. Reinstall the relay 88
28. Turn power on and then off, wait min 10 sec.
29. Power on the car and test our your control.
Good luck
Full Album pics
