Alright guys just got my clockspring in the mail this morning and finished the install. This is a How-To on installing a new clock-spring which will fix a flashing air bag light, non-working horn and cruise control on the 97-03 F150. Youll know if you have a bad clock spring if your air bag light on the dash flashes 3 times, pauses and flashes 2 more times and then stays on constant. What you need: -New clock spring. ( i used a dorman product. Amazon.com: Dorman 525-213 Air Bag Clock Spring: Automotive) -Socket wrench -Sockets (7mm,8mm and 10mm) -Philips screw driver -Torx bits (T20 & TX50) -Pick (or something long and skinny but strong) -Steering wheel puller. (Get a puller that looks like a claw. There are a couple different ones out there) Step 1: Make sure wheels are straight/ Disconnect battery Start by making sure your wheels (not steering wheel) are straight and disconnect your battery (positive and negative). This is to make sure there is no accidental discharge of the air bag. after disconnecting the battery there is power saved in the system, they say about a minute but i would give it a little longer. to pass the time start taking the column apart. Step 2: Disassembly start by taking the 3 screws out of the bottom of the steering column cover. next unscrew the tilt lever pull the bottom half of the cover off (may have to pry it, it snaps into the top piece) before the top half of the cover is taken off you have to take the ignition cylinder out. put the key in the ignition look under the cylinder, there is a small silver ball that is in the bottom of the cylinder. this needs to be pushed in, when you push it in turn the key all the like youre starting the truck and pull outward. the cylinder should pop right out. might take a couple tries. Step 3: Air bag look on the back of the steering wheel on both sides. there will be two round plastic covers, pop these out. inside there are two bolts you need to take out to take the air bag off the wheel. there are two plugs on the back of the air bag, undo these and set the air bag aside. There are two plugs on the steering wheel behind the air bag, undo the bottom plug. Step 4: Taking wheel off Before you take the wheel off they say its a good idea to pu some kind of marking to you know exactly how the wheel came off. i did not do this, the steering shaft has splines on it so the wheel can only go back on how you took it off. you have to undo the center bolt that holds the wheel to the steering shaft. you will need the TX50 torx for this. dont be afraid to give it some muscle, there is thread locker on it. one you have the bolt out you need to get the wheel off with the steering wheel puller. its simple to use. just put the claws behind the steering wheel and put the stud on the steering shaft and crank on it. it will take some force. Once the wheel is removed its a good idea to remove the plastic piece behind the wheel, this can be removed without taking the wheel off. i just didnt do it till i got to this point. Also its a good idea to take the whole bottom part of the dash off (the part where the hood release and parking brake release are located) sorry i did not take pictures of this. its easy to do, just under a few screws and drop it down. this will help with disconnecting the plugs of the old clock spring and connecting the new clock spring plugs. the plugs are behind the wheel and hard to get too if the bottom of the dash is still on. Step 5: Clock spring removal To get the clock spring off there are two tabs you have to pry on to pull it off. (atleast thats all i saw lol) bottom top once the clock spring is free follow the big yellow wire loom and unplug it (two plugs) after the two plugs are undone there is one more on the side of where you took the ignition cylinder out its a funny plug, i gently pried on the top of it and it popped out. (sorry for pic quality) Step 6: Clock spring installion on the new clock spring there will be a big yellow tab, leave this on until you have the spring installed on the column. plug everything back in to where the old one was plugged into. Step 7: Reinstall parts Reinstall everything in reverse. make sure to put some blue thread locker on the steering wheel bolt before you put it back in. (Torque to 25lbs) hope i didnt leave anything out.
Props buddy. My horn dont work but the light flashin dont happen wod this still be the problem/fix? Or it prolly sumthing else? Sent from my piece of shat.
i would check your horn fuses and relays. its possible this could be it if a wire is cut but i would bet its a fuse or some of the wiring up front at the horns.
Done checked the fuses and relay and the wirein at the horn i was thinking it might be in the steering wheel some where bc im pretty sure i quit after i punches the steering wheel one night but im not sure when it quit. Sent from my piece of shat.
