Can you drive with a broken clock spring?
Can You Drive With a Broken Clock Spring? Driving a vehicle with a broken clock spring is not advisable. This stems from the fact that a vehicle’s clock spring provides power/ground to a couple of critical vehicle safety functions. These include a vehicle’s horn and airbag.
How much does it cost to replace a clock spring?
Clock Spring Replacement Cost Clock springs are relatively inexpensive, running between $50 and $200 depending on the vehicle. Labor is fairly straightforward and should take 1-2 hours; expect to pay up to $300 in labor.
What is a clock spring in BMW?
The airbag clock spring connects the driver’s side airbag to the steering column and ensures that electrical contact is maintained between the airbag module and the vehicle electrical system while the steering wheel is being turned.
What happens if clock spring is broken?
The most common symptom of a bad clock spring is an airbag warning light on the dashboard. You can also notice issues like non-functional steering wheel buttons or a silent horn. In rare cases, you may also see a traction control warning light.
What causes clock spring failure?
Clock springs may become faulty with age due to electrical ribbons and their connections wearing thin. They also are likely to fail if they are not replaced after a car crash in which the airbag was deployed. Common signs you have faulty clock spring include: Illumination of the SRS/Airbag light.
What causes a clock spring to break?
Clocksprings wear in time or become damaged during repairs to the steering column, or when removing a rack and pinion gear, gearbox, or coupling. If the steering wheel is allowed to spin freely, the clockspring’s connection may break, resulting in an open circuit and an illuminated airbag light.
Does clockspring need to be replaced?
The clock spring may need to be replaced if it is damaged during careless service to the steering system, and, in some cases, if the vehicle is in a crash and the driver’s airbag deploys.
What does the clock spring control?
In vehicle steering systems a clock spring or clockspring is a spiral-wound special rotary electrical connector which allows a vehicle’s steering wheel to turn while still making an electrical connection between the steering wheel airbag and/or the vehicle’s horn and other devices and the vehicle’s electrical systems.