My Dad has a 92 Aerostar and he just told me that the horn and the cruise stopped working the other day. He checked the fuse(es) and said they looked OK. Any ideas? Is there another fuse under the hood or a realy or something?






The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender...

 

Easy clockspring behind airbag needs replaced.

 

What is involved in the repair? I have never heard of a clockspring. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!




The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender...

 

If you don't have an air bag you don't have a clockspring. Pre airbag systems use a sliding contact system. How is yours equipped?


2000 XLT Flare Supercab Sport 5.4-Auto-355LS-Tow pkg-Bedrug-Xtang Tonneau

 

Yes, it has a drivers side air bag. Is it difficult to get to the clockspring? Do you have do disable the airbag to do it? If so, how do you do it? Thanks, you guys are great!



The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender...

 

Air Bag Sliding Contact


Removal

1. WARNING: THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS POWERED DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY (10653) AND BACKUP POWER SUPPLY. TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY, THE BATTERY POSITIVE CABLE MUST BE DISCONNECTED FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE MINUTE BEFORE BEGINNING WORK TO DE-ENERGIZE THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY.

Make sure that vehicle's front wheels (1007) are in the straight-ahead position and steering column shaft alignment mark is at the 12 o'clock position.

2. Disconnect battery to battery to starter relay cable (14300) for at least one minute to let the air bag backup power supply discharge.

3. Remove steering wheel (3600) as described in this section.

4. CAUTION: Be sure air bag sliding contact internal lock is engaged. Hub should not turn more than 45 degrees in either direction.

Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds (3530) as described in this section.

5. Disconnect three air bag sliding contact electrical connectors from main wiring (14401) at steering column bend bracket.

6. Using door trim removal tool, remove air bag sliding contact electrical connectors from bend bracket.

7. CAUTION: Do not remove wire harness clips from wire bundle.

Using door trim removal tool, disconnect two wire harness clips from column.

8. Remove key warning buzzer contact and anti-theft contact from ignition lock cylinder pocket of lock cylinder housing.

9. Remove air bag sliding contact (14A664) by pushing snap back at 6 o'clock position first, then 3 o'clock position, then 12 o'clock position and remove from steering shaft.




Installation

1. Make sure that the vehicle's front wheels are straight ahead and steering column shaft alignment mark is at the 12 o'clock position.

2. Align air bag sliding contact to column shaft and mounting tabs and slide onto shaft. Push on air bag sliding contact to snap three tabs onto steering column tube flange.

3. Install air bag sliding contact cable clips into holes in steering column.

4. Install air bag sliding contact connector retainers into provided holes in steering column bend bracket.

5. Plug main wiring harness connectors into three air bag sliding contact connectors.

6. Install key warning buzzer contact and anti-theft contact into ignition lock cylinder pocket in lock cylinder housing. Make sure contacts do not slip out of ignition lock cylinder pocket.

7. Install upper and lower steering column shrouds as described in this section.

8. Install steering wheel as described in this section.

9. NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 miles) or more to relearn the strategy.

Connect battery to starter relay cable.

10. Verify air bag warning indicator operation.

 

So this "air bag sliding contact" is the same as the "clockspring"? Thank you so much, I am going to atempt to do this next weekend when I visit my Dad. When I go to purchase the part, do I ask for the "air bag sliding contact" at the Ford Dealership? Is this part sold through the aftermarket, or just through Ford. 94 Ford thanks!



The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender...

 

Yes it is. The post I left on how to do it is from the Ford service manual cd. It also had a picture but it did not post, why I don't know. I have talked to other people who have changed them out and they said it was not bad to do. If mine goes out I wouldn't be afraid to tackle it myself. When you start to do it, and have a problem let me know on this forum and I will try to help you out. Kevin

 

If the air bag light on the dash is not flashing a trouble code with the key on it is possible there could be another reason for the horn- cruise failure. Usually when the clockspring fails three things happen. Airbag light flashes a code and horn and cruise do not work since all three get their electrical connections thru the same harness. Replacing the clockspring is not nearly as hard as the instructions sound.


2000 XLT Flare Supercab Sport 5.4-Auto-355LS-Tow pkg-Bedrug-Xtang Tonneau

 

Nitro 94 is correct.

 

NOw that you mention it, the air bag light has been coming on more frequently lately. Last time I was home, it was on for a whole trip one day. I didn't think much of it, but does that lend itself to the clockspring being bad? Any idea how much this part costs?




The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender...

 

I would be more confident of the clockspring fixing your problem since hearing of the airbag light also being on. I have replaced a lot of these but not being on commission and not the one to order parts I don't need to know what they cost and haven't been curious enough to look on a finished ticket. Would guess around a $100.


2000 XLT Flare Supercab Sport 5.4-Auto-355LS-Tow pkg-Bedrug-Xtang Tonneau

 

Nitro, do you work for Ford?

 

94 ford No I dont work for Ford. I get to work on any thing that comes in and I do mean anything.



2000 XLT Flare Supercab Sport 5.4-Auto-355LS-Tow pkg-Bedrug-Xtang Tonneau

 

I purchased a clockspring at the dealership($90). Howerver, after a week of waiting for a post on the procedure with no results, I "chickened out" and gave it to the dealership to install...cost me one hour of labor($50).