I've lost my cruise control, horn and airbag warning light is on. I'm pretty sure it's the ribbon connector under the airbag. I followed all safety procedures and removed it the other day, but could not see a physical problem with it; however, from what I've read it is most likely the culprit. The question. Does anyone know where to get one? Obviously a dealership can get it, but I was wondering if anyone had a better option.

Thanks in advance.

 

Could also be a fuse, if the ribbon does not look damaged try to see if the fuse is blown.

 

Is there one fuse for all three things? I need to go take a look. I thought they all had seperate fuses. Please let it be that simple. Sometimes I have a tendency to look right past the most simple explanations.

 

stuff Ford won't tell you:

watch springs are really sensitive to how many turns you have. one too many or too few and the @#$%^& things break.

Sometimes the wires get pinched under the horn airbag mounting screws. any pinched wires need electrical tape for repair.

there is a part number for the spring (on the spring)which can be gotten from ford, or some of our sponsors. it ain't cheap. Ford wants to replace the whole schmear for much more money and 2 hrs labor. BTW some springs have 4,5, 6, 7 or 9 colored wires on them depending on which options you have.

read the instructions CAREFULLY when you reinstall it from a kit.

you may want to try a local jobber for the kit, since by now on my 2000 i hear all sorts of stuff is avail aftermarket.

Up side: probably isn't a fuse. would be 4, but that isn't probable.

 

Thanks for the help guys. It looks like I have some direction now. I got my work cut out for me this weekend.....and probably my pocket book as well.

 

i know on my f-150 the horn airbag and cruise were on fuse, i blew it and i thought i really messed something up until i was checking fuses for something else and it was blown.

 

If a fuse is not blown and with the cruise, horn and SIR light on, the clock spring has failed. For safety sake, do not go aftermarket. Your life may depend on it. OEM will run you about $95.00 if you shop around.

There are simple instructions for the install, but the steering wheel will have to come off. Disconnect the batteries first. Then turn the headlamps on and leave them on. They will completely discharge the system. Go have a beer and a smoke NOW. In other words, wait about ten minutes.

Remove the airbag, the attaching wires and set the bag on a piece of cardboard on the ground, facing away from you. Remove the steering wheel and the sensor is right there. There is a pull tab on the new sensor. Remove the old sensor, replace with the new one. Put the steering wheel on and using a socket, give it a sharp rap to move it down a few millemeters, pull the tab and replace the steering wheel nut. Replace the airbag harness and then the bag.

Turn off the headlamps and then hook up the batteries.

If equipped, use your key and disarm the passenger bag from the passenger side. From the passenger side, turn the ignition over to run, not start and see if the SIR lamp goes off. If so, problem has been repaired and you save yourself about $400 at the stealership.

Total repair time (for a rookie) is about 25 minutes with the proper tools. I have seen a pro do it in fifteen.

Also, one note, a SNAPON scanner can pick up a failed clockspring. It will set a code in the computer.

 

Cant stress this enuff. The energy produced during deployment is strong enuff to launch one of our wheels about 30 feet in the air. Follow the disarming procedure to the letter. even carry it facing away from you.

 

I also had the clock spring go out on mine if was $75 at the stealership and easy to replace do take caution when removing and replacing

After installing the new one and everything worked I took my old one apart the ribbon was folded over twice somehow and the thin strands inside broke I might suggest taking the old one apart if you replace it

 

actually from what i hear from the paramedic neighbor: when the airbag deploys, sometimes it breaks your arms, wrists or nose.

when we used to test them they have the same expolsive energy as a .50 cal round (but burns much faster)

please be careful

 

Is there a specific reference you go to to determine what aftermarket parts are available or is a matter of asking different suppliers?

 

He is very correct the Driver Air bag deploys at a velocity around 90mph and 20 minutes after deploying the module would still sizzle water. The pass air bag deploys closer to 120mph.

Ford did a class for our department on the Ait Bag System and the instructor said that they did a test where they took "The Club" (remember those) and attached it to the steering wheel of a Probe. After they triggered the airbag they found "the club" in the trunk. It broke the drivers seat back and put a hole in the rear seat.

 

I will give you an example of an undeployed air bag.

I was inspecting a Chevy Impala that had been involved in a front end crash enough to total the car. The Battery was still connected. The doors would not open. The owner climbed out through the passenger window. I leaned into the car to see what options were on the center console, like stereo, a/c, ect. As I grabbed the steering wheel for leverage, the SIR deployed. Now my feet and body were mostly outside the car.

When I came to my senses, I was in the back seat, my left sholder dislocated and the left side of my face was burned. Both bags deployed with such force and with the way I was in the vehicle, it broke the drivers side seat back.

While, I prefer to have the SIR system in a car, this incident taught me a lesson. The airbag is nothing to screw around with. The dang thing can and will hurt you if you are not positioned correctly in the seat. Just imagine the force of it hitting me with my shoulder against the dang thing when it deployed.

 

Pmasley you're very fortunate that you didn't end up with a broken neck!

 

That happened over four years ago. I am still in great pain, due to the damage that is unrepairable to my shoulder. Yes, I am lucky that it did not break my neck. My understanding what the EMT said is that it could have killed me.