Chrysler Repair: Air bag, horn, and cruise control dont work: Van, highway traffic safety, flexible coupling

Question
I need to have my van inspected and I cant do that until I get It fixed, my airbag light stays on my horn and cruise control dont work and my hazard light wont stay down and no one in my small town knows how to fix it do you.

Answer
Hi Angela,
You didn't mention the year model of your van but if it is in the latter half of the 1990's then you are in luck because the first three problems are all due to one component, and so many owners had the problem that the Feds caused Chrysler to have to repair it for free as a Safety Recall.
Specifically the air bag, the horn, and cruise control are all three wired by a flexible coupling between the steering column and the steering wheel called the 'clockspring'. The clockspring is what has failed. So check with the Chrysler dealer or call the Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administion in Washington, if you can't get satisfaction, to verify that your van is indeed covered by the recall.
On the hazard switch, there should be a detent that holds it in place in the "on" position. Try spraying a little bit of WD-40 in the space between the button and the hole into which it fits to see if you can get it "catch" again. If not, just wedge a sliver of wood between the push button and the side of the hole into which it fits to achieve the same result by friction holding it 'in', in order to pass the test. A new switch is not cheap. You might also find that the hazard switch is a safety item covered by a recall, but I don't have certain knowledge about that.
Good luck on passing the inspection...I always feel a great relief when I pass that test for air pollution here in California...a cause for Celebration!
Roland