QuestionI have a 1998 k1500. The steering shaft came apart at the steering gear box and the wheel spun freely. Now the air bag light stays on. How do I repair that?
Answer
GM Clockspring
Hi Todd:
You have broken the clockspring in your steering column. This is a replaceable component, but you should learn more about it before going out and buying one. When you replace it with a new one, make sure the wheels are in the 'straight ahead' position to avoid duplicating this error and damaging the new one.
The clockspring is a ribbon wire that is coiled up inside the steering column. This component is the subject of many discussions on these threads. Many times the steering wheel or column is disconnected and then rotated beyond the center position it is required to be in. This will cause the clockspring wire to break. The clockspring delivers current to all of the systems above it… the airbag, cruise control and horn. When it fails (and they do a lot) the wire breaks leaving one or all of the circuits open and inoperative. This will cause the airbag light to come on and shut down the airbag system. As long as that light is on, the airbags will NOT deploy, even in an accident. Sometimes it’s intermittent as the wire begins to break. Once it breaks completely, the ‘airbag’ light will illuminate.
Check out these web pages for a more complete description:
http://www.airbagsolutions.com
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/docs/Clockspring.pdf
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/resources.aspx
