QuestionQUESTION: Hi..I have a 97 F150 4X4 with a steering column that moves up and down, as if there is slop in it. The tilt seems to work fine and locks into place. This appears to be more of the whole unit. A previous owner had hit something in the front, but not enough to set off the airbags. I assume that they were forced into the wheel at this time which caused the problem. Along with this, the airbag light is flashing on the dash. What I need to know is what needs to be replaced and if there are any links to directions on the R&R. Thank you.
The bad bearings are i
ANSWER: Hi Wayne:
These problems are fairly common on Ford vehicles.
The column can be fixed fairly inexpensively if it hasn't been loose for too long. There are 2 bearings that go bad in the aluminum tilt housing you are looking at. The upper bearing is small (about 1" in diameter) and the lower one is larger (about 3" in diameter). Together these bearings will cost about $25.00 If it's been loose a long time then the shaft may be bad too & that's about $200 by itself. You can't see the lower on until you remove everything down to and including the tilt housing. To remove the housing, you will need to remove the large spring on the lower right side of the housing (be careful-it's a strong spring), then the gears inside the lock cylinder housing (where the lock comes out), and lastly the 2 pivot pins on each side of the housing (the pins that allow the tilt housing to pivot).
as always, getting it apart is the easy part. Putting these parts back together correctly and safely is the hard part. Putting the spring back in will give you a lot of trouble. Aligning the gears for the ignition lock ABSOLUTELY have to go in 1 way or you will never get the lock to hit all the positions and you won't be able to get it out again.
Lastly, the snap ring has to be pressed onto the shaft after everything is seated properly.
If you think it's too big a job, you can contact my company directly a stolenandrecovered.com & we can rebuild it for you and ship it back.
As far as the airbag light goes, the flashing light is actually a code. Count the flashes. It's a 2 digit code. flash, flash, flash, pause, flash flash...longer pause is a code 32 (a fairly common code on that truck) and it will repeat 3 times before going solid. Once we know the code I can tell you what is wrong and what need to be replaced.
I hope I've helped you.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hello and Thank you for your help.
Start with the airbag code...3-4.
With the column, are you referring to the tilt as being the problem? The tilt seems to lock into place very well. This is like the steering wheel is almost wobbling around at it's base....but further in. I just want to clarify that part. I just bought the truck, in this condition. I don't know how long it has been doing this. What should I look for to see if I need just bearings or the whole column?
Thanks again.
Wayne
Answer
This is one of the two
Hi again Wayne:
The most likely problem in your truck for the airbag light is the closckspring. Here is the complete fault code chart fro that vehciel is you wanted to see it.
FORD AIRBAG FAULT CODES
Flash Code Description/Information
12 Low Battery Voltage or VSS (12 volts)
13 Airbag (SRS) Or Crash Sensor Circuit Short Circuited To Ground or Earth
14 Primary Crash Sensor Circuit Short Circuited To Ground or Earth
21 Safing Sensor Not Properly Mounted
22 Safing Sensor Output Circuit Short Circuited To Battery Voltage or VSS (12 volts)
23 Safing Sensor Input Feed/Return Circuit Open Circuit
24 Safing Sensor Output Feed/Return Circuit Open Circuit
32 Driver's Airbag (SRS) Module Circuit High Resistance Or Open Circuit
33 Passenger's Airbag (SRS) Module Circuit High Resistance Or Open Circuit
34 Driver's Airbag (SRS) Module Circuit Low Resistance Or Open Circuit
35 Passenger's Airbag (SRS) Module Circuit Low Resistance Or Open Circuit
41 Right-hand Radiator Primary Crash Sensor Feed/ Return Circuit Open Circuit
42 Left-hand Radiator Primary Crash Sensor Feed/Return Circuit Open Circuit
44 Right-hand Radiator Primary Crash Sensor Not Mounted Properly
45 Left-hand Radiator Primary Crash Sensor Not Mounted Properly
51 Diagnostic Monitor Internal Thermal Fuse Blown (Replace Diagnostic Monitor)
52 Back Up Power Supply Voltage Boost Failure
53 Primary Crash Sensor Circuit Resistance To Ground Or Diagnostic Monitor Failure
If you want to know more about a clockspring, , check out my company website at www.airbagsolutions.com, and specifically this page:
http://www.airbagsolutions.com/docs/Clockspring.pdf
Regarding the looseness, I maintain that the bearing in the upper tilt housing are bad (not the tilt mechanism). This is a VERY popular problem and requires an upper end overhaul. Most of the time the shaft can be reused.
