QuestionQUESTION: I HAVE A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXi MINI VAN. AT FIRST THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN YOU MADE A TIGHT TURN AND THEN GO OUT.NOW IT STAYS ON AND HORN WILL NOT BLOW AND CRUISE CONTROL WON'T WORK EITHER I CHECKED FUSES AND ALL ARE GOOD. NOW,WHEN YOU PUT GEAR SHIFTER IN REVERSE IT BLOWS THE FUSE LABELED ABS,TURN SIGNALS,BACK UP LIGHTS.I REMOVED COVERS AROUND STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER DASH AND EVERYTHING LOOKS OK.NO BARE WIRES OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT
ANSWER: Hi John,
This all points toward the 'clockspring' connector between the steering column and the steering wheel having shorted out and needing to be replaced. Let me know if you want to remove the steering wheel yourself to replace it and I will give you the steps to do it.
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer and consider a 'yes' response where you see the question about 'volunteer of the month'. Thanks
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QUESTION: HI ROLAND,
THANKS FOR YOUR QUICK RESPONSE. FIRST OF ALL WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A CLOCKSPRING CONNECTOR.NEVER HEARD OF IT.I GUESS THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU.YES PLEASE SEND ME THE STEPS TO TO DO IT. AND ALSO CAN THIS PART BE BOUGHT AT AUTO ZONE, ADVANCE AUTO, NAPA OR DEALER ONLY. WHERE DO I RATE YOU AND VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH AT?
ANSWER: Hi John,
I also discovered that there was a recall of the clockspring on your vehicle which means you may likely get Chrysler to replace it for free. Here is the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency summary about it. Go to NHTSA to see more details and a phone number to call for details:
Make: CHRYSLER Model: TOWN AND COUNTRY
Model Year: 2000
Manufacturer: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION Mfr's Report Date: OCT 05, 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 04V480000 EA04013
NHTSA Action Number: EA04013
Component: AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 955344
The website is www.NHTSA.gov and then look for 'recalls' on the left margin and put in the specifics of your vehicle: year,make,model and the several recall will be shown. Look at the 'summary' for the airbags.
Hi John,
It is a flexible wire connector between the steering wheel's buttons and airbag with the steering column. You should be able to get one as an aftermarket item.
Here is the procedure:Begin by disconnecting the - post battery clamp.
Position steering wheel straight ahead.
Remove air bag module from steering wheel (screws on the back side of the wheel).
Disconnect wire connectors from back of module after releasing lock. Place air bag carefully on counter with pad side up. Remove screws holding speed control switches to wheel, disconnect wires and remove switches. Remove nut from center of steering wheel, mark shaft and wheel for later repositioning.
Remove steering wheel using a wheel puller if necessary.
Remove steering columns shrouds
Remove the 2-way and 4-way connectors from the clockspring to the steering column harness.
Remove the clockspring by pressing the 2 tabs on the assembly at about 5 o'clock and 11 o'clock
Install is the reverse.
You will want to center the new clockspring: Push in on the two locking pins to release the mechanism. While still depressing the pins turn the clockspring rotor fully clockwise but gently to end of motion. Turn counter clockwise until yellow appears in the centering window. The arrow on the rotor should be pointing toward the yellow window. Put the assembly in place. Release the locking pins to engage the mechanism. Put the wheel in place, feeding the wire from the clockspring through the wheel openings. Replace steering wheel aligned to shaft, and make sure flats on wheel align to flats on clockspring inside. Tighten nut to 45 inch-pounds. Re-wire in reverse of removal. Tighten airbag retaining nuts to 90 inch-pounds.
Finally reconnect battery - post clamp.
This is taken from the '98 factory manual and the '95-'00 Haynes which are the newest that I have.
The "rate" of my answer will be shown as an opportunity to "thank/rate" the expert at the bottom of this answer. So choose that one.
Roland
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QUESTION: ROLAND,
THIS IS JOHN AGAIN.I CAN'T FIND THE PLACE TO RATE YOU.IT SAYS THAT I CAN'T RATE THIS VOLUNTEER.OK,I'VE REPLACED CLOCKSPRING CONNECTOR AND THAT SOLVED THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND HORN NOT WORKING DEAL, BUT STILL WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR IT BLOWS THE ABS,TURN SIGNAL,AND BACK UP LIGHT FUSE WHICH CONTROLS A/C FAN. AGAIN IT'S A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXi VAN 3.3L.ANY MORE IDEAS.ALSO CAN I E-MAIL ALLEXPERTS AND RATE YOU THERE.
AnswerHi John,
I checked the '98 and '02 wiring diagrams I have but unfortunately I can't identify exactly which fuse is blowing. The factory manual shows all the diagrams for those systems:abs, turn signal, back-up, and also do you mean the blower in the cabin?. But I don't see a single fuse that involves all 4 systems. If you could describe the location of the fuse relative to one of the relays in the box then I can figure out which fuse it is. My chart shows fuse numbers not purposes, unfortunately.
One idea however: because it blows when you put it in reverse, I would suspect that one of the back-up lamps has an internal short to ground by the bulb itself or the socket into which a bulb fits. So you could try removing both back-up bulbs and see if the fuse still blows, and if not then check the bulbs for short between the supply wire and the ground wire (it will take a careful measurement with a digital voltmeter to detect the difference between a normal filament resistance (may be an ohm or two) vs a short (0 ohms).
Let me know the fuse location and we can try some other things if neither of the back up bulbs or its socket proves to be faulty. Might it be fuse #24 which is located in front of the 'Accesory Relay'?
Roland
PS Did you get the 'reminder' email asking you to rate, and did that work? I appreciate your effort.
PPS: I just figured out why you couldn't rate me. I had accidentally defeated that option! You are free to do that now! and feel free to do it once for each answer... there is no limit!
