2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Air bag/SRS problems?

[ANicklas]

While driving around the other day, my air bag light came on, along with the aggravating dinger (maybe it's trying to tell me something's wrong?). It went off and on for about 10 minutes, then stopped.

Two days went by, now today it's started again, but a little more frequently. It seems as though turning the wheel slightly left triggers it, but it will also come on at other times (ie it comes on whenever, but more often turning left than right).

I searched, and found that these trucks had (especially my year) a problem/recall with the clockspring, but as far as I can tell the horn and cruise control still work (may be an intermittent fault or something).

I'm planning on calling the dealer on Monday to see if it's covered, but has anyone had similar experiences? Kind of frustrating; just about to drop the cash on exhaust and now this



aleksei

 

[bmoeller]

If you use the steering wheel tilt a lot, I've heard of the wires being damaged/worn out by it.

 

[ANicklas]

I think I've tilted it all of three times since I've gotten it, but that was only two months ago; who knows how often the PO moved it up and down.

 

[wildmanben]

mine is doing the same thing, horn works but the cruise quit. Its getting annoying... I just dont know if I want the dealer messing with my truck though... . Probably wreck my transmission trying to get it in gear or something.

 

[y-knot]

Thank goodness, your truck is working fine and trying to tell you something. You have a problem and the best coarse of action would be to take it in and get it fixed, before something really happens.

 

[Lightman]

Good posibility the clock spring is going if you are having problems with the the cruise or horn also.

 

[wildmanben]

Put a clockspring in mine tonite and every works now. The horn never stopped working though. Kinda nice without the dinger going off every minute... . Pretty easy install and cost $42 from Dodge.

 

[ANicklas]

Wildmanben-

If it isn't too much trouble, do you think you could post the steps and part number for the spring? My Haynes manual doesn't seem too useful... . I was tempted to start digging around under the dash with my Leatherman today when the dinger went off for the 107th time #@$%!

 

[wildmanben]

part number is at work in my toolbox.



BE SURE THAT THE WHEELS ARE IN THE STRAIGHT POSITION!!!



Pull the 2 10mm bolts out of the back of the steering wheel that hold that air bag in. Unplug the connectors on the airbag. Unplug the connectors on the cruise buttons. Remove the 21mm nut that holds the steering wheel on. Use a puller with 2 3/8" thread bolts to remove wheel. Pry the old clockspring out and unplug the connector. Find the airbag wire under the dash by the hood release lever and unplug that and pull the wire through to get the clockspring out.



Reverse innstructions to install. Took me about 45 minutes.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Make sure to disconnect batteries and be careful of static electricity dont want that bag going off in your face!!!!

 

[ANicklas]

Thanks for the help guys; I'm waiting to hear back from the local dealer on if this is covered under the clockspring recall. My luck it isn't, but I can always hope... .

 

[ANicklas]

Turns out that my truck isn't covered under the recall.
Called the dealer; they want $80 just to look at it #@$%!. I understand that they have services and products we need, and they can charge whatever they want for them, but c'mon, $80 to tell me what's wrong, before they start wrenching. That's a lot of beer!
Anyway, I'm about 97% sure it's the clockspring, between the air bag light and the clunk that's developed in the past few days, so I ordered a new one from rockauto.com; $38 shipped.
Should arrive within a week or so; I'll throw it on top of the parts pile, along with the KDP tab, fuel pressure sender (waiting on a banjo bolt), the exhaust & AFE I'm about to order, etc... .
So little time, so much work & so many parts (parts are good, work is bad).

Thanks again for the help, the TDR subscription has definitely paid for itself already.

Edit: In case anyone needs the same part, it's Dorman #525103.

 

[ANicklas]

Done!

Well, it was getting worse, so I finally bumped it up to the top of the list.

Took me just over an hour to do everything, now my airbag dinger isn't going off constantly

The clockspring itself cost just about $50 shipped from Rock Auto, and I spent an hour in the shop (base auto shop), which cost me $2. Factor in the cost of a Mt. Dew and a zip tie, and I'm still under $55. Called the dealer - told them I was sure it was the spring; they told me it would cost $220. 75, parts and labor. :-laf