Does Anyone Know?

[chuck3]

Anyone know if the Dodge Dakota have the clockspring problem like the 01 Rams? I have a friend at work with a noise in the steering as it's being turned, kinda sounds like some of you descriped with the Ram. Thanks Chuck.

 

[Bob Wagner]

have your friend dig here

www.alldata.com

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by chuck3

Anyone know if the Dodge Dakota have the clockspring problem like the 01 Rams? Chuck.

Yup. Wife had to have hers replaced a couple of months ago- turned to right lock and SNAP, CRACKLE, POP. Same sorry crap as in our trucks.

 

[rich m]

I'm both cynical and naive...

I'd been thinking all along that the "clockspring" was a fictional part, akin to "white stoveblack", a "skyhook", a commo-wire stringing device known as a "T. R. -double E" (get it? "tree"?), a metric Crescent wrench, a Left-handed Hammer, etc.



Is, after all this humorous assumption, the "clockspring" a real component, presumably of the front suspension/steering system?



Inquiring (not Enquiring) minds wanna know!

 

[klenger]

rich m:



It's a real part.

Your guess is incorrect.

Please try again.



Of course, there is the perverbial "snipe hunt", "3 gallons of prop wash", and "200 feet of flight line".

 

[Papa Joe]

The clockspring IS the weakest link... ..... Good bye.

 

[Bill Lins]

rich- the clockspring is a wound up ribbon electrical connector that provides the circuits to the airbag, horn button, and cruise control buttons on the steering wheel. Unfortunately, some engineer couldn't measure correctly so it is a leetle too short and breaks if one turns the wheel too far (like to full lock).



It is NOT a 10-ton inflatable counterweight.

 

[rich m]

So it's not really a spring, at all, ....

... now that that's clear, was there a specific year, or assembly location whose trucks had this problem, or random distribution?



all my goodies (assumption includes the yet-unblown airbag) still work correctly, and I've been "lock-to-lock" many times while 4xcrawling the dust and rocks.

 

[BK]

Anyone got the bucket of steam?



Or how about the wire stretcher?

 

[chuck3]

01 Trucks.

rich m, The 2001 trucks seem to be the main year with the problem.

 

[rich m]

Re: 01 Trucks.

Originally posted by chuck3

rich m, The 2001 trucks seem to be the main year with the problem.

I like low-tech! (98. 4-- minimal electron involvement, and a good "clockspring")--- worry-mode "off"

 

[Bill Lins]

Re: So it's not really a spring, at all, ....

Originally posted by rich m

... now that that's clear, was there a specific year, or assembly location whose trucks had this problem, or random distribution?



all my goodies (assumption includes the yet-unblown airbag) still work correctly, and I've been "lock-to-lock" many times while 4xcrawling the dust and rocks.

Our Dakota is a '00 model- dunno about what year Rams had trouble. You'll know if yours breaks- cruise and horn will not work and a big, bright, yellow "SRS" or "AIR BAG" warning light will light on the cluster.