Clock Spring and Airbag

Gentlemen,

I just had my 2011 4Runner SR5 at the dealership for an oil change and the technician informed me that the horn isn't working. I tested it when I left and the horn only works if I turn the wheel slight left or right from center (center=no horn). Is this absolutely a clock spring issue, and if so, if only the horn is presenting issues, is it safe to say that the airbag is not involved? I don't want my wife driving it if the airbag could be affected. No trouble lights illuminated currently. Son-of-a-gun this part is expensive OEM......Find it disappointing that this just presented after a long slow drive on some pretty terrible roads while camping last week.

Thanks

RattleAKAK said:

Gentlemen,

I just had my 2011 4Runner SR5 at the dealership for an oil change and the technician informed me that the horn isn't working. I tested it when I left and the horn only works if I turn the wheel slight left or right from center (center=no horn). Is this absolutely a clock spring issue, and if so, if only the horn is presenting issues, is it safe to say that the airbag is not involved? I don't want my wife driving it if the airbag could be affected. No trouble lights illuminated currently. Son-of-a-gun this part is expensive OEM......Find it disappointing that this just presented after a long slow drive on some pretty terrible roads while camping last week.

Thanks

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I'm not sure about whether it's definitely the clock spring or not. There's a small connector for the horn just under and to the left on the steering column, trying wiggling that around and seeing if it's loose or funky. If I remember correctly I think it's a brown connector, but I may be wrong.

I found this clock spring on Amazon, part number matches up but I have no idea about the quality

The clockwork spring in my 05 Camry has been dead for several years, but the horn is fine. I've only lost all the button controls on the hub. I do have an airbag light on that the dealer cannot diagnose. Try Jeffy's suggestion above before you spend on one.

RattleAKAK said:

"Gentlemen,

I just had my 2011 4Runner SR5 at the dealership for an oil change and the technician informed me that the horn isn't working. I tested it when I left and the horn only works if I turn the wheel slight left or right from center (center=no horn)..."

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Hi RattleAKAK,

It sounds as if the "Spiral Cable sub-assm." is partially broken or cracked; here's a diagram:

<<< it's 3/4's of the way down towards the bottom (F23)

...and no; this won't affect the airbag operation safety, so no worries about that! If you're handy with a screwdriver, you can buy the cable on ebay and replace it yourself:>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/Clock-Spri...cable+assm&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313<< ...about $45 bucks! 'Best to you',

rig

Thank you all for your replies. I will start with checking the plug and then dig deeper. Thanks again!!!!

My horn works but my cruise control hasn't worked for the past 4 years now. It will turn on if I have the wheel turned about 90 degrees but I can't exactly do that when I'm on the highway lol. I was also told it is my clock spring.

rigtec said:

Hi RattleAKAK,

It sounds as if the "Spiral Cable sub-assm." is partially broken or cracked; here's a diagram:

<<< it's 3/4's of the way down towards the bottom (F23)


...and no; this won't affect the airbag operation safety, so no worries about that! If you're handy with a screwdriver, you can buy the cable on ebay and replace it yourself:>> Clock Spring Spiral Cable Fits: TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2010 - 2016 Scion tC 2011-2016 718207768158 | eBay<< ...about $45 bucks! 'Best to you',

rig

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I have a bad clock spring also. When I was looking for one online I noticed mine has a blue box on the back that say steering wheel sensor but the ones on eBay don't will that affect anything Important? Cause I would much rather pay 50/100 bucks than 600 stealership wants.

You could always just pop the airbag off and see if something is interfering with the connection. Disconnect the battery, wait 20-30 minutes. Two bolts on the side, torx t-30's I believe. There's one cable from airbag to the clock spring. If memory serves, the bag itself makes contact with something (metal) that completes the circuit for the horn. Just a thought.

Wow.... Most overpriced part I have run across...

So my cruise stopped working this summer on my 2012 SR5 except when the wheel is past about 30 degrees either way. Seems to be the spiral cable / clockspring.

I went into the stealership and had one quoted for $947.61 CAD! :wtf:

This is like some plastic and ribbon cable!!!!

So anyhow off to find OEM. Turns out you can get on for something like 1/10 or 1/20 or even less...

However the one thing I ran across is that there are two versions:

84307-35010 basic; and
84307-30090 premium audio.

Now I just have the basic audio without any steering wheel controls so I really just need the former, however the OEM online stuff all seems to be the latter.

I strongly suspect the 84307-30090 is backwards compatible just with unused conductors and pins which is why I cannot really find any of the 84307-35010. However I thought I would bump what looks to be the main thread on this topic to see if anyone can confirm before I drop some $...

I'm probably going to pull the wheel tomorrow on the off chance it's just a loose connector (unlikely since the horn works so its probably a failed conductor in the ribbon in the interior as this guy shows) and I can check the connector type and pins.

PS. Here is another video but they only start after it's taken apart and he apparently paid for Toyota Genuine ~$500-700 USD price (also yet another part number but apparently it's superceeded. It will be interesting to see what mine is ...... Actually I think that's the P/N for just the position sensor that, reading some of the reviews, has to be transfered (at least for the OEM ones). Also that P/N doesn't show up on a current part search so possibly the Genuine ones include as part of the assmebly partly explaing the high price.. Another reason to do some exploratory surgery first I guess.

So to reply to myself.... There was a 84307-30090 on ebay for just $20 USD with free shipping so I took a leap. They don't differentiate there in terms of the audio option so I can probalby gripe and get my twenty bucks back if there is an issue. They claim compatability. If it works this will be over 97% less than the genuine part.

The ebay version will be lacking the steering sensor, which is what makes the OEM clock spring so expensive. You will have to transfer yours over.

Make sure to disconnect the battery. I've read of at least one person who bricked their steering sensor by moving it around while energized, not to mention the whole airbag safety aspect.

I have the ebay version, and it seems kind of chintzy, so I haven't installed it. I may open up the clock spring itself and transfer over the ribbon cable or try to repair mine at some point.

We have a 2013 4R that I bought almost 2 years ago for my daughter in college up north.
Like a dummy I never checked the horn or steering buttons before I bought it and low and behold nothing works.
Definitely the clockspring, retail over $700, but dealer was going to give it to me for $500+. :frusty:

To complicate it even more I've gotten at least a half dozen recall letters for the airbag, but I'm not taking it in and get raped so I bought the clockspring on Amazon for around $70.
In the case of an airbag recall, Chrysler replaces the air bag AND the clockspring for free since the gov requires the airbag to work. Called Toyota and they will not.

To further complicate it, my daughter has misplaced the clockspring so now I ordered another and have two. She graduated college and moved so it's somewhere in her stored stuff 1300 mikes away.

So my next step is to replace the clockspring and then check to make sure the horn and the stereo controls work and if so then take it in for the air bag recall.

Just a word of warning, when taking a car into any dealership, be careful what you sign and absolutely do not give them a credit card at drop off time.
If the charges ever get silly and it goes to court, the judge will claim you authorized all repairs because of that. Remember service writers are on commission and bring dealerships lots of profit.

Jeremy556 said:

The ebay version will be lacking the steering sensor, which is what makes the OEM clock spring so expensive. You will have to transfer yours over.

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This is sort of what I was suspecting after researching this issue. Seems crazy you cannot get the genuine version sans steering sensor. Attaching a solid state sensor that will last a lifetime to a flexing ribbon cable that will probably need to be replaced at least once in the vehicle life, and not selling them separtely, is poor engineering at best and a deplorable waste of resources and my money at worst. Shame on Toyota here. Up to this point I've been pretty much an unequivocal fan.

Make sure to disconnect the battery. I've read of at least one person who bricked their steering sensor by moving it around while energized, not to mention the whole airbag safety aspect.

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Oh for sure - Step zero when dealing with that small explosive.

I have the ebay version, and it seems kind of chintzy, so I haven't installed it. I may open up the clock spring itself and transfer over the ribbon cable or try to repair mine at some point.

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Looking at the video I think there are some glue or plastic welds so that could get messy.... Well we will see when I get it in. I haven't got around to that exploratory surgery yet and at this point I'm going to wait and see. Hope the steering sensor is just on there with a clip.

PS. I do wonder if there is a cold weather correlation with this failure... Just seems like if this was not temperature related then there might almost be enough outcry to have a major TSB or recall. For the record my 4Runner sees the full bone chilling impact of an Edmonton Alberta winter. That ribbon cable has wound back and forth on many a -30 to -40 degree day.

WCVanHorne said:

So to reply to myself.... There was a 84307-30090 on ebay for just $20 USD with free shipping so I took a leap. They don't differentiate there in terms of the audio option so I can probalby gripe and get my twenty bucks back if there is an issue. They claim compatability. If it works this will be over 97% less than the genuine part.

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Can you please let me know how things turned out with the ebay spiral cable? Was it the Isumo listed here: Clock Spring Spiral Cable Fits: TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2010 - 2016 | eBay

Were you able to successfully install and remove any and all dash lights?

Were you able to reuse your old Steering Angle Sensor?

LakeSplake said:

Can you please let me know how things turned out with the ebay spiral cable? Was it the Isumo listed here: Clock Spring Spiral Cable Fits: TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2010 - 2016 | eBay

Were you able to successfully install and remove any and all dash lights?

Were you able to reuse your old Steering Angle Sensor?

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I just changed out the non functioning clockspring yesterday and replaced it with my Amazon $30.00 replacement. Had to also transfer the steering sensor, no big deal.
Everything is now working, horn, cruise, phone and stereo buttons etc.
Have 2 extras now for future use, just in case they get hard to find.

LakeSplake said:

Can you please let me know how things turned out with the ebay spiral cable? Was it the Isumo listed here: Clock Spring Spiral Cable Fits: TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2010 - 2016 | eBay

Were you able to successfully install and remove any and all dash lights?

Were you able to reuse your old Steering Angle Sensor?

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Same here, just did it today. I didn't try to write and illustrate a "how-to" but here are some photos.

Random hints:

• Didn't matter if the spriral cable was for the steering wheel audio. Mine has none and you just don't plug anything in.
• Buy a $10 cheapo steering wheel puller.
• REMOVE THE NEG TERMINAL ON THE BATTERY AND HAVE A BEER
• Those airbag/horn retainer bolts are T30 and the covers snap out from the side closeset to you and then tip out towards the dash.
• The brown horn wire is actually a locking spade connector and you have to press the end of the little latch down on the wire side. (I somehow forgot this the second time - or maybe I was just lucky the first time - and the minute little locking nub broke off. Not a huge deal as I crimped it down good with pliers before putting it back on. If it ever works loose the worst that will happen is the horn quits.) Actually on the subject of those connectors from the airbags to cruise etc. they all have very slightly different locking methods so you want to be careful on those.
• Mark the spline and edge of hole after you remove the steering wheel nut.
• Those cowling screws can come out after you remove steering wheel.
• My $25 special had the whole orange tab pull completely out, I pushed it back in and snapped it off as designed but don't think it makes a difference either way. I don't think that little orange bit that remains has any function.
• Transfering the position sensor was very quick and easy.
• The steering wheel nut torque is 37 ft-lb.
• The T30 bolts' torque is 78 in-lb.

No warning lights, no nothing. Soooooo nice to have my cruise back!

Only thing is how long it lasts. Hopefully better then the led lamps I han in those damn front parking light positions. I replaced those today too.. It is so misirable fighting with those fender liners and then wedging your arms in there.

Anyhow don't hesitate on this one, super easy in the end. I just wish Toyota sold a genuine part that didn't include that perfectly good, and expensive, postition sensor and was more reasonably priced.

Edit update parts that should work:

84307-35010 basic;
84307-30090 premium audio; and
84306-06140 Tacoma verstion that seems *identical* to the above one.

I have a 2013 Trail without JBL (I guess that's premium ?). So, I may need to replace my clock spring and, like you, can't find any 84307-35010 except from dealers.

Which part did you end up using?

arthurm said:

I have a 2013 Trail without JBL (I guess that's premium ?). So, I may need to replace my clock spring and, like you, can't find any 84307-35010 except from dealers.

Which part did you end up using?

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This one




Cheap ones seem to be rarer now. You may want to roll the dice and grab this one.

PS mine lasted an Alberta winter so far.

So, your truck uses the same OEM as mine, 84307-35010. I'll try your replacement part 84307-30090.

One question: did you have to swap over the Panasonic wheel sensor part? Or was this a drop in replacement?

Finally, you may want to check out my post here:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3721559-post7.html

You may want to review my post and photos again. The whole point of these cheap replacements and why they're so inexpensive is that they don't have the position sensor, you have to swap it.