dvs_dave

Something totally stupid and random happened and I seem to have screwed up the steering wheel clock spring electrical connections in the process. Airbag light is on, and heated wheel no longer works. Any tips for taking the steering wheel off and checking the clock spring?

What happened you ask? I somehow managed to get my parking lot key fob lanyard caught around the steering wheel and during some frantic wheel twirling to avoid hitting the wall, the lanyard was well and truly wrapped around the mechanism in the small gap between the steering column and the wheel, also jamming the wheel. Took me a while to untangle it and get going but not before I'd blocked the parking lot ramp up and everyone was honking. Just glad I didn't hit anything as that would have been so shameful trying to explain that one!

mishar

Battery off, airbag off (2 Torx bolts from behind unscrewed at top position), few harnesses to be carefully disconnected, triple square central bolt (Torx or even 5/8 Allan works too) and the wheel is off. Be sure that it is strait before you take it off so it will be strait after.

To take plastic trim from the column you need very long (3"+)and tin Torx screwdriver. Clockspring is attached by BLACK clips (not transparent ones). Carefully with harnesses when assembling. Specially with Yellow (airbag) one.

03_AR_CO

What are the odds the clock spring has damage from the incident and needs replacing?

mishar

97%

03_AR_CO

that's what I was thinking too

Mister Bally

Or, a "snowshoe wiper" contact was damaged. It probably can be repaired by removing the steering wheel and reenacting the incident.

dvs_dave

All seems well. Whipped the wheel off per Mishar's advice and nothing was apparently out of order or broken. Reassembled and the airbag error was still there but now along with the steering angle sensor being out. The airbag error I then cleared and I re calibrated the steering angle sensor with VCDS and all is now good.

As for the steering heating apparently no longer working, I found out that it will only operate if the cabin temp is below 68F so until it gets cold again I won't know. But no errors in VCDS for it so presume it's all good.

03_AR_CO

That"s great news, I am glad is was no more than a pull and put back together for you. If it had been mine I am certain the clock spring would have been in need of replacing ..... just figuring on the luck that I often have.

dvs_dave

Yes I was lucky. Didn't fancy having to drop the best part of 400 bucks in parts for something so dumb! Haha.