The horn doesn't work from the horn pad on my 99 XJ, (but does with the keyfob). haven't tested or diagnosed anything, I'm guessing I have a bad clock spring. If I go to my local pick-n-pull tomorrow, is there a way to test a clock spring at the junkyard before I buy it and take it home? Keep in mind, all batteries have been removed and aren't allowed in the yard so...meter test maybe?

 

You can use a multimeter to check it. Check for continuity between the connector ends. I did a repair on mine and checked it that way. The innards of the clockspring is a flat 4 (or 5) wire ribbon cable. The wire is folded over itself at a 45 degree angle. Eventually the wire breaks at that fold.

 

Thinking yes. When I first put cruise in my '00, that did not come with it, everything worked for a bit. Then it did not. Since I had extra parts I tried to figure out if one of the other clocksprings was OK with a meter. Problem is I did it a long time ago, do not remember how I checked it, and did not make a note of what kind of readings I was getting off the first clockspring I believed to be bad and how that differed from the second one I put in. That did work and still does. I did not take it apart though. That much I do remember. I want to say I kept putting the meter in the 2 little holes and the slots below them where wires were exposed. But I would have to see one to hopefully remember for sure. I can tell you this much. You better hope that the boneyard knows what they are doing when they remove it. The wheels need to be straight when removed. Also there are a couple little holes in the clockspring that should line up, or be very close to lining up, so a zip tie or mechanics wire can be put through so the clockspring can not be rotated out of position before installed. There is a re-centering procedure in my FSM. Basically rotating clockwise till you feel light resistance and then counterclockwise about 2 1/2 turns till those holes I mentioned before line up. Also make sure the little tabs on the clockspring are not broken.

 

You just need to check for continuity. It's just a wire. Put your multimeter probe on one connector and then check all the other ends to see if it is a complete circuit to any of them. There is a lot of wiggle room for centering the clock spring. It's just a big coil of wire.

 

Why go thru all that when rockauto has a Dorman for $66? New.