BillyBoy

I have a 98 sport. When I installed my lift and bumper, I broke off some of the bolts from the steering box. I pulled the box and replaced the bolts. In the process, i had to unhook the steering wheel shaft, in the engine compartment at the universal joint. (please excuse me if i don't have the correct terms) During the process of rehooking it, it (the steering wheel) turned multiple times. I obviously had an issue trying to line up the gears on the steering knuckle/joint.

My problem is... about a week post 'fixing' this, my steering wheel lost power. It started with the horn working sometimes and not at others, then my airbag light came on about a day later. Then, and this is funny, when turning left on the freeway, (slow sweeping turns) the airbag light would turn off. Then my cruise control, while in use, wouldn't turn off. Now the CC doesn't respond at all. No light on the dash, almost like all the front of my steering wheel is now dead.

Sidenote, the blinkers still work, as does the ability to switch on and off my brights, and use the windshield wipers.

I'm under the assumption that it's a ground issue. I've checked and double checked the fuses. I took apart the steeringwheel, the casing around the wheel, and the knee plate, looked around, shook some wires, and found nothing that looked like it needed fixing... SOMETHING obviously does...

The question...

Is there a universal ground in the column, or on the face of the wheel?
What color, and where, is the ground located? I'm assuming all of these things are related.

As always, any help would be appreciated, and thanks in advance.
I really need my horn back! I live in the D.

BillyBoy

Bump.

truckntractorhick

that defiantly sounds like a clock spring 2 me!

BillyBoy

Clock spring? Anyone got any info on it?

Is it like a switch?

razor02097

Check fuses, check under kneel panel there should be a wire harness. It is possible that it is either damaged or the connector is corroded. Be careful playing with that air bag!

If the jeep horn is like the chrysler minivans then the horn button is part of the airbag. you may have a defective unit. Get yourself a haynes manual as tracking down electrical bugs is nye impossible without one.

BillyBoy

Does anyone have any idea where i can get one a bit cheaper than the 120+ they want online?

If I pull one from a boneyard, is there a chance it will mess up my airbag?
Possibly make it go off?

razor02097

well the clock spring would possibly be to blame for the airbag and horn problem but you say that you are having cluster problems too?

wildspear

Careful working on that stuff. Disconect the battery and then touch the two battery cables together to drain any capcitor juice left over.

anyone correct me if im wrong.

truckntractorhick

yea a clock spring makes contact with all the controls on your steering wheel and its able 2 keep contact when u turn the wheel.... its prolly busted

BillyBoy

Again, is it possible to pick up the spring from the bone yard, or is it dangerous related to the air bag?

BillyBoy

Nah, the instrument cluster is workiong fine. It's the wheel that's dead. I'm going to disconnect and spin the wheel a few times counterclockwise and reconnect it before i put down the cash for a new one.
That's the tilt (a little left) that had everything working. Can't hurt to try.
Thanks for the info yall, especially about the airbag. I'd hate to get popped in the face.

truckntractorhick

great! let us know......