OEM 2004 Mercury Sable Clock Spring

2004 Mercury Sable Clock Spring Parts Q&A

• Q: What Precautions Should Be Taken When Servicing the Clock Spring Assembly to Ensure Air Bag System Safety on 2004 Mercury Sable?

  A: Safety glasses need to be worn for Clock Spring assembly servicing as a protection measure against air bag deployment injuries and you should handle live air bag modules by positioning their trim cover away from your body. Wash your hands right after deployment because sodium hydroxide deposits on your skin should be washed off. It is unsafe to probe the connectors of air bag modules since it triggers deployment of the system. Any damaged or discolored air bag trim covers need replacement while the restraint system diagnostic tool should leave the vehicle before operating it on the road. A thorough check for SRS operations without defects must be conducted before handing back the vehicle to the customer. The system depowering must begin first followed by the removal of both steering wheel back cover plugs and two driver air bag module bolts. Then remove the driver air bag module keeping track of squib electrical connector numbers before removing electrical connection. The vehicle has straight wheels while the technician removes both the steering wheel and lower steering column opening cover and the bolts and retaining clips. Beginning with tape masking over the Clock Spring to stall rotation, install the column in maximum down tilt position before extracting the tilt handle shank along with ignition lock cylinder. Proceed by removing the shift indicator tube only if it exists before extracting the rear part of the steering column and rotatorly loosening the front steering column nuts. The installer should detach the PATS transmitter by removing the key-in-ignition warning indicator switch while working on the upper steering column shroud. Pull away the wire harness from its holders while detaching each electrical connector of the Clock Spring before proceeding with the Clock Spring removal. New Clock Springs need to be placed in middle of their position and require key removal along with rotor holding during installation. When recentering the rotor position maintain stability on the outer housing while rotating it counterwise until you meet resistance followed by clockwise movement of three revolutions to achieve the central position. Place the Clock Spring onto the steering column by ensuring retaining clips secure and directing the wire harness to proper locations. As a final step should include putting back the upper steering column shroud and tightening the steering column nuts before finally connecting all electrical components. The process requires installing the key-in-ignition warning indicator switch and shift indicator tube and PATS transmitter. End the installation with lower steering column shroud placement followed by the ignition switch lock cylinder and tilt wheel handle before putting on the lower steering column opening cover and steering wheel before reconnecting the driver air bag module with appropriate connector matches. Complete all securing steps before activating system power.