How to Determine if the Sonata Airbag Clock Spring is Good or Bad?
2 Answers
Methods to determine if the Sonata airbag clock spring is good or bad: 1. When the steering wheel is turned fully to the left or right, the horn does not sound; 2. The airbag light is on; 3. The steering wheel buttons cannot control the radio volume or change stations; 4. You can also use a multimeter to test continuity. If there is no continuity, the airbag clock spring is faulty. If there is continuity, the airbag clock spring is good. The airbag clock spring is used to connect the main airbag to the airbag wiring harness. Essentially, it is a segment of wiring harness. Since the main airbag needs to rotate with the steering wheel, the connecting wiring harness must have some slack to ensure it is not pulled apart when the steering wheel is turned to its limit position. In the event of a collision, the airbag system is highly effective in protecting the safety of the driver and passengers.
When the airbag light keeps staying on without turning off, I become alert that there might be an issue with the airbag clock spring. While driving, if the horn on the steering wheel suddenly stops working or other buttons become unresponsive, it’s also commonly caused by a damaged clock spring. Checking it isn’t actually difficult—I prefer connecting to the car’s OBD port first and using a simple scan tool to see if any airbag-related trouble codes pop up, such as SRS system errors. Additionally, manually inspecting the clock spring wiring harness for any damage or kinks, though it’s hidden inside the steering wheel, can reveal wear marks if you peek through the gaps. Safety is crucial here because if this part fails, the airbag might not deploy in an accident, which could be disastrous. That’s why I always recommend not attempting DIY repairs and instead heading straight to a professional repair shop—higher cost but worth it. During regular maintenance, it’s also a good idea to ask the technician to take a quick look at it to prevent major issues.
