What are the symptoms of a clock spring failure?

[DelBrielle]

Clock spring failure manifests as the airbag warning light illuminating, the horn not working, and malfunctioning multifunction steering wheel buttons. Function of the clock spring: The automotive steering wheel clock spring is a ring-shaped component that connects the airbag. It ensures that current continues to flow to the airbag while the steering wheel rotates, preventing the internal wires from breaking due to frequent twisting. This guarantees the airbag remains operational at all times. Principle of the clock spring: It is a type of circuit connector capable of infinite-angle rotation. Failure symptoms include circuit interruption at certain angles, such as the horn not sounding. Clock springs are typically made from materials like tin bronze, phosphor bronze, or constant elasticity alloys. In analog ammeters, the clock spring balances electromagnetic torque to enable current measurement. In mechanical clocks, the clock spring controls the pendulum's oscillation period, requiring constant elasticity alloy materials to maintain accurate timekeeping across varying temperatures.