The "clock spring" isn't actually a clock spring, it just looks like the mainspring inside of a mechanical watch. It is a length of flexible printed circuit conductor film wound up in the shape of a spring, and used to route circuits to and from the rotating steering wheel. As you turn the steering wheel, the "spring" becomes larger or smaller in daimeter as it winds/unwinds around the steering column.
The alternative (used in the "old days") is a set of sliding contacts similar to the brushes in your starter motor. These were fine for the horn switch, but not considered relaible enough for air bag power.
my limited understanding is it just aides in making sure the wiring in the column does not bind up.
basically your air bag and crusie.
I had a 2000 durango that had a clockspring recall. the day the recall came in the mail the cruise and stereo controls quite working on the column. I assume the airbad would not have deployed either. I kind of laughed at the timing of it all. open the mail that day and on the way home from the gym the **** quit working.
it was underwaranty though so I did not do the work.
if you have an accident and the bags deploy you have to replace it 9 out of 10 times cause the current from the bag burns it,my buddy owns a body shop.
The alternative (used in the "old days") is a set of sliding contacts similar to the brushes in your starter motor. These were fine for the horn switch, but not considered relaible enough for air bag power.
i question the last sentence in the statement. the power needed to deploy an airbag. ohm out an airbag circuit. please pple, if you dont know what your doing, never circuit test an airbag circuit. that is why we use airbag simulators to decoy airbag components for diagnosis. most airbag circuits are loomed in yellow or have a yellow connector.
like computer networking, its always better to hardwire a system than to have a wireless system, like n0v8or said its more reliable. as in this case to update from a contact switch to a clockspring setup.
now how many amps do you think runs through a multimeter in ohms does it take to deploy an airbag? let me know if you decide to try.
I just replaced the clock spring on my '94 F-150. Not a difficult job at all. Just got to be careful of the air bag assembly, don't want that thing going off in your face.
Bottom line is that ALL steering wheel mounted devices and controls interface via the clock spring. Cruise control, horn, air bag, stereo controls (if you have a set on the steering wheel that is).
The clock spring is a flexible interface between the steering wheel and the steering column.