OEM 2001 Dodge Dakota Clock Spring

2001 Dodge Dakota Clock Spring Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Replace a Faulty Clock Spring on 2001 Dodge Dakota?

  A: When the Clock Spring malfunctions, shows damage or the air bag has been used, a replacement is necessary because it cannot be fixed. To start, turn off the air bag system by removing and isolating the negative battery cable, after which wait two minutes to allow all the electricity in the air bag system capacitor to discharge. Rotate the steering wheel until the front wheels of the truck are perfectly straight. Take out the driver air bag from the steering wheel, disconnect the steering wheel wire harness connectors from the upper Clock Spring connector receptacles and remove the screw attaching the steering wheel armature to the upper steering column shaft. With a steering wheel puller (Special Tool C-3428-B), remove the steering wheel and next come off the steering column opening cover from the instrument panel. Should you have a tilt steering column, remove the knob by pulling it rearward. Underneath the steering wheel, unscrew the two outboard screws that connect the upper shroud to the lower shroud, press both sides of the upper shroud in and slip it off. Lift off the lower shroud by unscrewing and removing the center screw attaching it to the seal around the steering column. Separate the wire harness connectors for the Clock Spring at the lower Clock Spring receptacles, unscrew the two screws holding the Clock Spring in place and take it off the multi-function switch mounting housing. If you are not reusing the removed Clock Spring, you have to center it again before reinstalling-unless you have the rotor in place and secured. During installation, keep the front wheels straight and move the central Clock Spring over the top of the column shaft until the locating tab connects with the pin on the multi-function switch mounting area. Use a screwdriver to bring the two screws holding the Clock Spring to the multi-function switch housing to 2 Nm (20 in. lbs.), attach the two instrument panel wire harness connectors, lower the shroud onto the steering column and tighten the center screw to 2 Nm (20 in. lbs.). Mount the upper shroud, snap the features into place and tighten the two screws to 2 Nm (20 in. lbs.). If the equipment is available, join the tilt steering column knob to the lever, cover the steering shaft opening and then install the steering wheel on the upper shaft, aligning the yellow rubber booted engagement dowel correctly. Only tighten the screw for the steering wheel to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.), checking that you do not accidentally pull on either the Clock Spring pigtail wire or the steering wheel wire harness. After that, join the connectors from the steering wheel wire harness and install the driver air bag back onto the wheel.