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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
97 Dodge
Caravan, No Horn, Cruise control and Air Bag Warning Light
Q: I have a ‘97 Caravan with a 3.0 V6. The
Air Bag warning light is on, the cruise control and horn don’t work. The
van will not pass the annual safety inspection because the horn doesn’t
work. It seems odd that a horn must work for inspection but a bad Air
Bag is not a safety issue. I took the panels off from around the steering
column thinking a wire pack or harness is loose since all these controls
and airbag are in the steering wheel. Checked all fuses too. I am lost
for any other clues to what may cause complete failure of all controls
on the steering wheel and cause the airbag light to stay on. My wife tells
me that the airbag light first started to go on and off and now is always
on. She never noticed lack of horn or cruise control as she never had
a need to use them......Jim
A: The
fix for the horn is likely going to be the fix for the Air Bag and cruise
control too. Just below the steering wheel there is a wrap of wires. This
wrap of wires is contained in a plastic case. On each side of this case
is an electrical connector, one going to your cruise control, horn and
Air Bag on the steering wheel. The other end is connected to the wiring
harness at the base of the steering column. The plastic case that the
wires are contained in is often referred to as the clock spring. The reasoning
for this name? The wires are laid out in a manner that they look like
the spring to a wind-up clock. What makes it even more like a clock spring
is the way the wires wind-up inside the case while the steering is being
turned to the left or right. This is done to allow for the movement of
the steering wheel while not breaking the wires. To repair a failed clock
spring requires disassembling and removal of the steering wheel which
includes the Air Bag. When working with Air Bags you’ve got to know what
you’re up to, they are damn dangerous if handled incorrectly. Have a tech
with proper training diagnose and repair your vehicle.
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