New Prius Clockspring Part# 84306-0E010

check pm's Also, without the steering sensor, wouldn't you have non power steering?

When I transferred the clockspring in my car (which also had an 'updated' stock number) I remember the steering sensor (behind the clockspring) , and believe it is plugged in separately from the clockspring. I would take off the wheel and look for the plug in for the steering sensor.
You may have to go to a dealer to recalibrate the steering , but I would look for the plug in for the sensor first. I mentioned unhooking the 12 volt battery as a first attempt after finding the plug in to see if this calibrates , but then the 12 volt system should have been disconnected when working with air bag systems. Various warning about working around the air bags discouraged me from writing instructions about this in my original posting.

checked out pic's for steering sensor-- ebay
04-09 Toyota Prius Steering Wheel Position Sensor - eBay (item 270694779009 end time Feb-18-11 02:12:01 PST)
Note I looked thru some saved documents, found this --------------------------------------

BRAKE − STEERING SENSOR
2004 PRIUS REPAIR MANUAL (RM1075U)
STEERING SENSOR
REPLACEMENT
1. DISCONNECT BATTERY NEGATIVE TERMINAL (SEE PAGE 60−1)
2. REMOVE STEERING WHEEL COVER LOWER NO.2
3. REMOVE STEERING WHEEL COVER LOWER NO.3
4. REMOVE HORN BUTTON ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−20)
5. REMOVE STEERING WHEEL ASSY (SEE PAGE 50−8)
SST 09950−50013 (09951−05010, 09952−05010, 09953−05020, 09954−05021)
6. REMOVE TILT LEVER BRACKET (SEE PAGE 50−8)
7. REMOVE STEERING COLUMN COVER (SEE PAGE 50−8)
8. REMOVE SPIRAL CABLE SUB−ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−29)
9. REMOVE STEERING SENSOR
(a) Unclamp the 6 claws and remove the steering sensor from the spiral cable.
10. INSTALL STEERING SENSOR
(a) Aligning the 2 locating pins as shown in the illustration,
engage the 6 claws and install the steering sensor to the
spiral cable.
11. INSPECT SPIRAL CABLE SUB−ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−29)
12. PLACE FRONT WHEELS FACING STRAIGHT AHEAD
13. INSTALL SPIRAL CABLE SUB−ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−29)
14. CENTER SPIRAL CABLE (SEE PAGE 60−29)
15. INSTALL STEERING COLUMN COVER (SEE PAGE 50−8)
16. INSTALL TILT LEVER BRACKET (SEE PAGE 50−8)
17. INSTALL STEERING WHEEL ASSY (SEE PAGE 50−8)
18. INSTALL HORN BUTTON ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−20)
19. INSPECT HORN BUTTON ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−14)
20. CONNECT BATTERY NEGATIVE TERMINAL
21. PERFORM INITIALIZATION (SEE PAGE 01−5)
22. INSPECT SRS WARNING LIGHT (SEE PAGE 05−1404) end quote -----------------

Your comment about the need for a car horn, I was concerned with my car, when my air bag light was on, what if there was a short in the broken spiral cables that enabled the air bags to deploy while driving-- that would be very dangerous.

 

Key word: Airbag.

Why didn't you take this to the dealer and complain? The airbag operates thru the clockspring too. Toyota should have and would have replaced the failed clockspring for free.

Complain to the NHTSA so toyota will have to do an extended warrantee on their bad clocksprings.

 

200k on mine.

 

Installing the Clockspring?

I bought a used clockspring from a reputable salvage yard by mail order. It came with a piece of tape on it to prevent the top from rotating relative to the bottom of the clockspring - which I appreciate. I straightened my car front tires and leveled the steering wheel when I installed the clockspring and removed the tape. I now wonder if the salvage yard centered the donor car's front tires before removing the clockspring. I called them today and they weren't sure. Searching this forum, I saw the above procedure -- what exactly is in step #14? Does it say how to "center the clockspring" before you install it onto a car with the tires pointing forward? If installed wrong, I think the clockspring can be wound too tightly or loosely when you turn the steering wheel fully one way or the other.

 

I recall 2 and a half revolutions from one 'side' to the other, if not sure about the centering, I would probably try turning the top part both ways, slowly until a bit more pressure is felt , to determine the end points, then half way back to center it.

 

Your idea makes sense. My airbag light and CEL came on, so I checked the clockspring and found one ribbon was pulled out (broken, nonrepairable). I wondered if the clockspring had been installed (by me) wrongly. Before I removed it, with the tires pointed straight ahead and steering wheel level before I took it off, I counted clockspring revs each way until light pressure was felt. It was 1.75 turns to the left, and 2.75 turns to the right. (Since you can only go full revs, my other choice would have been 2.75 turns left and 1.75 turns right, which is equally "uncentered"). I think it was installed properly. Now, I don't know why the ribbon broke but it broke at the exact time I turned the steering wheel full lock right, to look at something behind the front right tire. Could it be the Prius steering wheel will break the clockspring if it's turned full lock? That would suck. While driving normally, I noticed to make a 90-degree turn on a street corner usually only requires 1-1.5 turns of the steering wheel, far from FULL LOCK. I would sure like to hear from an expert on this subject.

 

Does anyone know if there has been any progress on a recall on these spiral cables - clock springs? And, if not, where would I go to complain towards getting such a recall? Wonder if this is one of the parts affected by the earth quake/ tsunami.

Mine is in the intermittent stage. Mostly it is just affecting my Info button and both defrost buttons. I go down the road pressing these buttons, over and over again, till they go to working. But soon they stop again. Have noticed that turning the wheel seems to help make them work again. So it must be this clock spring/ spiral cable.

Does anyone know how much the Dealership will charge? Approximately? Thanks

 

I got to know from my dealer it cost around $500 for a fix and they offered 15% discount because I complained is recall COT none aligned steering wheel issue pointed out in another thread. I have mine damaged upon the latest recall for Steering Shaft change Prius Second Generation. I filled complain to NHTSA as well for the faulty cables. Toyota customer relationship been notified too. If you do come to have this issue after some work done from the dealer I advice you to find out if they have something to do with as many dealers mechanics are not aware about the procedure to realign the steering wheel to the center.

For my case the info button, recirculating air button, and the rear and front defroster buttons were affected and they do work fine if I twist the steering wheel to the end left.

 

Hi rufa33,

So looks like you've just been living with the issue for the time being? I'm going to try to find time to go to the dealership (where is had the recall work done) and see if I can get lucky.

I've been lucky in the fact that things seem to be working fine since I went for the recall (February 15, 2013). About 1 months ago I noticed the INFO button started to not work but just within the last 2 weeks, all the ones you're having problems with are faulting.

The buttons tend to work if I turn the wheel and press them (like everyone else) but I doubt it's a smart thing to do when going 70mph on the freeway...

If you hear anything from all the organizations you have written to, please keep me informed if you can.

 

Brainbob, Toyota gives 1 year warranty from the date of the recall work been done for your car. Hopefully you got luckier than me and your dealer got some common sense and fix your issue with no charge. The regular charge for a Clock-Spring Cable fix is $500.

 

There are new aftermarket clocksprings on Ebay for $42. Questionable quality at this time. I plan to try one in my personal car but cannot recommend them yet...airbags are kind of important. If a cheapo clockspring breaks it could prevent the airbag from going off.

 

Mine just went out 2006 with 93K miles!!! I'm going to get in touch with Toyota tomorrow!

 

The dealer is charging $362 for the part. Thanks for letting us know!

 

So I ordered the Chinese clone clockspring on Ebay. Horn blew constantly. Sent the unit back, the seller replaced it. Second one worked fine, so far so good (2 weeks).

 

How long it took from you to install one of these?

 

Under 30 minutes, unhook the 12V battery, remove the airbag (two torx screws) and 2 wires then remove the big nut of the steering wheel. Mark steering wheel with a sharpie against the shaft, Pull wheel off (it will come off without a puller if you shake it a bit). Remove cables and clock spring.

 

I had mine replaced two months ago at 190,000. Irritating, but since this is my largest repair cost so far I am am not complaining too loudly.

PA P