air bag light on 98 Grande caravan

[mudrunner80]

The air bag light came on but goes off every now and then mostly when you hit a bump or restart it (sometimes) now I'm not sure if its connected or not but now the cruise control don't work. The check engine light has'nt come on. Its as if theres a loose connection. I thought it was because of driving through deep snow because thats when it started. As for the cruise control, that barely ever gets used and just so happened to try it and nothing. The cruise control I can live without but the airbag light I'd like to fix. I would'nt even begin to know where to look for the airbag unit except the yellow plug under the dash. Any help would be great. Thanks in advance

[jsinton]

It definetly sounds like a loose connection at the wiring harness. Before you start to fool with it, disconnect the negative battery lead and wait 10 minutes for the system to discharge before you kill yourself with the airbag. Try to disconnect and clean the wiring harness.

[jsinton]

On second thought, I remembered that these models had a problem with the clockspring. There was a recall:

Re: Tips on replacing CLOCKSPRING ....also RECALL Notice
You'll need a steering wheel puller, $2.99 at Wal-Mart or Big Lots and the tools described below. You can do the job in about 45 minutes or less.

You can purchase the clockspring at http://www.dodge-auto-parts-dealer.com/ at a very good price, about $70 or less. You must order the correct clockspring, with or without cruise control. If you go to your local Dodge dealer to buy the clockspring it will cost about $100 or more. They will charge up to $400 to replace the clocksrping (rip off).

Here's how to replace the clockspring:

- Make sure the front wheels are pointed straight ahead.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable and wait 10 minutes.
- Remove the three Phillips screws under the steering column shroud and remove the shroud.
- 8mm socket to remove the three bolts on the back side of the steering wheel.
- Lift the airbag assembly(steering wheel cover)from the steering wheel. Carefully, there are wires attached on back!
- The center wire connector pulls straight out.
- Disconnect the ground wires by pulling the clear plastic cover back and depressing the tiny metal tab on the male connector while pulling.
- The airbag assembly must be placed in a secure place. Do not set on a rug. Static could activate the explosive air bag.
- Using a 21mm socket or 13/16" remove the steering wheel nut, then the counterweight assembly.
- Mark or remember the position of the steering wheel and the shaft so you get the steering wheel back on the same way.
- Use the steering wheel puller to remove the steering wheel.
- The black box with warning labels is the clockspring. You must depress the two tabs on the back to pull it out.
- Disconnect the two wiring harness connectors.
- Reconnect the wires to the new clockspring and reinstall.
- Reverse procedure to reassemble.
Ensure all the wires are tucked in when reinstalling the airbag assembly (steering wheel cover).
Once completed the airbag light should stay off. Horn and cruise control should be working again.

A Haynes manual will provide some pictures on how to remove the steering wheel. I have some pics when I replaced clockspring. Email me at [email protected] if you would like these pics. Good luck.
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RECALL for CLOCKSPRING

http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=3854

Chrysler recalls about 500,000 minivans

Reuters / November 06, 2002

DETROIT - DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit is recalling about 500,000 minivans because of a possibly misplaced part that could cause the vehicles' airbags, horns or cruise control systems to fail, the automaker said on Wednesday.

A Chrysler spokeswoman said the minivans subject to the recall were from 1996-1998 model years and sold in the United States and Canada as well as overseas markets.

The vehicles were manufactured under the Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Grand Voyager, Voyager and Chrysler Town & Country nameplates, spokeswoman Angela Spencer Ford told Reuters.

She said Chrysler would also offer a lifetime warranty on the "clockspring" in an additional 1.3 minivans from the same 1996-1998 model years because the part -- which provides power to various components in the steering wheel -- may have been installed improperly.

If misplaced, the part could interfere with the driver's side airbag in the minivans, as well as normal operation of the horn and speed control. Only one accident, with injuries to a lone driver, has been linked to the misplaced auto part, Ford said.

Chrysler, which has made recent efforts to improve its quality and reputation among consumers, has announced three major recalls of its minivans so far this year.

In January, the automaker said it would begin repairing 1.3 million minivans built between 1996 and 2000 to fix a possible fuel leak linked to fires.

In April, Chrysler said it was recalling 545,000 minivans built between 1996 and October 1998 to fix a piece of sound insulation that could fall into the rear seat belt assembly.


************************************************** *************************************
Recalls Summary

Make: PLYMOUTH TRUCK
Model: VOYAGER
Year: 1996
NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 02V293000

Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
Consequence Summary:
THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

[jsinton]

Be sure you tell us how you make out for future reference. Good luck!

[mudrunner80]

great. Thank you very much, unfortunately, I have over 70,000 miles and even though the directions you posted sound pretty simple, I'm not comfortable messing with the air bags. I'll be sure to let you know how I made out for future references. Thanks again for the quick reply

[Dudeonit]

Had my girlfriends 96 Grand Voyager show the same symptoms. Airbag will not deploy if indicator is lit. Called dealer. Set up an appt.,they replaced clockspring under the recall. problem solved. Lifetime recall. Hers had 105k miles.Save yourself some work and take it to the dealer, Bob

[mudrunner80]

It was the clockspring that was bad. It already had the replacement back in 03 I was told but they replaced it again and its back to normal. Thank you very much for the detailed help. This is a great site. the one I used to go to the more "popular" members very rude and to be honest. no help what so ever. This site is excellent and very informative. Thanks again

[jsinton]

Glad it worked out for you, thanks for the update.

[CSchultz]

The air bag light has been on on our 96 Caravan since we purchased it used.
The horn has never worked, and recently the cruise control stopped working.

When I checked this site for some advice it became apparent that I too had the "clockspring" problem.

I just called our local Dodge dealership and told him what I had read on the internet and he said "You need to bring that vehicle in here at once so we can fix it."

I said; "How much is this going to cost?"

He said; "Nothing."

...Can you believe that??? "NOTHING"

I suppose I can die now,.... I have seen it all.