Clockspring question - help!?, how do you know if yours is broken? Options

[GriffGirl]

So I installed my airbag wiring harness adapter the other night, reset the airbag ECU, and all was good and right with the world. The next morning I go to back out of my driveway, and as I back onto the street & turn the wheel, there's resistance, like something's tugging on it, but I'm in traffic and I HAVE to turn it. So I do, and I hear a SNAP from inside the steering wheel, but now it turns just fine. And just like that, I had about 10 seconds of no airbag light and now of course it's back on... blaringly red, taunting me. I hate that little man.

I checked my connector last night, and it looks fine, nothing came disconnected. Couldn't reset the airbag ECU though, light will NOT go off. I'm wondering if I snapped my clockspring. What methods are there for me to check? I'm so dismayed...

edit: just went out and checked my horn. No horn. damnit all to H-E-double hockey sticks. Cruise isn't a good test, not sure if I got it connected properly, just resoldered it last night anyway.

This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Apr 8, 2010 - 12:48 PM

[GriffGirl]

Yes, I'm quite sure that I broke my clock spring, I heard it snap. Well, the wire inside, that is. So, here's the deal and why I just did it to myself out of sheer stupidity. I didn't INSTALL it - I never took it out. I did however replace my wheel w/a 3-spoke one, and I've been struggling a little with the airbag wiring, CC wiring, etc blah blah blah that's all sorted out now. So I work out the wiring correctly, reset my airbag ECU, and BAM! The airbag man stays off, FINALLY, even after I've started the car. So I'm stoked! I go flying out the driveway backing out, feel that wheel tension, and snap.

Somehow, for some damn reason, I had it in my head that I should just follow the instructions on the clockspring and wind it 3 times counterclockwise, line up the arrows, and reassemble the wheel. I've taken my wheel apart probably 5 times since I swapped it in, and hadn't done this BEFORE, but for some reason I was like a moth to the flame on this one, and decided that's what I was supposed to do. So, basically, I took a perfectly good clockspring, wound it for no good reason, and broke it.

I found one on http://www.car-part.com at a salvage yard in like PA or UT or something for $45, and it is currently sitting about 5" away from me on my desk. This time, I'm following the directions thoroughly and correctly. Winding it counterclockwise approximately 5 turns until it feels noticeably taut, then turning it 3 turns clockwise until the red arrows line up. I also put a sticky note to remind myself that I've already done it, so I don't forget and break this one, too.

Results to follow tomorrow.