Glitter in oil

[Jaymar]

I’m sure there is a write up on how to do this?

Probably, you'd look for a method to test clock spring continuity. But before I get deep down the troubleshooting tree I like to take a moment to look around the area looking for out of place things first hoping to save myself the drawn out labor. If there are any usual suspects in the area I indulge in checking 1-2 of them as well before I move on to structure and form.

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[JAJ]

Well the hits just keep on coming…. This morning when going to get the car inspected I noticed none of the steering wheel buttons were working and the air bag light is lit on the dash.
The buttons were working last night because I cycled thru to see all the temps.
just find it odd that now this is a problem. The only thing related to the steering wheel I did was disconnect the connections on the rack and disconnect the steering shaft.
Any thoughts??

Ok, just to be clear, you were doing something on the car last night and the buttons worked. This morning, It sounds like you actually drove the car somewhere "to get the car inspected", and when you were driving it, you found out the buttons weren't working. Do I have this right?

Thing is, if the buttons worked, then the steering wheel wiring should be ok, although it's possible that when you reconnected the steering shaft, the wheel was a full turn away from dead center. That sounds extremely unlikely, but it's possible, and if that happened, then yes, the clockspring wiring could have been damaged when you were driving.

The best tool for the job at this point is "Forscan", a computer program that allows you to do a lot of the things that Ford techs can do, except it's inexpensive and available to download from the internet. You'll need a Windows laptop and an OBD 2 plug (preferably Bluetooth). It can tell you what modules have error codes and that'll help you find the problem.

 

[DFERA]

Ok, just to be clear, you were doing something on the car last night and the buttons worked. This morning, It sounds like you actually drove the car somewhere "to get the car inspected", and when you were driving it, you found out the buttons weren't working. Do I have this right?

Thing is, if the buttons worked, then the steering wheel wiring should be ok, although it's possible that when you reconnected the steering shaft, the wheel was a full turn away from dead center. That sounds extremely unlikely, but it's possible, and if that happened, then yes, the clockspring wiring could have been damaged when you were driving.

The best tool for the job at this point is "Forscan", a computer program that allows you to do a lot of the things that Ford techs can do, except it's inexpensive and available to download from the internet. You'll need a Windows laptop and an OBD 2 plug (preferably Bluetooth). It can tell you what modules have error codes and that'll help you find the problem.

yes you have the account of event exactly.

When I reconnected the steering shaft the red stripe on the steering wheel was on the bottom. So the wheel was not at 12 o'clock. But I reconnected it before every starting the motor.

I have one of THESE scan tools, think that'll work?

 

[WItoTX]

Do the lights within the buttons still work?

But now that I think about it, are those buttons back-lit?

 

[Jaymar]

Do the lights within the buttons still work?

But now that I think about it, are those buttons back-lit?

Huh, I've had an S550 in some form since 2017 and I've honest to God never looked.

 

[DFERA]

yes you have the account of event exactly.

When I reconnected the steering shaft the red stripe on the steering wheel was on the bottom. So the wheel was not at 12 o'clock. But I reconnected it before every starting the motor.

I have one of THESE scan tools, think that'll work?

if I over clocked the wheel I bet it was fine last night and the issue happened as soon as I back out of my driveway. That must have been enough to damage something....??

 

[DFERA]

I'm good to drive the car right? From what I read just can't use the buttons or cruise?

 

[Mike Pfeifer]

As soon as you turned the wheel, it would have torn. You would be fine driving, as long as you don’t need the airbag to deploy or the buttons.

 

[furdfan2018]

Props to you, OP -- big project that you handled with relative ease.

Nicely done!

 

[JAJ]

yes you have the account of event exactly.

When I reconnected the steering shaft the red stripe on the steering wheel was on the bottom. So the wheel was not at 12 o'clock. But I reconnected it before every starting the motor.

I have one of THESE scan tools, think that'll work?

Well from the further posts it sounds like you might have found the problem anyway. But, as to the modules you're interested in, they are SCCM (Steering Column Control Module), ICM (Information Control Module), IPC (Instrument Panel Cluster), PSCM (Power Steering Control Module) and the BCM (Body Control Module). There may also be codes on the ABS and the PCM (Powertrain Control Module).

What usually happens is that a problem on one module gets passed around as other modules are informed over the CAN bus. Well, actually, three CAN busses - HS1, HS2 and HS3. If your reader doesn't hit all three, some modules will be invisible.

 

[DFERA]

Props to you, OP -- big project that you handled with relative ease.

Nicely done!

haha which part my patience is wearing thin at this point with this back and forth of issues

 

[Mike Pfeifer]

Unfortunately, the latest issue is self inflicted. I don’t know a single person that works on cars for a living that hasn’t broken a clock spring somewhere along the line, so at least you are in good company!

 

[Jaymar]

Unfortunately, the latest issue is self inflicted. I don’t know a single person that works on cars for a living that hasn’t broken a clock spring somewhere along the line, so at least you are in good company!

I never did, but I did sacrifice a Pasat's entire dash harness to Pele once so I think I paid my dues on that one.

With respect to the clock spring though, it must be common because it's at the beginning of any procedure with steering column removal so don't feel too bad, that's like some 100 level course stuff.

 

[furdfan2018]

haha which part my patience is wearing thin at this point with this back and forth of issues

Hang in there... the 350 is a special machine which im sure you are going to LOVE.

 

[sk47]

Bing Videos
Hello; I was interested in learning more about clock springs. Looked up ford steering clock springs and found some videos about replacing in an F-150. looked up for Mustang clock springs and found a few videos. hopefully I posted a link to one above.
A broken clock spring seems to cause he problems the OP described.
Have to remove the air bag and steering wheel to get at the part.

What an ordeal for the OP. Hope the troubles end soon.

EDIT - the video worked. It is for an 05 Mustang tho. Hope you can fine a year specific set of instructions.

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