jperls
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- Nov 22, 2015
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- Jason
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- 2015 Magnetic Metallic V6, 1970 mustang convertible
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- #1
This is intended to help those who might accidentally damage the airbag clockwork mechanism when installing their GT350 or GT350R wheel (yes I broke mine...hence the writeup). Unfortunately I did not take pictures, but hopefully this will be a good enough description as to what to do.
Before you begin...I cannot stress this enough...WORK SLOWLY, AND METHODICALLY...DO NOT RUSH THIS INSTALL! THIS IS THE MECHANISM THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE IN A CRASH! DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR WORK! It is responsible for deploying the airbag when you are in a crash...it senses the impact and sends the signal to the airbag to deploy.
Now onto the instructions.
1. Get yourself a new airbag clockwork mechanism from Ford (its around $230).
2. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery and wait for 5 minutes to let any residual charge dissipate
3. Follow the removal procedures for the steering wheel like you did before and remove the steering wheel - make sure the steering wheel is straight and the plugs that connect the steering wheel the the clockwork mechanism are on top.
I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH...ORIENTATION IS KEY!
4. Once the steering wheel is off, you will see the air-bag clockwork mechanism.
5. Release the steering wheel adjustment lever and pull the steering wheel towards you and adjust it so it is at its lowest point...lock the adjustment lever.
6. Locate the T-20 torx bit on the bottom of the steering column towards the front...remove said bit.
7. Locate the bolt on the bottom towards the back of the steering column...its in a deep hole so you will need an extension and/or deep socket..I forgot the size of the bolt...my bad (someone fill this in for me)...remove it.
8. Carefully separate the column halves from each other...just pull...do not take them off, just open them up carefully. This will expose the top clockwork mechanism screws (I think they are T-5 torx bit size).
9. Push down the column adjustment lever and remove the bottom part of the column cover to expose the bottom torx bits on the clockwork mechanism.
10. Disconnect the electrical harness on the bottom of the clockwork mechanism.
11. Remove the 4 T-5 torx bit screws from the clockwork mechanism.
12. CAREFULLY...pull the clockwork mechanism straight out...you will be disconnecting it from another socket that is integrated into the steering column...this provides the power to the mechanism itself.
13. Install your new clockwork mechanism by carefully pushing it into the integrated socket in the steering column and re-install the torx bit screws you took out in step 11. Connect the electrical harness removed in step 10.
Again, make sure the orientation is correct, the primary socket that the steering wheel connects to is on top.
14. Re-install the steering wheel column covers and re-install the bolts holding the covers onto the column.
15. Carefully remove the white pull-tab on the top of the clockwork mechanism...this holds the clockwork mechanism still and prevents it from turning during installation.
16. Reinstall your steering wheel and re-connect your battery.
Good Luck
Before you begin...I cannot stress this enough...WORK SLOWLY, AND METHODICALLY...DO NOT RUSH THIS INSTALL! THIS IS THE MECHANISM THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE IN A CRASH! DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR WORK! It is responsible for deploying the airbag when you are in a crash...it senses the impact and sends the signal to the airbag to deploy.
Now onto the instructions.
1. Get yourself a new airbag clockwork mechanism from Ford (its around $230).
2. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery and wait for 5 minutes to let any residual charge dissipate
3. Follow the removal procedures for the steering wheel like you did before and remove the steering wheel - make sure the steering wheel is straight and the plugs that connect the steering wheel the the clockwork mechanism are on top.
I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH...ORIENTATION IS KEY!
4. Once the steering wheel is off, you will see the air-bag clockwork mechanism.
5. Release the steering wheel adjustment lever and pull the steering wheel towards you and adjust it so it is at its lowest point...lock the adjustment lever.
6. Locate the T-20 torx bit on the bottom of the steering column towards the front...remove said bit.
7. Locate the bolt on the bottom towards the back of the steering column...its in a deep hole so you will need an extension and/or deep socket..I forgot the size of the bolt...my bad (someone fill this in for me)...remove it.
8. Carefully separate the column halves from each other...just pull...do not take them off, just open them up carefully. This will expose the top clockwork mechanism screws (I think they are T-5 torx bit size).
9. Push down the column adjustment lever and remove the bottom part of the column cover to expose the bottom torx bits on the clockwork mechanism.
10. Disconnect the electrical harness on the bottom of the clockwork mechanism.
11. Remove the 4 T-5 torx bit screws from the clockwork mechanism.
12. CAREFULLY...pull the clockwork mechanism straight out...you will be disconnecting it from another socket that is integrated into the steering column...this provides the power to the mechanism itself.
13. Install your new clockwork mechanism by carefully pushing it into the integrated socket in the steering column and re-install the torx bit screws you took out in step 11. Connect the electrical harness removed in step 10.
Again, make sure the orientation is correct, the primary socket that the steering wheel connects to is on top.
14. Re-install the steering wheel column covers and re-install the bolts holding the covers onto the column.
15. Carefully remove the white pull-tab on the top of the clockwork mechanism...this holds the clockwork mechanism still and prevents it from turning during installation.
16. Reinstall your steering wheel and re-connect your battery.
Good Luck
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