Does my truck have a clock spring? It does not have airbags.
Dec 29, 2017 at 2:26 PM
Does this truck have a clock spring
1991 FORD F-150
KEWPIE
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Those with air bags do use a clock spring. Without the air bag, the answer depends on where you look. One source shows a clock spring plus a sliding contact. Another source shows only three sliding contacts. One is common to both systems. One is only for all cruise control functions except "On". The last one is for the horn and the cruise control's "On" switch.
Dec 30, 2017 at 9:27 PM
Thank you very much. Will the truck VIN # tell me which specific clock spring it has or do I just have to remove the steering wheel and look at the present clock spring which would seem to not allow me to drive the truck while I'm searching for a replacement?
Before disabling the truck , I am thinking of having someone just wire the horn to a dash or floor button and forget about the cruise.
(And how do I make a donation for your help?)
thank you again.
Before disabling the truck , I am thinking of having someone just wire the horn to a dash or floor button and forget about the cruise.
(And how do I make a donation for your help?)
thank you again.
Jan 1, 2018 at 4:25 AM
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Thank you for donating. I don't know how to do it, but the site owners read your replies to see when they can help with an answer. If you don't hear from them, I'll contact them on your behalf. I like it that you can get help here for free, but donations are what keeps this site going.
The VIN won't help me but it might at the dealer's parts department. It is real common for Ford to make mid-model-year changes, which is why there's often multiple wiring diagrams and optional parts choices. The most important piece of information when visiting the dealer is the vehicle's production date. On cars that is found on the driver's door sticker. If you don't find it there on your truck, look in the glove box.
I'm using a different source for a wiring diagram this time. This one shows two versions, . . . one without cruise control, and two slip rings, and one with cruise control and three slip rings. There's no mention I can find here of a clock spring. To add to the confusion, the ground circuit common to both systems goes through one of the slip rings, but there is no color shown for that wire. It appears the ground connection is right on the steering column. Thinking back to a mid '70s Chrysler product I had that developed a dead horn, the steering column was attached to the dash with two bolts that went through a pair of nylon isolators. Those prevented squeaking while allowing the column to move under extreme temperature changes, but it eliminated the ground connection. There was a "W"-shaped strip of metal sandwiched into one of those spacers to make the ground connection. Cleaning that strip and repositioning it solved the dead horn issue. You might want to check for that, or check for voltage on a paint-free point on the column when you press the horn button. The meter's ground test lead must be on the body, not the steering column.
If it does appear a slip ring is causing the problem, look for the dark blue wire going up the column. Grounding that wire should turn on the horn relay.
Speaking of that relay, while studying this diagram, I confirmed all the cruise control functions except "On" come through their own circuit and slip ring, but that circuit gets 12 volts from the "On" switch that comes through the horn relay. When things that look silly like that are done, it's because you might never notice the horn is dead until it's too late, but you are more likely to notice the dead cruise control. Repairing the dead cruise control with a new relay would fix the horn too, before you even knew it wasn't working. You might want to visit a salvage yard first for a replacement relay and try that.
The VIN won't help me but it might at the dealer's parts department. It is real common for Ford to make mid-model-year changes, which is why there's often multiple wiring diagrams and optional parts choices. The most important piece of information when visiting the dealer is the vehicle's production date. On cars that is found on the driver's door sticker. If you don't find it there on your truck, look in the glove box.
I'm using a different source for a wiring diagram this time. This one shows two versions, . . . one without cruise control, and two slip rings, and one with cruise control and three slip rings. There's no mention I can find here of a clock spring. To add to the confusion, the ground circuit common to both systems goes through one of the slip rings, but there is no color shown for that wire. It appears the ground connection is right on the steering column. Thinking back to a mid '70s Chrysler product I had that developed a dead horn, the steering column was attached to the dash with two bolts that went through a pair of nylon isolators. Those prevented squeaking while allowing the column to move under extreme temperature changes, but it eliminated the ground connection. There was a "W"-shaped strip of metal sandwiched into one of those spacers to make the ground connection. Cleaning that strip and repositioning it solved the dead horn issue. You might want to check for that, or check for voltage on a paint-free point on the column when you press the horn button. The meter's ground test lead must be on the body, not the steering column.
If it does appear a slip ring is causing the problem, look for the dark blue wire going up the column. Grounding that wire should turn on the horn relay.
Speaking of that relay, while studying this diagram, I confirmed all the cruise control functions except "On" come through their own circuit and slip ring, but that circuit gets 12 volts from the "On" switch that comes through the horn relay. When things that look silly like that are done, it's because you might never notice the horn is dead until it's too late, but you are more likely to notice the dead cruise control. Repairing the dead cruise control with a new relay would fix the horn too, before you even knew it wasn't working. You might want to visit a salvage yard first for a replacement relay and try that.
Jan 2, 2018 at 4:30 PM
No clock spring confirms what a few responders / parts people have said already so now I am convinced! I went to a Ford dealer's parts dept. yesterday who searched using the truck's VIN # and gave me a copy of the sheet which shows three 'slip rings' as well, so at least the absence of a clock spring is pretty much confirmed to my relief.
I can now start to pursue your advice and get back to the parts-search vendors who advised in their own way what you seem to have confirmed re: the slip rings.
You have been a great help and I will recommend you every chance I get !!!
Happy New Year :)
Jan 3, 2018 at 3:56 AM
Keep us up to date on your progress.
Jan 4, 2018 at 6:33 PM
Yes sir. Thanks again.
Image (Click to enlarge)
Jan 5, 2018 at 7:46 AM