Clock spring replacement now airbag light stays on

Why did it need to be replaced?

There's two common things to consider. The first is if the ribbon cable inside it snapped, and the computer set a fault code, very often that code can only be erased with a scanner. Until then, the warning light will remain on.

The second thing is the most common mistake when replacing the clock spring is the steering system wasn't centered. The wound-up ribbon cable is only able to wind up and unwind just slightly more than the steering system can turn from full-left to full-right. New clock springs always come locked in the centered orientation. If the steering wheel is turned one revolution to the left or right, then the clock spring is installed, when the steering is turned fully to one side, either the ribbon cable will wind up too tight and snap instantly on one end, or it will unwind too far and fold over on itself. It will eventually snap after doing that multiple times over days or weeks.

Here's a link to an article that might give you more ideas on what might have happened:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/steering-wheel-clock-spring-removal

Also, a lot of professionals have done things like to forget to plug in the air bag assembly or, with clock spring assemblies that have a cable running down the steering column, we've forgotten to plug those in too. It's a good idea to have the diagnostic fault code read before you do anything that might add more variables to the problem. If you get a "Squib open", or "Initiator open", for example, something is unplugged or the new cable has snapped. Be sure the plug on the back of the bag assembly is fully seated. Some designs can look like they are, but aren't really in all the way. A potential clue to this is a fault code referring to "Initiator circuit shorted". All air bag connector terminals are gold-plated, and all of the terminals in all the connectors on the air bag side of a connector have shorting bars built in. When anything is unplugged, those shorting bars make the wiring immune to static charges that could deploy the air bag. Those shorting bars get pushed out of the way by the connector, but only once it is fully seated. If the plug is only in part way, the mating terminals could make their connections already, before the shorting bar has been pushed out of the way. The computer will see that short, set the appropriate fault code, turn the system off, and turn the warning light on to tell you.

I also had one where there was no easily visible damage to the connector, but after looking closer, the shorting bar had become dislodged and wasn't moving out of the way. I was able to reposition it to work properly, but it took a while to figure it out.

If you do get any fault code referring to a short, don't do any testing with an ohm meter unless the air bag is unplugged. Most digital volt - ohm meters run on a nine-volt transistor battery or four "AA" cells. For demonstration purposes we use those nine-volt batteries to light off an air bag, so your meter can do that too. We always see air bags deploying on tv in slow motion, so few of us realize the explosive force they generate when the pellet of rocket fuel ignites. If the assembly is sitting on the ground with the canister up, it can fly high enough to take out a bird or low-flying airplane! Well, maybe a slight exaggeration, but I did see one hit the ceiling in a school's Auto Shop, hit the floor, and bounce halfway back up to the ceiling. That was done with a nine-volt battery.

Also keep in mind that with some designs, when the plug is inserted, it can push the shorting bar out of the way before the mating terminals make contact. That leaves you with an open circuit, and if a terminal is hit with static electricity, the shorting bar won't equalize it between both wires. In some vehicles, owners complain of receiving static shocks when they slide out across the seat, then touch a metal door handle. Spray-on fabric conditioners will solve that, as long as you're aware of it, but any static shock that you can see or feel leave your fingertip is at least 3,000 volts. If a nine-volt battery, or a 12-volt electrical system can fire an air bag, you can be sure a static discharge will do it too.

Please keep me updated on your progress or what you find.