After replacing the cracked power steering box bracket on my W250, I reconnected the steering shaft to the steering box after possibly rotating the steering wheel 360 degrees. The first complete lock-to-lock turn out of the driveway resulted in a plastic crunching sound that came from the steering column area. Now my cruise control doesn't work. Does anyone know how the cruise control wiring is connected inside the steering column and if my theory is right - did I crush or disconnect the cruise control harness/connector?

 

i just replaced my cruise control unit on my d250. its the direct type "plug n play" sort of connecter. very simple design. no hardwire involved.

 

Did it seem as if the steering column could only be rotated a certain number of times before the connector would be damaged?

 

You destroyed the clockspring that carries the cruise wires. That'll cost you.

 

Yes, I just replaced my switches as well. When you take the horn button off the top of the wheel you can see the clockspring housing. There's a very distinct label on it that says not to remove it or replace it unless the wheel, and the tires, are in the straight-ahead position. Bummer dude. Does your horn work?

 

The horn still works fine. I never had the steering wheel off, just disconnected the steering shaft from the steering box....

So it's a spring that likely broke?

 

Well, it's called the Clock Spring. I don't know how it's built, but it's the gizmo that maintains the electrical connections (cruise control) while turning the wheel. I don't know for sure if the horn wire passes through this or not.

 

Any electrical connections on the steering wheel pass through the clock spring.

It is possible for the traces to break just enough for some of the connections to not work,
or the connector on either end to break or just lose part of the connection.

Horn, cruisecontrol, steering wheel radio controls, and most important, the airbag, all go through the clock spring.


phox

 

Well, of course, we 1st genners don't have airbags now do we. Unless you're talking about the ones on my rear springs!

 

Oh ya, I guess you don't.


phox

 

I have a broken clock spring on mine, my cruise works but the horn does not. But I have air horns on mine. I am just waiting till I have an extra $100.00 laying around that I don't know what to do with.
The inside of the clock spring is a flat conductive tape that is wound in a spiral.
To get an idea what it looks like, imagine the flat spring on your 30 foot tape measure except there is no spring. It just allows the steering shaft to turn about 3 turns in either direction as it winds in and out and carries all of the circuits for the horn, cruise, and air bags if you have them.
Jim

 

Or the ones in the passenger seat.

 

If you guys want a cheaper source for a clock spring take the old one off and take it to a Pull it Youself junk yard. Bring a steering wheel puller and get one off of a similar year mopar of some sort. I got one off of a `94 Plymouth car, it had the right connector and the cruise on the wheel, it did have on extra wire for an air bag so I just cut it off. Cost was $5 and it fixed the cruise.

 

My cruise did not work so I took my clocksping apart because I couldn't get one on a Sunday, it was broke at ends of wires( real tiny wires) cleaned ends and resoldered with a little soldering iron. Worked just fine. Just have to be careful as wires are small it was easier to melt coating off of wires than scrape it. Saved $132.00

 

Thanks guys. I'll check it out when I'm installing my new gauges. Finally orderd pyro, 35PSI boost and trans. temp gauges!