What’s a Clockspring – and Why Might Yours Need Replacing?

Steering faults? Horn not working? Airbag light stuck on? It could be your clockspring.

Your car’s clockspring is a clever little device tucked behind the steering wheel. It’s not a clock (confusing, we know) — it’s a coiled ribbon cable that keeps all your steering wheel controls connected to the rest of your car. Think of it like the umbilical cord between your horn, airbag, radio buttons, and the car’s brain.

And because your steering wheel turns left and right all day long, the clockspring has to twist with it – every single time.

🛠️ What Can Go Wrong?

Over time, clocksprings can wear out, snap, or lose connection. Here’s how you might know yours is on the blink:

• Airbag light on the dash won’t turn off

• Horn doesn’t work (yes, this is an MOT fail!)

• Steering wheel buttons stop responding

• Strange clicking sounds when turning the wheel

• A cruise control fault that just won’t go away

These are all signs your clockspring might need repair or replacement.

⚙️ Why It Matters

A faulty clockspring isn’t just annoying – it can be unsafe. Your driver airbag relies on it, so if the connection's broken, the airbag may not deploy in a crash.

And without a working horn, you can’t alert others in an emergency — plus, it's a common MOT failure point.

🔧 What We Do

At Autocare Repair, we can diagnose, repair, or replace a faulty clockspring safely and efficiently. Some vehicles may need recalibration after replacement, and we’ve got the right tools and expertise to handle it all — no guesswork, just quality workmanship.

🚗 Common Vehicles with Clockspring Issues

While any vehicle can suffer clockspring issues, we often see them in:

• Vauxhall Corsa & Astra

• Ford Focus & Fiesta

• Peugeot & Citroën models

• Volkswagen Golf & Polo

• Toyota Aygo, Yaris, and more

If your airbag light's stuck on, or your horn has gone quiet, it’s worth getting it checked.

🏁 Quick Summary

• ✅ Clockspring = ribbon cable inside your steering wheel

• ❌ Wears out over time or due to steering component changes

• ⚠️ Faults can affect airbags, horn, and buttons

• 🔧 We can test and replace it properly

• 📅 Book in with us for peace of mind (and a safer car!)

Need your clockspring looked at?Call us or pop by Autocare Repair — we’ll get your steering wheel back in sync with the rest of your car.