K
KBB_of_TMC
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- Last seen
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2018
- Thunderbird Year
- 2002
2002 Thunderbird, 40K mi - we got a B1932 airbag code & the cruise control stopped working, so I bought a Dorman replacement clockspring from J.C.Whitney that fit & functioned perfectly. Shipping was fast.
A good trick I'd like to share - with the ignition ON, I adjusted steering wheel as far down and and far outward as possible, and then disconnected the battery w/o turning ignition OFF (to avoid having the me column retract). That gave me enough room for access; I didn't need to remove any trim except the knee panel & upper & lower column shrouds and had no need to loosen any column support nuts.
Note that most (not all) of the black plastic trim retainers have a center that will release if pushed down ~1/4", and that a large 2-arm puller (not a typical steering wheel puller) is needed to pull the wheel. Some of the Ford multipin connectors required pliers to squeeze the release button hard enough to get them to let go. Almost everything is held by plastic clips, so be gentle.
Whole job took me ~4 hours having never touched a Thunderbird before, while being very slow & careful. Don't forget to recalibrate the windows after reconnecting the battery (see short drop glass in the owners manual).
A good trick I'd like to share - with the ignition ON, I adjusted steering wheel as far down and and far outward as possible, and then disconnected the battery w/o turning ignition OFF (to avoid having the me column retract). That gave me enough room for access; I didn't need to remove any trim except the knee panel & upper & lower column shrouds and had no need to loosen any column support nuts.
Note that most (not all) of the black plastic trim retainers have a center that will release if pushed down ~1/4", and that a large 2-arm puller (not a typical steering wheel puller) is needed to pull the wheel. Some of the Ford multipin connectors required pliers to squeeze the release button hard enough to get them to let go. Almost everything is held by plastic clips, so be gentle.
Whole job took me ~4 hours having never touched a Thunderbird before, while being very slow & careful. Don't forget to recalibrate the windows after reconnecting the battery (see short drop glass in the owners manual).
