clockspring,spiral cable,90 degree inop

[northwichita]

Originally Posted by blakev45
Like the title states, I am looking to buy a clockspring also known as spiral cable for 2008 Prius . I believe years 04-08 will work, please PM me.

Thanks,
Blake

(posted in private sales, am reposting here to answer my question.)

Curious about this; you have no functions from the steering wheel? I have two inoperative buttons on the right side that will work when wheel is turned 90 degrees, a quarter turn. Any idea why. I frankly had a simplified idea of how the contacts of the steering wheel worked, that there is a sliding area that needed to be cleaned. However with a spiral cable....why would 90 degree turn make a difference?

a forum with pic's-from a toyota truck's
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=697181

Thinking about this, I'm guessing the contacts on the cable, steering wheel side flex and work when the wheel is turned to the right angle, an actual wire break would have soon fail entirely, anyone had this part accessible? A new weekend project.

Reading the Bentley manual I found no mention of this, watching a youtube video on a generic car steering wheel removal shows the spiral cable behind the steering wheel. Will probably not dig into this without instructions. High potential cost to benefit ratio.

Note I looked thru some saved documents, found this

3215O−01
F45898
BRAKE − STEERING SENSOR
32−71
Author: Date: 3570
2004 PRIUS REPAIR MANUAL (RM1075U)
STEERING SENSOR
REPLACEMENT
1. DISCONNECT BATTERY NEGATIVE TERMINAL (SEE PAGE 60−1)
2. REMOVE STEERING WHEEL COVER LOWER NO.2
3. REMOVE STEERING WHEEL COVER LOWER NO.3
4. REMOVE HORN BUTTON ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−20)
5. REMOVE STEERING WHEEL ASSY (SEE PAGE 50−8)
SST 09950−50013 (09951−05010, 09952−05010, 09953−05020, 09954−05021)
6. REMOVE TILT LEVER BRACKET (SEE PAGE 50−8)
7. REMOVE STEERING COLUMN COVER (SEE PAGE 50−8)
8. REMOVE SPIRAL CABLE SUB−ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−29)
9. REMOVE STEERING SENSOR
(a) Unclamp the 6 claws and remove the steering sensor from the spiral cable.
10. INSTALL STEERING SENSOR
(a) Aligning the 2 locating pins as shown in the illustration,
engage the 6 claws and install the steering sensor to the
spiral cable.
11. INSPECT SPIRAL CABLE SUB−ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−29)
12. PLACE FRONT WHEELS FACING STRAIGHT AHEAD
13. INSTALL SPIRAL CABLE SUB−ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−29)
14. CENTER SPIRAL CABLE (SEE PAGE 60−29)
15. INSTALL STEERING COLUMN COVER (SEE PAGE 50−8)
16. INSTALL TILT LEVER BRACKET (SEE PAGE 50−8)
17. INSTALL STEERING WHEEL ASSY (SEE PAGE 50−8)
18. INSTALL HORN BUTTON ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−20)
19. INSPECT HORN BUTTON ASSY (SEE PAGE 60−14)
20. CONNECT BATTERY NEGATIVE TERMINAL
21. PERFORM INITIALIZATION (SEE PAGE 01−5)
22. INSPECT SRS WARNING LIGHT (SEE PAGE 05−1404)