fullymatted.
Back to search
Rennlist

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Add to repair workspace
Open repair workspace
Original source
17 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

Discussion summary

YOUR RESEARCHHelp!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Reported or suspected cause

when it does bind it pop the connection

Reported cause

No successful repair reported for this finding.

1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that report identifying a cause
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Reported cause

Only issue is when it does bind it pop the connection.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?
Frequently discussed work

Disconnect battery

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

PLEASE be sure to disconnect the battery before you start messing around with airbag charges...

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?
Read full discussion summary

Leading evidence: 'when it does bind it pop the connection' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'when it does bind it pop the connection' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Disconnect battery' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.

Read captured replies

1 matching discussions · 17 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Compare 4 other evidence results

Disconnect battery

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

PLEASE be sure to disconnect the battery before you start messing around with airbag charges...

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Reconnect airbag cassettes, and removing

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Messing up the clock spring assembly, disconnecting and reconnecting airbag cassettes, and removing and replacing the retention nut are all basic mechanical tasks, but ones that can leave you in a bad place if you make a mistake.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Replace column switch

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

The DIY video for replacing column switch on YouTube shows how to tape clock spring cover when you are removing wheel to prevent this.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Replace retention nut are all basic mechanical tasks

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Messing up the clock spring assembly, disconnecting and reconnecting airbag cassettes, and removing and replacing the retention nut are all basic mechanical tasks, but ones that can leave you in a bad place if you make a mistake.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?
Frequently discussed actions (7)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Disconnect battery

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

PLEASE be sure to disconnect the battery before you start messing around with airbag charges...

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Reconnect airbag cassettes, and removing

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Messing up the clock spring assembly, disconnecting and reconnecting airbag cassettes, and removing and replacing the retention nut are all basic mechanical tasks, but ones that can leave you in a bad place if you make a mistake.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Replace column switch

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

The DIY video for replacing column switch on YouTube shows how to tape clock spring cover when you are removing wheel to prevent this.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Replace retention nut are all basic mechanical tasks

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Messing up the clock spring assembly, disconnecting and reconnecting airbag cassettes, and removing and replacing the retention nut are all basic mechanical tasks, but ones that can leave you in a bad place if you make a mistake.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Replace steering wheel

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

I was trying to change my steering wheel today and when I pulled off the old wheel this black circular bracket came out with it and tons of ribbon attached.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Test full lock

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

You need to test full lock to lock movement in both directions in your driveway before getting on the street or up to speed.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?

Use clockspring

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Car with traction control use the clockspring to measure steering inputs.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?
Reported and suspected causes (1)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

when it does bind it pop the connection

No successful repair reported for this finding.

1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Reported cause

Only issue is when it does bind it pop the connection.

Help!! Took apart steering wheel, what is this long ribbon?
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

17 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261027T020439Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Hi I was trying to change my steering wheel today and when I pulled off the old wheel this black circular bracket came out with it and tons of ribbon attached. How do I put this back together?? thanks Ben

POST 2Original post

This might help https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ere-s-how.html I have only done it on other cars. It involves turning the spring all the way in one direction to find its end of travel then turning it back up a specified number of turns to center it.

POST 3 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

I managed to put everything back together, and the turn signals seems to work fine, what is this long ribbon for??

POST 4Original post

This is the clock spring and it provides the electrical conx to trigger your airbag. Of more immediate concern, if you haven't assembled it correctly it will cause your steering wheel to bind in one direction when you try to turn and you'll have to stop or risk hitting something. You need to test full lock to lock movement in both directions in your driveway before getting on the street or up to speed.

POST 5Original post

Quotes source post: 11599179

+1 and worse. The clock spring ribbon feeds power to the airbag as well so you really don't want it to fail.

POST 6Original post

Quotes source post: 11599250

The DIY video for replacing column switch on YouTube shows how to tape clock spring cover when you are removing wheel to prevent this. If it does come unwound - just wind it up again - yes it is for airbag -

POST 7 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

I hope I wound it back up properly then. I can do full turn lock to lock with no restrictions. Just hope my airbag works when the time comes. Would an airbag light come on if there is a problem with the connection?

POST 8Original post

It would trigger if it connection not right. Only issue is when it does bind it pop the connection. I suggest u go to a open parking lot and do prodigious amounts of steering wheel lock to lock to see if it pops with any binding. If not I think your safe. Mike

POST 9Original post

Does your car have PSM?, if so the number of rotations of the clockspring has to be correct. Car with traction control use the clockspring to measure steering inputs. I did something similar on an A6, wound it all back in and when I drove the car it triggered an ABS & Traction light, put it on the VAG and it showed my steering at 180 degrees out, so the traction thought I was going sideways!, wound it back 1/2 a turn and it was fine.

POST 10 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

The car does have PSM. But no ABS, TC lights etc... Maybe I got lucky widing it back up. And the wheel turns full lock both ways.

POST 11Original post

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlist.com-vbulletin/2000x1124/20150808_214017_f0226c8d325af50eeccbb321564328ba78ecaac3.jpg

POST 12Original post

the car makers really need to do a better job making tamper proof fasteners or add a big cartoon type hand that pops out of the dash and smacks the diyer.smh

POST 13Original post

I don't know about smacking the DIYer as many of us just enjoy working on our cars, but I do agree that the systems could connect differently to reduce the likelihood of these things happening.

POST 14Original post

Quotes source post: 12495687

Can u say slip ring? Sure you can!

POST 15Original post

You don't even have the clock spring unscrewed, and there is a locking mechanism on it that prevents it from moving when installed, once the steering wheel is back in place, it releases the locking mechanism. If you read the cover of the clock spring, it has instructions. Please don't take your car apart if you cannot remove the fasteners first.

POST 16Original post

I'm always happy to see new DIYers getting started, but this isn't the best item to choose for a first DIY project. Messing up the clock spring assembly, disconnecting and reconnecting airbag cassettes, and removing and replacing the retention nut are all basic mechanical tasks, but ones that can leave you in a bad place if you make a mistake. PLEASE be sure to disconnect the battery before you start messing around with airbag charges...

POST 17Original post

Quotes source post: 12498577

Shhhh...quiet confidence...

This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.