Ford clockspring quirks...

[01rangerxl]

When I first got my truck four years ago with 49K on the odometer, the back lighting for the on/off cruise control buttons on the steering wheel were not working. Set/accel/coast were all lit.

About a year and a half after that, the on/off back lighting suddenly started working again. No flickering, no intermittent working...the lights started working consistently every time.

Then, several months ago, they went out again. No flickering, just off, for good I thought.

Tonight I got in the truck, turned on the lights, and all of the C/C buttons are lit up again. We'll see how long it lasts this time. Again, they have been working consistently since coming back on.

If it was just a loose wire, I'd expect some sort of intermittent behavior. This is on on months/years at a time, then off for months/years at a time. I'm probably not going to tear into the steering wheel. I want to avoid messing with the air bag unless I have to. The actual function of the buttons has never been a problem, so I don't want to mess that up.

Anyone else have weird stuff like this go on with a feature? I think Ford has issued TSBs for clockspring annoyances before.

 

[TFB1]

Generally when a clock spring fails that's it, whatever is effected doesn't function again till it's replaced...

I'd guess the problem was a connector that doesn't make good connection, probably will continue to do same for the life of the vehicle... I agree with your plan, wouldn't touch it either, sometimes best to let sleeping dogs lie...