chrisdoc

My car a 1996 Mercedes C230 was recently involved in a front end
smash.
When I got the car back from the garage, I noticed that my SRS light
was on, I sent the car back for the sensor to be reset but was told
that it wasn't the sensor it was that the clock spring has gone.
My insurance company has refused to pay for the clock spring to be
sorted saying it is a part that can wear out so have said it has
nothing to do with the accident.

Does anyone have any documentation/proof that the clock spring
breaking could be as a direct result of the accident, something that I
can show to my insurance company.

Many thanks for any help or assistance offered.

SUNILP

clock springs are wear and tear items. IT would be difficult to attribute this to the accident.

scorchie

I have two cars with over 200,000 miles on them and the contact spirals have never been replaced... and they do not call for replacement in any of the maintenance manuals I've seen? Nor are they even checked in any sort of scheduled maintenance? I am just wondering how they are considered wear & tear then... not that I doubt it, I am just looking for the source for future reference.

-s-

mleskovar

What's a 'clock spring' (contact spiral??) and what does it do?

SUNILP

it's a unit that holds a thin ribbon wire behind the steering wheel. IT allows signals to pass through to the steering wheel buttons. THe ribbon cable is wound up in a spiral fashion and expands and contracts when you turn your wheel. I would assume with time, this cable can crack although it has never happened to me. I don't doubt that it may be related to the accident but it may be hard to prove.

mleskovar

Thanks for the explanation sunman No way is that a common wear item. If it worked before the accident then it should work after. Don't let them buffalo you into taking their answer.

chrisdoc

I'm not letting them get away with it, but they want some form of proof that the accident could have caused it. But it's hard for me to proove!

mleskovar

You have all the proof you need. It worked before the accident....correct? Also, did the driver's air bag go off in the accident? Just be adamant about it and don't take no for an answer.

chrisdoc

No, the airbag didin't go off.
I am being adamant, they must hate me already because the repair job was a joke. The indicator unit has fell out twice, I think they didn't use genuine Mercedes parts.

Moneypit SEL

Just a thought...if the repair involved disconnecting the steering column from the steering gear, the clock spring could have been damaged by allowing the steering wheel to spin around. There is usually a set procedure for making sure the clock spring is positioned so as to not damage it when turning the steering wheel.

IF the steering column was disconnected from the steering gear
AND
IF the proper positioning procedure was not followed when reconnecting
THEN the damage was likely caused by the body shop, not the original accident.

Your insurance may not pay...but the body shop might.