Best Place to Buy Clock Spring / Rotary Unit?

[OwenBoy]

Here I am fixing this complete crock of sh!te again, My mrs had it given to her and it has probably cost me more in time and labour than buying her a decent VAG car

Its a 2004 1.6 55k

This weeks issue is the clock spring/ rotary connector/ Indicator unit has failed, clicking and fetching the Airbag Light on. Definately a common problem from experience and a little search this morning!

As I am paying this time the £170 bill from Renault isn't looking so appealing. Anyone found a good unit anywhere else? Although I think I already know the answer.

After inspection this morning I fear repair is not on the cards!

I am loathed to risk it with a salvage unit, I understand that this needs to be the auto dimming/foglight unit as that is whats fitted.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

What a useful and informative forum, I use the manual page a lot on this car and in work, saves me loads of time.

Comiserations to all of you other megane owners what a terrible vehicle when it gets out of the warranty period

[c12mgf]

I would like to know this 2

Ebay is best bet for 2nd hand, but you dont know what your getting

[joeishmather]

Ammo right in thinking that it's the sort of ribbon wore that's wrapped round that's broken?
If this is correct could this not be replaced, or re attached?
When I fitted cruise control I took the 'ribbon' wire out and added connections for the cruise control to it an put it back with no issues at all..
Must be worth a try, if you can get to it and take some pictures this would be usefull and maybe I could offer you some advice?

Good luck either way!!

[c12mgf]

Come up and fix mine lol

[joeishmather]

Come up and fix mine lol

Where are you??

[c12mgf]

lol a good bit away mate, Glasgow

[davelowe]

Mine's making ominous clicking sounds too... bugger.

[joeishmather]

Seems a dead common problem now... I recon tho if the noise Is the 'ribbon' wire then if you catch it early you could put it all back in place before the 'ribbons' damaged.
To be honest after looking at how it all is I can't really see how it's happening so much!

[OwenBoy]

I will get a few pictures up later, the ribbon is damed yes, the connections have come loose in the centre unit and pulled out, I cannot see how you would reattach it securely without bridging connections (solder etc). It has been folded around in every direction by the time the Mrs 'informed' me so has various folds and probably breaks.

FYI renault want £175inc vat for the part. After an hour of ringing Ebay/breakers are around £70

BUT, if they are all doing it why should I pay 70 Notes for something that will probably self destruct. I am going to speak to a few computer firms tomorrow to see if they could repair it.

They are only sold in the one large unit with indicator/light stalks which is boll0cks. As it all comes apart.

[davelowe]

I would be interested in a pic Eddie - just to allay my constant desire to mend rather than replace things... I like to think anything can be mended - but I'm usually wrong!

[triumph2.5man]

Hello Owen, sorry to hear about your tale of woe. It's a common story.
I have bought two units from scrappies via ebay and both turned out to be good and still working some time later. The units are quite large and will arrive in a big box. One cost £40, the other £60. When the ribbon snaps it is impossible to repair or reattach it. Believe me, I tried! I never established exactly what causes it to fail. I suspect it is just a matter of misfortune. I know of Meganes with high mileage and still using original ribbon.
The problem buying from a scrappy is that the donor vehicle is most likely to have been in a prang and the airbag deployed. Deployment does not harm the ribbon but all manufacturers would recommend replacing all the airbag components so it is worth noting this. The unit is easy to fit (search for an earlier posting in which I described the operation).
If you buy second hand the risk is that the ribbon might already be damaged. The vendor could allege that you damaged it during fitting and refuse to take it back. Accidental damage does happen - I speak from experience. Because of sheer and utter ruddy carelessness, (it comes with your retirement pension!) I fitted one and busted it at the first turn of the steering wheel. Damnation!You must line up the little dot with the hole with steering wheel in ahead position as there is no room for leeway. Lock to lock is all you get, not an inch, sorry centimetre, more!

The beauty of these units is that with a bit of patience and a small screwdriver, they break down into the smallest component parts - light switch, wiper switch etc. If the unit you wish to buy is not an "auto" type, it is easy to swap the bits over and convert it.

I hope that is of interest.
Mike