I don't think this is brand specific but it's my wife's 2001 Ford Windstar. The airbag light has been on for a while. A few weeks ago, I discovered the cruise control doesn't work and today she found out the horn doesn't work.

I'm thinking that little copper ring on the top of the steering column, what ever it's called. I'm not sure how to go about fixing it, but all those things kind of converge up in the steering wheel.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

First, BE CAREFUL working on this system, would hate to have you blow the bag up!!

Sound to me like the "CLOCKSPRING" has an "open" in it. The clockspring is not actually a spring but a flexible circuit board that will wind and un-wind when you turn the steering wheel left or right......it is located right underneath the steering wheel on the steering column.....the wheel will come off quite easily if you just remove the center bolt most of the way and then grab the wheel with both hands and try to pull it off rearward first pulling with one hand then the other, whe it releases the bolt will keep it from hitting you in the face................I used to work for Ford dealers up till 1996...........if you could get the airbag system into the "flash out the trouble codes mode" you might be able to be more precise in the diagnosis as i would hate to see you put a part on it and not fix it right the first time. Dou you have any access to a Ford service manual? These are very helpful i think...............my 2 cents worth. Mike

I had the clockspring out of my Passat one time. I think I could probably get the one out of this car. I don't have access to any books better than a Haynes.

IS there a way to blink the airbag codes?

replace the clockspring and call it a day.

Has there ever been a recall....? Chrysler mini vans had a recall a while back...?

Nothing on the clock spring, just the air bag module. I just checked NHTSA.

Ford should have had a recall on the clock spring......
Ours caused so many electrical issues. Interior light staying on was the biggest problem, all caused by the darn clock spring.
I know so many people that had the same issues.

Think it will fix the goofy power doors?

Check all your fuses. On some cars the light is connected to another circuit (I had a Dodge Caravan that the airbag trouble light came on when the back wiper fuse went bad). Dodge's had the same issues with the clock spring too, but best to start with the basics before you tear the steering column apart.

Ford should have had a recall on the clock spring......
Ours caused so many electrical issues. Interior light staying on was the biggest problem, all caused by the darn clock spring.
I know so many people that had the same issues.

Uhhh, NO. Your clockspring did NOT cause the interior lights to stay on. It cannot and never will. Horn, cruise, SRS, that's it!
You had another issue

Think it will fix the goofy power doors?

Nope. The power door problem is probably the sliding door contacts. Sand them with some fine paper and pry them out a bit in the "middle", so they protrude from the rubber mount. Make sure the spring loaded contacts in the post are free and "springy". Sand the tips of those contacts also.

Last I heard, the clockspring was about $167 from Ford. Check with www.rockauto.com. remember to figure shipping into the final cost.