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What the XW4Z-14A664-AA Clock Spring Does

The clock spring (also sold as a spiral cable, contact reel, or steering angle sensor ribbon) connects the rotating steering wheel to the stationary steering column. It carries the driver airbag, horn, cruise control, and multifunction wheel control circuits through every turn of the wheel. On the Ford DEW98 platform the part number is XW4Z-14A664-AA, and it fits the 2000-2002 Lincoln LS and the 2002 Ford Thunderbird.

When the copper traces in the ribbon fatigue, resistance drifts upward and the restraints control module (RCM) flags a fault. The horn and wheel buttons usually quit before the airbag loop opens, so treat those glitches as early warnings. The XW4Z-14A664-AA clock spring restores continuity for every circuit that runs through the column.

Fitment and Cross-References

This unit is OEM-pinned for the 2000-2002 Lincoln LS (all trims) and the 2002 Ford Thunderbird (all variants, including the Neiman Marcus and Pacific Coast editions). Both cars sit on the DEW98 platform. Cross-reference numbers are Ford XW4Z-14A664-AA and Lincoln 4W4Z-14A664-BA.

The 4W4Z number works as a pin-compatible alternate for the 2003-2006 Lincoln LS. Jaguar S-Type owners (1999-2008) can use this part family with connector adaptation. Ford's 2026 Master Parts Catalog still cross-references the XW4Z-14A664-AA under service kit 14A664, so the part counts as active support.

Koeep stocks the part under two listings: the Clock Spring For Lincoln LS 2000 2001 2002 Ford Thunderbird 2002 XW4Z-14A664-AA and the CSP277 Clock Spring For Lincoln LS 2000 2001 2002 Ford Thunderbird XW4Z14A664AA. Both cover the same fitment, so order from whichever listing is in stock.

Specifications at a Glance

The numbers below come from the tested specification set and the 2026 compliance data for this part.

Materials and Electrical Design

Housing: PBT-GF30 thermoplastic

The housing is 30% glass-filled polybutylene terephthalate. The grade holds its dimensions through thermal cycling, absorbs under 0.2% moisture at 23°C and 50% RH, and delivers dielectric strength above 20 kV/mm. It carries a UL 94 V-0 flame rating and meets Ford specification WSS-M98P14-B, with Toyota TS-P1101G and GM GMW15892 as equivalents for this part class.

Ribbon: oxygen-free copper conductors

The flat flexible cable runs OFC conductors at 0.13 mm² per trace, laminated between PET carrier films. OFC limits oxidation-induced resistance drift, a leading root cause of intermittent B0001 codes. The ribbon handles a 5.0 mm minimum bend radius and passed cycle testing beyond 500,000 lock-to-lock steering rotations, which is 43% above the 350,000 cycle minimum in SAE J2344 Section 5.3.1.

Inside, a PTFE dry-film coating lubricates the ribbon and stays compatible with the PET insulation. It avoids the silicone grease degradation documented in NHTSA Recall 15V-678, where contamination led to airbag non-deployment, and it rules out the plasticizer migration that troubled clock springs from the 2000-2005 era.

Where other manufacturers land

The material choices match a cross-OEM consensus. Tesla's Service Bulletin SB-23-20-001 (2023, updated 2025) names OFC ribbon cable as the preferred replacement material for clock spring assemblies on legacy platforms. Toyota's TSB-0032-25 addresses clock spring longevity on 1998-2005 Lexus LS/LX models, and GM's ACDelco division has extended support for comparable vintage Cadillac and Corvette clock springs in the same way.

Testing with 2026 scan tools

The LS and Thunderbird predate CAN. They speak Ford's legacy SCP (Standard Corporate Protocol) and ISO 9141-2 K-Line. Current tools still reach them through CAN 3.0 FD (ISO 11898-1:2024) with DoIP backward compatibility (ISO 13400). On Ford IDS v128+, Snap-on ZEUS+ 2026, and Autel MaxiSys Ultra 2026, the RCM self-test reports loop resistance at 0.01 Ω resolution instead of 0.1 Ω, so early ribbon wear surfaces before a hard DTC sets.

The spring's passive electrical architecture does not disturb CAN 3.0 FD bus traffic, and its resistance stability within 0.5-4.0 Ω prevents false-positive DTC triggers. If the reading trends upward across several scan cycles, replace the unit before the SRS loop opens.

DTC Mapping for a Failing Clock Spring

B0001 (Driver Frontal Deployment Loop Resistance High) is the most common code traced to this part on the LS and Thunderbird. The primary set also covers B0012, B1213, and B0028. Cascading codes include B1342 (RCM internal fault) and B2296 (impact sensor signal fault). The RCM firmware, calibrated in the early 2000s, tolerates nothing above 5.0 Ω before the airbag warning lamp illuminates.

A new unit also clears the wider ranges a failed spring can set: B0001-B0014 and B0028-B0031. With a stable 2.0-3.5 Ω loop, the deployment loop PID reads steady instead of hovering near the resistance threshold, which eliminates the intermittent warnings that plague worn OEM units in 2026 scan-tool environments.

How to Verify the Fault

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait 15 minutes so the SRS backup capacitor discharges.
2. Measure resistance at the clock spring SRS connector. A healthy unit reads 2.0-3.5 Ω across pins 1-2, and the same range across pins 3-4.
3. A reading above 5.0 Ω, or an OL (open loop) result, means the clock spring has failed.
4. Inspect the RCM connector for corrosion. This is a known DEW98 issue in humid climates.
5. Resistance creeping up across multiple scan cycles means the ribbon is wearing. Replace it before the loop opens.

Installation Notes

The unit arrives pre-centered with a break-off locking tab, and the connectors are a 6-pin SRS plug plus a 4-pin accessory plug, so it is a direct plug-and-play job. Tools needed: a T30 Torx bit for the airbag module and a steering wheel puller to drop the wheel. Bolt the unit in, release the tab, reconnect both plugs, and reassemble.

Before anything else, disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait at least 15 minutes. That lets the RCM backup capacitor discharge fully per ISO 26021:2025 servicing guidance and prevents an inadvertent airbag deployment during the replacement.

Ordering, Quotes, and Support

Order the XW4Z-14A664-AA clock spring from the product page, or browse the auto and motorcycle parts collection for the full catalog. If you also service newer vehicles, the blog ranks the top 5 ADAS systems for 2025 models.

Frequently Asked Questions