Steering wheel controls.

[Mintee]

I got my new (to me) 2002 CDTi Tourer a month or so ago, it came with a Sony head unit that worked okay but had tiny buttons and the steering wheel controls didn't change the volume, track or inputs. I figured that someone had bodged the wiring when fitting it and decided to fit my old JVC mobile friendly one that was working fine in my old 2001 diesel saloon.

When I pulled it apart I was pleased to find that the Sony was fitted with an Audioleads connector and the one that I had been using (successfully) with the old car plugged into the big black box plug behind the dash but the steering wheel functions still didn't work.

When looking behind the dash I found the cables for a cruse control so decided to fit that as well. A bit of searching and I got the boxes, facia button (with switch plate!) and steering wheel controls and fitted them yesterday.

But the radio still doesn't get control from the wheel and the cruse cant be set either.

I've had a ponder and a search on here but not found an answer to this. I've seen some threads about radios and wheel control and wonder if I have I got the 'wrong' adapter harness but I have no idea what was fitted to the car originally but what could make the cruse not set as well? The horn works fine, so there is a connection between the wheel and the rest of the car....... I'm puzzled.

[paulonsite]

Hi Mintee

I don't know if yours may have the same solution to mine, but not all head units use Steering Wheel Control by hard-wiring. My SWCs switch my factory-fit JVC head unit using infra-red. The probe is hidden in the left hand end of the 'eyeborw' trim at the top of the centre console. Every now and then it retreats into it's hole (the cable is under a bit of tension and not too well fitting). It can also twist, firing the signal gawd knows where instead of at the head unit, or, as happended to me, get twisted the wrong way round completely when fitting a new dash.

Have you looked to see if it's there?

I was v surprised to see IR used as the solution, and not even bi-directional IR! RS232 anyone?

Apologies if this isn't relevant or you've already looked.

Paul.

[Mintee]

Just thought - I have another small issue. Sometimes when I indicate the dash (and perhaps the car I have no idea) indicates one way, then the other, before indicating the way I want.

Is there some wiring that connects that to the steering wheel too?

[Mintee]

Originally Posted by paulonsite

I don't know if yours may have the same solution to mine, but not all head units use Steering Wheel Control by hard-wiring. My SWCs switch my factory-fit JVC head unit using infra-red. The probe is hidden in the left hand end of the 'eyeborw' trim at the top of the centre console. Every now and then it retreats into it's hole (the cable is under a bit of tension and not too well fitting). It can also twist, firing the signal gawd knows where instead of at the head unit, or, as happended to me, get twisted the wrong way round completely when fitting a new dash.

Have you looked to see if it's there?

I've seen that mentioned, not seen an IR thing and it wasn't in the dash when I took it to bits.

Will go and pull bits around and check now......!

[Mintee]

Originally Posted by Mintee

Will go and pull bits around and check now......!

No IR do-dad in there

There is a difference between the car harness and the Audioleads adapter - there are two red and white wires in the block connector but only one lead from the adapter harness....



(There are also three wires that have been chopped and reconnected - getting too late to get the soldering iron out now - but they will be fixed.)

There is also a tied up small block connector doing nothing and having nowhere to go - is that important?



The not working stereo does not explain the not working cruse control does it?

[Mintee]

Originally Posted by Mintee

I got my new (to me) 2002 CDTi Tourer a month or so ago, it came with a Sony head unit that worked okay but had tiny buttons and the steering wheel controls didn't change the volume, track or inputs.

A bit of searching and I got the boxes, facia button (with switch plate!) and steering wheel controls and fitted them yesterday.

But the radio still doesn't get control from the wheel and the cruse cant be set either.

Originally Posted by Mintee

Sometimes when I indicate the dash (and perhaps the car I have no idea) indicates one way, then the other, before indicating the way I want.

Is there some wiring that connects that to the steering wheel too?

Originally Posted by Mintee

The not working stereo does not explain the not working cruse control does it?

Had a thought - could it be a faulty column switch housing coupler? That might explain the (occasional) indicator funny as well as the not working radio and cruise.... Why do the horns work fine though?

[hogweed]

Originally Posted by Mintee

Had a thought - could it be a faulty column switch housing coupler?

Yes it could be, so I swapped mine when I was having problems (you can get used ones cheaply), but it didn’t make any difference, so I swapped the wheel control adapter thingy too – in the end I swapped the {naughty word} head unit, before realising it was the actual wheel switches.

But if your indicators are malfunctioning too, it would at least suggest that the “clock spring” coupler could be faulty… slightly fiddly job if you do decide to replace it – read up about the little white positioning mark before doing anything

[Mintee]

Originally Posted by hogweed

Yes it could be, so I swapped mine when I was having problems (you can get used ones cheaply), but it didn’t make any difference, so I swapped the wheel control adapter thingy too – in the end I swapped the {naughty word} head unit, before realising it was the actual wheel switches.

But if your indicators are malfunctioning too, it would at least suggest that the “clock spring” coupler could be faulty… slightly fiddly job if you do decide to replace it – read up about the little white positioning mark before doing anything

I've changed my wheel buttons (pre and post cruise control fitting) and I've changed the head unit (and its adapter lead) for one that was working on the old car so I'll try the “clock spring” coupler (we are talking about the same thing aren't we?) and see if that helps. It's only going to be £20 or so to find out. Shame I didn't know about this before chucking the old car away!

[hogweed]

Originally Posted by Mintee

I've changed my wheel buttons (pre and post cruise control fitting) and I've changed the head unit (and its adapter lead) for one that was working on the old car so I'll try the “clock spring” coupler (we are talking about the same thing aren't we?) and see if that helps. It's only going to be £20 or so to find out. Shame I didn't know about this before chucking the old car away!

Yeah, that's the thingy all right... take consolation in the well-known universal principle that it was always going to be the last thing you tried, just like me

Please do post the answer when you find it - hate mysteries

[Mintee]

Originally Posted by hogweed

Yeah, that's the thingy all right... take consolation in the well-known universal principle that it was always going to be the last thing you tried, just like me

Ha! I like working through problems usually but this had me baffled, I presumed (there's the first fault!) the Sony head unit in the car was faulty, then presumed that the steering wheel controls were duff. But changing both and having the same problem suggests not.

Looking for a rotary control change how to*, I came across this - so am a bit hopeful.

Originally Posted by hogweed

Please do post the answer when you find it - hate mysteries

Will do.

*This is the best I've found so far