Steering Wheel Controls

__chris__ · 25th January 2016, 10:54

I've just removed the original Kenwood cassette unit and will take out the multi cd player later on.
Since I've had the ZT, the SWC haven't worked and there is no sign of a magic box inside the dash with any spare wires.

Either the previous owner chopped them out or there is something else that I'm missing.
I've read on here that some cars had infrared SWC. How will I know if my car is one of them and how would I go about connecting that up to a new unit?

(apologies for the newbieness of these questions)

coolcat · 25th January 2016, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by __chris__

I've just removed the original Kenwood cassette unit and will take out the multi cd player later on.
Since I've had the ZT, the SWC haven't worked and there is no sign of a magic box inside the dash with any spare wires.

Either the previous owner chopped them out or there is something else that I'm missing.
I've read on here that some cars had infrared SWC. How will I know if my car is one of them and how would I go about connecting that up to a new unit?

(apologies for the newbieness of these questions)

If your car had the Kenwood fitted as standard from the factory then it should have had a blue infra red eye mounted in the eyebrow plastic lip.
This would go back to a black box mounted behind the radio and this is where you will need to intercept the wires for the steering wheel controls if indeed this box is there.

Let us know and we can advise further

__chris__ · 25th January 2016, 13:06

Thanks Jeff.
Still working out on how to take the lip out. Have found two screw holes but can't seem to find the right screwdriver as nothing seems to be engaging..

Will be back when I've worked it out.

coolcat · 25th January 2016, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by __chris__

Thanks Jeff.
Still working out on how to take the lip out. Have found two screw holes but can't seem to find the right screwdriver as nothing seems to be engaging..

Will be back when I've worked it out.

Do you mean the eyebrow itself or the plastic cover underneath it ?

If you've removed the head unit surely you have already removed the eyebrow ?

raykay · 25th January 2016, 13:20

The Infra-Red interface box (if it is there) will have Blue/Purple, Light Green/White and Black cables. You may find the Blue/Purple and Blue/Orange steering wheel control cables in pins 2 and 3 of the grey ISO connector.

__chris__ · 25th January 2016, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolcat

Do you mean the eyebrow itself or the plastic cover underneath it ?

If you've removed the head unit surely you have already removed the eyebrow ?

No, the head unit came out with a set of radio removal keys.

Right, I've taken the eyebrow, the lip the fascia and the head unit out. if I knew how to upload a photo I'd share what it looks like now. Anyone?

coolcat · 25th January 2016, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by __chris__

No, the head unit came out with a set of radio removal keys.

Right, I've taken the eyebrow, the lip the fascia and the head unit out. if I knew how to upload a photo I'd share what it looks like now. Anyone?

Sorry, thought you meant you had removed the fascia .
Directly behind where the head unit would sit is a black plastic box about the size of a pack of playing cards if it had the infra red system.
The green wire is a 12 volt wire and should be taped up (so as not to short out) and ignored.
The other two wires would be what you need to connect to the steering wheel controls of the head unit your using .

If your intending on just getting the controls to work on your Kenwood then you hopefully will find a grey sleeved cable coming from this box which should have an infra red emmiter on the end.
This needs to be clipped into the plastic cover on the bottom of the eyebrow allowing it to 'see' the Kenwood unit.

If it's not there and you are changing the head unit then the blue/orange and blue/purple wires you need will be either in the ISO connector or a yellow/blue/green connector as Ray already mentioned

__chris__ · 25th January 2016, 17:16

This is the back of the old Kenwood Cassette.
There's a stray Green & Red wire that has been snipped off something in the past by the looks of it.

Inside the cavity now everything has been taken off.

and a close up of the thing at the back. Is this the playing card sized-box?

Fusilier · 25th January 2016, 17:28

Does this help

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&postcount=11

Stu

coolcat · 25th January 2016, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by __chris__

This is the back of the old Kenwood Cassette.
There's a stray Green & Red wire that has been snipped off something in the past by the looks of it.

Inside the cavity now everything has been taken off.

and a close up of the thing at the back. Is this the playing card sized-box?

It is indeed the swc box.
You should be able to trace that grey cable back and find the blue infra red emitter/eye.
It should then clip into the plastic trim that covers the screws in the eyebrow and point towards the Kenwood head unit and allow your wheel controls to operate

25th January 2016, 10:54	#1
__chris__ Avid contributor 2003 MG ZT 190+,(2005 Facelift R75 1.8T SE Conny now consigned to be a donor car) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sidcup Posts: 149 Thanks: 34 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Steering Wheel Controls I've just removed the original Kenwood cassette unit and will take out the multi cd player later on. Since I've had the ZT, the SWC haven't worked and there is no sign of a magic box inside the dash with any spare wires. Either the previous owner chopped them out or there is something else that I'm missing. I've read on here that some cars had infrared SWC. How will I know if my car is one of them and how would I go about connecting that up to a new unit? (apologies for the newbieness of these questions) __________________ Chris. Work on the 1.8T New pads &cs all round, Bonnet Catch Reversed, Plenums Cleaned, Renewed Selected Radiator Hoses, New Stainless Steel Twin Exhaust,Metal T-Piece, Head Skimmed and MLS Head Gasket, New Cambelt & Alternator Belt, New PRT & Water Pump, New Air Duct Hose, New Radiator, New plugs, coil packs & HT leads, Golden Radiator Resistor. Car then blew up and I gave up. Bought the ZT 190 instead !

25th January 2016, 17:28	#9
Fusilier Moderator / RS North East MG ZT T 180,MGF Freestyle, Jaguar XKR Convertible and XF Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newton Aycliffe Posts: 6,397 Thanks: 1,329 Thanked 2,231 Times in 1,309 Posts	Swc Does this help http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&postcount=11 Stu __________________ # Project Gruple http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=213155

25th January 2016, 13:06	#3
__chris__ Avid contributor 2003 MG ZT 190+,(2005 Facelift R75 1.8T SE Conny now consigned to be a donor car) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sidcup Posts: 149 Thanks: 34 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Thanks Jeff. Still working out on how to take the lip out. Have found two screw holes but can't seem to find the right screwdriver as nothing seems to be engaging.. Will be back when I've worked it out.

25th January 2016, 13:20	#5
raykay I really should get out more....... Now Other Manufacturer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Co. Kerry Posts: 2,786 Thanks: 16 Thanked 310 Times in 283 Posts	The Infra-Red interface box (if it is there) will have Blue/Purple, Light Green/White and Black cables. You may find the Blue/Purple and Blue/Orange steering wheel control cables in pins 2 and 3 of the grey ISO connector.

25th January 2016, 17:16	#8
__chris__ Avid contributor 2003 MG ZT 190+,(2005 Facelift R75 1.8T SE Conny now consigned to be a donor car) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sidcup Posts: 149 Thanks: 34 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	This is the back of the old Kenwood Cassette. There's a stray Green & Red wire that has been snipped off something in the past by the looks of it. Inside the cavity now everything has been taken off. and a close up of the thing at the back. Is this the playing card sized-box?