I dont have the cd/radio controls built into my steering wheel like some camaro's and firebirds have (not sure which sound system that came with or what option?). Anyways, i was wondering if I were to get ahold of one of those steering wheels and the wiring and whatnot, would it be a difficult thing to add in? Also, would i be able to make it compatible if say i were to get an aftermarket headunit ever?

 

You will need to get the steering wheell and the steering column to get it to work. Also when buying an aftermarket HU it should say if it will work with the controls, normally it just needs some type of connector. I have wanted to do this too, but when I heard you needed the steering column it was to much work for me...I can reach a couple inches to change what I need

 

yea... im not all for the putting in a new steering column either just for that... Besides, when i do get a new headunit im sure it'll come with a remote anyways

thanks for the reply

 

I've never used the steering wheel controls... I find it easier to just reach over and grab the volume **** on the deck... I hate volume 'buttons'... prefer rotary myself.

There is a PAC module that converts the steering wheel controls to infrared, which is sent to your aftermarket stereo... I wasn't aware of an actual cable interface...

 

There is a single wire in the factory wiring harness that carries the signals from the steering wheel controls. You have to tap into it with the PAC SWI-X in order for the unit to work with an after-market HU

 

nice, so PAC makes a unit for this... that's cool... I wonder how the buttons are configured for aftermarket use? does the PAC convert it to infrared, and you 'teach' the PAC the headunit's remote control, or is it via another method?

it seems that your headunit would have to basically support the equivalent to the pioneer "rotary commander" which was a wired remote... ugly as hell, but I guess it could be useful...

 

Once the SWI-X is connected to the factory harness all you do is press a button on the steering wheel and then program it's function to the corresponding control from your HU's infrared remote control. The SWI-X will then blink an LED to confirm that that function has been programmed into the unit. It only takes a few minutes to do.

Once the unit is programmed you have to mount it's infrared LED so that the signal will be picked up by your HU. I used to have mine in the cup holder behind the shifter. It worked OK here but it works much better here. When the LED was in the cup holder it would actually work better when there was a bottle or cup in the cup holder. It actually worked much better this way than it did when there was nothing in the cup holder at all.

 

Interesting...I have the controls in my 93 Formula, and they havent worked since I've owned it--about a year now. I really want to make them work, especially since the Delco volume **** stopped working on with the volume stuck on low. I was simply going to find another Delco, since the install is easy, but anyone have any idea about making the steering wheel controls work? Sounds like that SWI-X wire (no idea what that is) is a good place to start.

 

that's exactly what I said... for a second there it sounded like you were correcting me...

later.

 

I thought you were asking.

 

Yeah I thought you guys were referring to some sort of "direct wire" version or something... that skips infrared completely...

yeah, the infrared PAC device is used even in thirdgens... most notably the GTAs... so I know how they work, well, mostly... I'm still not sure if you have to buy a specific model for each car (for processing the output wire commands from wheel controls--cuz each car is different...I'd think)

 

Yes, I had to do this modification on my '02 Camaro. Of which, the previous owner had pulled the Monsoon HU in favor of the Pioneer DEH-P3500 AM/FM/XM(w/ single CD player). Where obviously the steerin wheel controls were not of importance to him. (Having owned a '98 M6 TransAm(w/ the stock 500w Monsoon sys.), up until the insurance layed claim to it in '01, for a decent pay-off, I might add.) The first thing I did after the purchase of the Z28 was contact Pioneer. To see about re-gaining control of the steerin wheel controls to the HU. They referred to the Soundgate module. Which is just uses an infared control module.

Of course, I wasn't able to locate a Soundgate unit locally. The local JBL auth. dealer/shop did have a part equal to the Soundgate module. That, serve the same function. That we just plugged in behind the benzl. Which has an eye(?) that sticks out thru the benzl(radio face plate, in my case)of the HU plate and it has given me the steerin wheel controls back. Of course, I still end up having to use the volume **** now-n-then for some reason.

Good luck,
Don