Steering Wheel Control Issues
 

I have an 01 with the sterring wheel mounted radio controls (Monsoon CD system). My problem is with the mute button. When I hit it, the radio mutes for a random ammount of time (a few seconds to a minute). I have taken it to two different dealers for warranty repair. The first looked at the radio controls like they were something off a space craft. Then they told me you have to hold the mute button to make it work. This doen't work either, as the radio still comes back on a few mins. later. The second dealership told me the mute button was fine and sent me on my way. What is the proper operation of this switch, and how do I fix it? Thanks.

Wow, dealerships never cease to amaze me!

No, you do not have to hold that button down to mute the radio. It should stay muted until you either hit the mute button again, the volume, or any other audio button.

The probem is, is that the Monsoon system is operated off a single wire which goes to some logic unit which is in your steering column. More than likely that is the problem. I'd be willing the bet the reason the dealer keeps giving you the runaround would be the massive amount of troubleshooting and work that would take to fix.

I don't know what to tell ya, other than to try another dealer and insist that you dont have to hold the button down to make it work. The same system is used in the Pontiac Grand Prix, so if you go to a Pontiac dealer and they tell you this, tell them to show you how it works on a car they have there on the lot.

I have the same problem, but I've actually learned to just turn the volume down. Not a real biggie for me anymore. My car just ran out of warranty, so I'm not going to bother taking it to a dealer...

Like Constrictor98TA sais, the dealer is just trying to shrug you off and if you want to get it fixed, you need to be persistent.

In my Firebird the mute worked fine: hit it -> mutes the radio; hit again -> unmutes the radio. No tricks or gimmicks.

Good luck! ;)

TS

Yeah, I figgured they were BSing me, but what to do? I think I may take her by a Pontiac lot next. You guys have had these steering wheel controls for a while, right? Both Chevy lots looked like they had never seen these controls before. Thanks!

Mine has done that to me before.. but for some reason it only seems to happen when I am on my cell phone and have it muted. Even then it does not happen all the time. I dont know if the cell has anything at all to do with it but that is the the only time I have noticed it at all.