Hey all, first post here. I am building out an 09 E350 EB to be a camper van and I have installed a Pioneer AVIC-8200NEX unit in place of the standard double din radio. Curiosity has lead me to research whether or not I can upgrade the stock steering wheel to one with steering wheel controls like the SYNC buttons. It would make driving those long trips much easier if I have the controls on the wheel. I have tried the aftermarket controls that clip on to the wheel but those constantly had issues. I have installed NAV units in several other vehicles and integrating the steering wheel controls was pretty seamless. I have a line on a few steering wheels with controls as well as unfired airbags that fit them. I really just wanted to see if anyone foresees any issues I will run into. I know I will like have to build and run a wiring harness from wheel through the column and into the dash but that is no biggie. Does anyone know of any other issue I might encounter? Clock spring issues? Below are the three wheel options I have. Thanks in advance! Cheers!

Replacement wheel options are as follows (all with unfired bags):
2011 E150 w/ cruise and SYNC
2012 F250 w/ cruise and SYNC
2010 E250 w/ cruise and SYNC

 

I didn't know that would work.

 

Haha, I am hoping it does. Theoretically it should. I think the big snag would be the air bag and the clock spring. That area is where my knowledge bank is lacking.

 

In order for this sort of refit to work you'll need the correct wiring from the buttons on the steering wheel through the clock spring then to whatever radio you'll be using. Because your year van will have the CAN-bus network which affects nearly every factory installed electronic device and system such as interior lighting.

I don't want to ruin your hopes of accomplishing this swap but I'm fairly sure it can't be done using stock Ford parts. The biggest issue will be working around the clock spring so as to NOT affect the SRS.

OTOH if you're able to do this please document and share here---it would be very helpful to a few of us I'm sure.

Good luck with this!

 

I forgot to mention that the system I am installing will also have the Datalink Maestro installed as well. I am not super familiar with this product but from what I under stand it provides an interface with your CAN through both a computer and your vehicles head unit. It allows me to program steering wheel controls to perform specific functions as well as viewing and clearing trouble codes and the myriad of data that flows through the vehicles system. Here is the link to their page;
iDatalink - Maestro - Home
With that added I can really only see two major hurdles and they are the murkiest ones to get pinpoint information on. Those hurdles are, again, the clock spring, and the steering wheel alignment. I called a local Ford dealership to see if I could talk with a technician and after several grapevine and middle man games I was told that it would be better to replace the whole steering column. The technician's reason for that was because of the wiring through the clock spring needed. I told them I had an aftermarket unit and have already found a route for the wiring. I pretty much got a verbal shrug after that. They sounded busy anyway so I wasn't going to eat up more of their time. I'm going to head to one of the local audio shops and see what input they have on the subject as well. I suspect I am not the only one who has thought about, attempted, and possibly succeeded at something like this. There has to be some more exacting knowledge on the subject out there, it probably just doesn't pertain to my specific vehicle parameters. As you said, ensuring the SRS system is not interfered with is the main goal. But then again, my 1990 Toyota Pickup doesn't have airbags... Hehehe

 

You might be better advised to seek out a forum where aftermarket entertainment systems are the main focus. Talking with a dealership about anything aftermarket they themselves don't sell is a waste of your time---they're understandably uninterested in taking on such a product. Add that they're not usually the most technically savvy about their own brands related to upfits such as you're contemplating. Just because someone works inside a building with a Ford logo doesn't mean a lot unfortunately.

Again best of luck with this and I'll be watching for your progress.

 

Hi I am trying to figure out how to do the same thing. Steering wheel controls in my 2013 E350. Very curious as to what you ended up doing and if it worked!

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I didn't end up doing anything yet. A little while after starting this thread I found out that Ford updated the interior of their cutaway E-series vans for 21/22 and forward. These are the bodies that become RVs and Box trucks. The snags I ran into would have required a lot of fabrication work. If I wait a few more months/years these updated cutaways will likely start showing up in salvage yards where I can acquire an E-series steering column that already has the controls run for upfitter purposes. I did a little research into trying some of those wireless steering wheel add ons but in the end I skipped it. The android auto feature between my phone and receiver coupled with google assistant made it pretty easy to shift through apps and what not. Biggest pain was volume and call answering, as it was the only thing I had to physically touch a point on the receiver to actuate. I've got a few other van projects going but if this one comes up again and I action I will certainly post an update. Good luck in your search!

 

You must mean downgrade?