Steering wheel radio controls
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 585
Likes: 2
From: Willis, Texas
Steering wheel radio controls
I have done some searching on the forum and can find little info as far as swapping out the speed control only to speed and radio control steering wheel.
I have the MP-3 changer so that won't be too big of a deal, I think. What I need to know is this...
A) Is the truck as "pre-wired" as I have heard? Will the plugs all be there?
B) Do the radio controls only come with the packages that have the Auto Temp Control as well?
C) Will a steering wheel puller be needed or can I leave the steering wheel attached?
D) Will a diffrent airbag be required?
D
I have the MP-3 changer so that won't be too big of a deal, I think. What I need to know is this...
A) Is the truck as "pre-wired" as I have heard? Will the plugs all be there?
B) Do the radio controls only come with the packages that have the Auto Temp Control as well?
C) Will a steering wheel puller be needed or can I leave the steering wheel attached?
D) Will a diffrent airbag be required?
D
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Just done... (sort of)
I just replaced my STX rubber wheel (speed control only) with a wheel off a 2003 Expy that had speed, radio, and HVAC controls on it. (I wanted a leather wheel) When I plugged in the new Expy wheel plugs to the old STX connector, the radio controls did not work. There were some extra wires (obviously) in the harness that I think did not match up to what came up to the back of the wheel. I did not test the cruise though, to see if that would work.
I ended up swapping my speed controls on to the Expy wheel, and it works (and feels) much better than the rubber wheel.
My truck apparently did not have the right wiring going to the wheel for them. I was expecting a big ribbon under the wheel for wiring like on the old rides, but there was a plastic ring that was attached to the column that had two molded in plastic plugs that the wiring from the wheel plugged into. It had all of the pins, but I assume that there were wires not run from the radio, harness, or whatever- to that ring, especially in these cost conscious days...
My old airbag plugged in just fine, and the bag warning lights did not come on.
None of the pullers I tried would fit right, I used a rubber mallet and a few good taps and it popped right off. You need to remove the big plastic trim filler that goes around the back of the wheel to get to the bolts that hold on the button pods easily. I'd pull the wheel, but not sure if they will work- they didn't work on mine. I think it has to have the auto temp to work the radio as well- I'll bet it is part of the same computer head unit- sends signals to the temp and radio, I don't think the radio is signal ready, I think it needs the controller to function right? Not sure there.
Hope that helps a bit!
I ended up swapping my speed controls on to the Expy wheel, and it works (and feels) much better than the rubber wheel.
My truck apparently did not have the right wiring going to the wheel for them. I was expecting a big ribbon under the wheel for wiring like on the old rides, but there was a plastic ring that was attached to the column that had two molded in plastic plugs that the wiring from the wheel plugged into. It had all of the pins, but I assume that there were wires not run from the radio, harness, or whatever- to that ring, especially in these cost conscious days...
My old airbag plugged in just fine, and the bag warning lights did not come on.
None of the pullers I tried would fit right, I used a rubber mallet and a few good taps and it popped right off. You need to remove the big plastic trim filler that goes around the back of the wheel to get to the bolts that hold on the button pods easily. I'd pull the wheel, but not sure if they will work- they didn't work on mine. I think it has to have the auto temp to work the radio as well- I'll bet it is part of the same computer head unit- sends signals to the temp and radio, I don't think the radio is signal ready, I think it needs the controller to function right? Not sure there.
Hope that helps a bit!
Last edited by KZooDirt; Apr 20, 2006 at 08:24 PM.
