Adding steering wheel controls to aftermarket system
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
Adding steering wheel controls to aftermarket system
Has anyone added steering wheel controls to thier aftermarket system? I have an AVIC Z3 that I am considering adding these to if it isn't too much work.
Thanks in advance,
Shannon
Thanks in advance,
Shannon
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
I used the PAC SWI-PS with my D3 and it works pretty good. Install wasn't bad, all of the wires are in the harness behind the radio. You do need to supply +12V going to the wheel, I somehow missed that part during my initial install and had to figure out why it wasn't working.
Setting it up isn't bad either, but you may want to experiment with the way you program the buttons before sealing everything back in the dash. The end of this post explains what I mean, but the Z3 may be different.
Setting it up isn't bad either, but you may want to experiment with the way you program the buttons before sealing everything back in the dash. The end of this post explains what I mean, but the Z3 may be different.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
I used the PAC SWI-PS with my D3 and it works pretty good. Install wasn't bad, all of the wires are in the harness behind the radio. You do need to supply +12V going to the wheel, I somehow missed that part during my initial install and had to figure out why it wasn't working.
Setting it up isn't bad either, but you may want to experiment with the way you program the buttons before sealing everything back in the dash. The end of this post explains what I mean, but the Z3 may be different.
Setting it up isn't bad either, but you may want to experiment with the way you program the buttons before sealing everything back in the dash. The end of this post explains what I mean, but the Z3 may be different.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
If you don't already have the buttons on your wheel I would say that adding them might be more trouble than it's worth, but I've done plenty of things in that category also.
For the steering wheel controls there's really only one wire that connects to the radio. Each button on the wheel has a specific resistance that the radio senses when it's pushed and does the appropriate function. The new gizmo just interprets that resistance and sends whatever signal the new HU wants to see. Click here to see the button schematic. I had the dark blue wire connected to the gizmo, but didn't originally have the +12V applied to the purple wire, so it didn't work until I hooked it up properly. The instructions said to hook it up, but IIRC it was very easy to miss that part (at least that's the story I'm sticking with).
For the steering wheel controls there's really only one wire that connects to the radio. Each button on the wheel has a specific resistance that the radio senses when it's pushed and does the appropriate function. The new gizmo just interprets that resistance and sends whatever signal the new HU wants to see. Click here to see the button schematic. I had the dark blue wire connected to the gizmo, but didn't originally have the +12V applied to the purple wire, so it didn't work until I hooked it up properly. The instructions said to hook it up, but IIRC it was very easy to miss that part (at least that's the story I'm sticking with).
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
I guess I was totally wrong on my assumption that the steering wheel controls communicated with the head unit using infrared. Sounds like more trouble than it is worth. I'm tall with long arms so reaching the head unit isn't that big of a deal after all. Just wanted all of the bells and whistles 
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
You are in luck!
The AVIC Z3 is compatible with a steering wheel control sold on ebay for about $25.00. I have it and it is just great. It fixes to the wheel and uses infrared to work the unit.
Seriously look at the steering wheel remote on ebay. Simple and does the job very well. No install issue at all. The only thing I have seen as far as functioning is sometimes in very bright sunlight on the unit the IR won't work but it is not common and if you don't have a clear top it will not be an issue at all.
