yep, forget that!
Adding Steering Wheel Controls
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: The Villages Florida
Thanks from me as well! I do not have the skills to do this ... let alone be willing to spend lots of money for something I don't REALLY need. Now, new wheels? That is a different issue and I DO need wheels.
Thanks again for the good (?) info!
Thanks again for the good (?) info!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 14
From: Mechanicsville Maryland
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,616
Likes: 784
From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL
I don’t know about knowledgeable, but I did find some answers today. I decided to use my car as a guinea pig, and it was slow at work today. I can say that this IS POSSIBLE but it’s more work than I thought it would be. Of course you will need a new coil assembly at the top of the steering column and switch. But the radio switch bezel is not available separate from the steering wheel. And the wiring harness from the switch to the steering column coil can only be acquired with the steering wheel too. The vehicle harness from the radio to the steering column does NOT contain the 2 circuits needed for the switch. Some terminals would be needed and 2 wires run to the radio along with running a lamp dimming circuit to the column.
The radio will not make use of the new switch inputs until it’s reconfigured. The base U66 option with a Delco amplifier will not work. The premium U65 using a Bose amp will work. Using a Tech2 I had to change the option configuration in the radio from the U66 to the U65 and then the switches worked. I don’t know what issues there could be from telling the radio it’s using a Bose amp when it’s actually a Delco? But everything seems to work ok. I have a feeling some of the difference is with the EQ settings. I know Bose likes to use their own presets programmed into their amps.
Now I just need to decide if I want to spend the $$$ on a new steering wheel…
The radio will not make use of the new switch inputs until it’s reconfigured. The base U66 option with a Delco amplifier will not work. The premium U65 using a Bose amp will work. Using a Tech2 I had to change the option configuration in the radio from the U66 to the U65 and then the switches worked. I don’t know what issues there could be from telling the radio it’s using a Bose amp when it’s actually a Delco? But everything seems to work ok. I have a feeling some of the difference is with the EQ settings. I know Bose likes to use their own presets programmed into their amps.
Now I just need to decide if I want to spend the $$$ on a new steering wheel…
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 1
From: Lubbock, TX
Does anyone have 07 and up service manual pic to compare the contact area behind the horn pad. I still plan on doing this to my 06 as the 8120 radio buttons are very difficult to use because of their size. also if you tilt the screen down you can't use them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Vegas NV
I'm prepping to do the SWC retrofit on my 2006 3LT, and GMautotech's info has been quite valuable.
I've got the 2007 steering wheel w/controls here already, and I've got the 2007 coil/clockspring on order.
When I get it together, I'll document and photo everything.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 1
From: Lubbock, TX
Thanks for your help. I'm getting ready to go back to Iraq and cannot work on this now. The area I'm talking about is usaually under the steering wheel. I'm trying to just add a 07 and up wheel with buttons for the Kenwood 8120 I just put in. Thanks again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Vegas NV
(pictured steering wheel is for a 2007 Corvette manual transmission car, so the wiring for the auto-trans paddle shifters is not present)
I'll document more as I get into the retrofit.
Last edited by Kent1999; Oct 16, 2008 at 03:22 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Vegas NV
I don't know if Kenwood uses the same 'resistance' system, but it seems unlikely that even if it did, the values it looks for would map properly to Kenwoods own functions.
Cheers,
Kent
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 849
Likes: 2
From: Southern Florida
I got the radio control install completed today. If I had to do it over again I probably wouldn’t bother. Doing it the cheapest way was a bit of a pain. To do it right and make it easier you need to buy a whole new steering wheel. I did not, I used an HHR right side steering wheel spoke cover that had to be modified to fit and reused the left side cover. But the colors didn’t match so I painted them both with a metallic charcoal that is close enough to the rest of the IP trim.
I am guessing to do this conversion with a new steering wheel, coil and switch would cost about $300-350 for parts, plus the install and/or having a dealer change the options in the radio (refer to my earlier post).
I am guessing to do this conversion with a new steering wheel, coil and switch would cost about $300-350 for parts, plus the install and/or having a dealer change the options in the radio (refer to my earlier post).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 849
Likes: 2
From: Southern Florida
The HHR right side cover is 15234337
C6 radio control 15942358
C6 steering wheel coil 19153097
A wiring harness would need to be made from the radio switches to the steering wheel coil. I do not know if a harness is available from another model, I did not look into that. Don't forget that the wiring needs to be installed from the other side of the coil to the radio also.
And yes the 06 can be converted too.
This is the stock cover in place
This is the HHR cover sitting in place. A hole has to be drilled through the switch and steering wheel frame to mount it. That's not done in this pic.
C6 radio control 15942358
C6 steering wheel coil 19153097
A wiring harness would need to be made from the radio switches to the steering wheel coil. I do not know if a harness is available from another model, I did not look into that. Don't forget that the wiring needs to be installed from the other side of the coil to the radio also.
And yes the 06 can be converted too.
This is the stock cover in place
This is the HHR cover sitting in place. A hole has to be drilled through the switch and steering wheel frame to mount it. That's not done in this pic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,396
Likes: 197
From: Wilkes-Barre Pa
To connect to the radio what will I need? I have never removed the radio so what am I looking for to connect? Are there pins that are marked? As long as my radio will work this will be a winter project.