When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My 2006 C6 steering wheel does not have audio channel/volume or blue Tooth controls. The wheel does also have paddle shifters. The car also has the stock touch screen audio/Nav head unit.
Dumb question. If I swap out the steering wheel with one that has paddles and radio controls, will the stock wiring in the wheel sync up to control the stock radio head unit and will there be issues with the paddles?
Your VCIM does not have blue tooth to start with, and depending on your clock spring wiring harnesses, if the needed jumper wires where added, and if your nav radio does has wheel control audio control programing to begin with.
So, if you want to install a VCIM that does have blue tooth, a later Nav deck that does have wheel control audio control programing to it, then just a mater of having the needed correct clock spring/adding in the needed wiring isntead.
Well... I have no idea with a VCIM or clock springs are. So, this project is clearly outside of my technical abilities. Looks like I can live with not having wheel controls. No biggie.
Last edited by gpruitt54; Jun 17, 2018 at 01:03 PM.
Now that I've an idea of what's what. This does not seem so scary.
Its not, but need to back up to the VCIM and the Nav radio.
Blue tooth on the vet is not in the radio, but in the VCIM module. So the VCIM did not get blue tooth until 2009. So for starters, would need a VCIM module out of a 2009 or later car to get blue tooth functions.
Note, blue tooth functions on the Vet are not like other after market radios, so don't think that your going to pipe music in from your phone to the radio using the blue tooth function.
Now lets back up to the Nav unit, and it was not until 2007 that steering wheel controls where offered on the C6, and at which point that Nav radio's was programmed to accept steering wheel control inputs. So here, you looking for at least a 2009 nav unit or up if you want to have steering wheel controls and accept blue tooth , and 2011 and up nav deck if you want to have USB input to the radio to pipe your Iphone music to the radio.
Truth is, if you want steering wheel controls for nav radio (including blue tooth to the radio), would at least do the clock spring and harness wires, then install an after market nav deck that has blue tooth within it. The after market radio adapter (PAC RP5-GM11) will use the steering wheel controls to control the after market deck to start with, and since the deck has blue tooth itself, allows the music from your phone to be piped into the deck directly instead.
Hence with the OEM nav, even the with Blue tooth in the VCIM and a 2009 or later nav deck, Blue tooth is only used for phone calling alone.
On the 2011 and later OEM nav units, you use the USB port to wire pipe music from your phone to the deck instead.
Its not, but need to back up to the VCIM and the Nav radio.
Blue tooth on the vet is not in the radio, but in the VCIM module. So the VCIM did not get blue tooth until 2009. So for starters, would need a VCIM module out of a 2009 or later car to get blue tooth functions.
Note, blue tooth functions on the Vet are not like other after market radios, so don't think that your going to pipe music in from your phone to the radio using the blue tooth function.
Now lets back up to the Nav unit, and it was not until 2007 that steering wheel controls where offered on the C6, and at which point that Nav radio's was programmed to accept steering wheel control inputs. So here, you looking for at least a 2009 nav unit or up if you want to have steering wheel controls and accept blue tooth , and 2011 and up nav deck if you want to have USB input to the radio to pipe your Iphone music to the radio.
Truth is, if you want steering wheel controls for nav radio (including blue tooth to the radio), would at least do the clock spring and harness wires, then install an after market nav deck that has blue tooth within it. The after market radio adapter (PAC RP5-GM11) will use the steering wheel controls to control the after market deck to start with, and since the deck has blue tooth itself, allows the music from your phone to be piped into the deck directly instead.
Hence with the OEM nav, even the with Blue tooth in the VCIM and a 2009 or later nav deck, Blue tooth is only used for phone calling alone.
On the 2011 and later OEM nav units, you use the USB port to wire pipe music from your phone to the deck instead.
Thanks for the additional details on the upgrade. I see there are a few items to secure to make this project happen. My 2006 base coupe has paddle shifters. As I look at various wheels on places like Ebay, I see wheels with various combinations of Blue Tooth, Paddles, and radio controls. I need at least radio controls and paddles. My buddy has a 2011 GS stock head unit on his hands after an aftermarket head unit upgrade.
Now, on the subject of the air bag. Typically the wheels are sold without an airbag. Will my 2006 base coupe air bag install and function on a newer wheel with the needed button controls?
2006 to 20012 C6 steering wheel is just the one out of a cobalt, with leather wrapping instead.
As for new steering wheel, if you can find one cheap enough, go for it, but since all the steering wheels are the same , then all your really need is to replace the blank side pod covers with the button pods isntead.
As for which clock spring you need, just depends on the buttons/pods you are adding. Since you will be adding a 2012 Nav radio, will be using both sets of button pods left and right, then will need a 2102 close spring.
Hence clock spring will have the needed connectors to plug the added button pod connectors into.
Dano ,FYI trying to get a left side switch is nearly impossible , the bezel , almost impossible, the harness in the steering wheel with both connectors for the switches ...absolutely not going yo happen .....ask me how I know lol lol
best option , find a used wheel on Ebay with everything, , or buy the new style 2012 wheel from Cultrag , it has to have paddles , if not the harness will not be correct
Dave
Dcasole is correct.....the 2006 requires a number of additional components to get a fully working SWC setup.
I have a 2006 Z06, which does not have On-Star.
I will be changing the NAV unit to an aftermarket unit, which will handle Blue Tooth functions.
To complete the swap on a 2006 car, you need a 2007 or newer steering wheel which contains the wiring harness that has a few extra wires for the SWC....this wiring harness is not available from GM separately, you have to buy an entire wheel.
Then, you need the 2007 or newer clock spring assembly, which connects to the wheel harness and contains the additional 3 wires.
Then, you need the new steering column harness, which connects to the new clock spring harness, and contains the additional 3 wires. Note: you can create a new separate harness for these 3 wires as a standalone harness, then re-pin the new clock spring harness to work with the existing column harness.
From there, if you want to keep the factory NAV setup, you'll need to acquire a 2007 or newer NAV, which has the additional pin inputs to accept SWC. You will not be able to use OEM blue tooth as it is not in the NAV/Stereo unit.
THere is a very detailed thread, with supporting documents, located in this board, which is quite helpful if you choose to take this project on.
I'm partial thru this upgrade myself on my 2006 C6 Z06
Last edited by FNBADAZ06; Jun 22, 2018 at 12:36 PM.
Mouser sells electronic parts, so connectors and harnesses are not a problem to make.
As for steering wheel controls and bezels, all depends what you can find, and seen to find such from time to time from someone that replaced their wheel with a new one since the leather on the old wheel go distroyed isntead.
Hence its like the 2005 wheels, that you can score it and the air bag for around $100, since someone just had to have the cobalt steering wheel and air bag isntead.
But short of that, $300 for a new wheel from Cultrag with the buttons and harness saves you a lot of time isntead.
Well... Looks like I can live with not having wheel controls. No biggie.
My steering wheel has all the switches, but I never use them. I hate it when I accidentally hit the voice recognition button and the damn thing starts talking to me. Shut up biotch!
Dcasole is correct.....the 2006 requires a number of additional components to get a fully working SWC setup.
I have a 2006 Z06, which does not have On-Star.
I will be changing the NAV unit to an aftermarket unit, which will handle Blue Tooth functions.
To complete the swap on a 2006 car, you need a 2007 or newer steering wheel which contains the wiring harness that has a few extra wires for the SWC....this wiring harness is not available from GM separately, you have to buy an entire wheel.
Then, you need the 2007 or newer clock spring assembly, which connects to the wheel harness and contains the additional 3 wires.
Then, you need the new steering column harness, which connects to the new clock spring harness, and contains the additional 3 wires. Note: you can create a new separate harness for these 3 wires as a standalone harness, then re-pin the new clock spring harness to work with the existing column harness.
From there, if you want to keep the factory NAV setup, you'll need to acquire a 2007 or newer NAV, which has the additional pin inputs to accept SWC. You will not be able to use OEM blue tooth as it is not in the NAV/Stereo unit.
THere is a very detailed thread, with supporting documents, located in this board, which is quite helpful if you choose to take this project on.
I'm partial thru this upgrade myself on my 2006 C6 Z06
C6 steering wheel controls
