Steering wheel controls....

kamikaze2112 · 07-09-2005, 12:49 AM

Has anyone tried using factory controls on steering wheels to control their carpc? I'd be really interested if anyone knew anything about the factory controls and if they are connected to the radio or and IC or what. i guess it would depend on the make/model of the car, so if anyone knows about 3rd gen J-bodies (95+ Sunfires and Cavaliers) it would be greatly appreciated.

THanks

gyro · 07-09-2005, 02:00 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by kamikaze2112

Has anyone tried using factory controls on steering wheels to control their carpc? I'd be really interested if anyone knew anything about the factory controls and if they are connected to the radio or and IC or what. i guess it would depend on the make/model of the car, so if anyone knows about 3rd gen J-bodies (95+ Sunfires and Cavaliers) it would be greatly appreciated.

THanks

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thanatos106 · 07-09-2005, 02:02 AM

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dmcdlrn · 07-09-2005, 09:13 AM

your sunfire has a resistor network setup... atleast my 96 sunfire did... and I think the 99 is the same, I have a 2000 now, but its different and doesn't have the controls... Your resistor wire runs through the airbag disk in the hub of the steering wheel... you would have to modify the life out of your controls, and somehow get several more wires down the steering column... which you won't be able to do with the airbag disk there... you could ask stevieg how he did it, but I'm guessing its alittle different.

Alternatively, you could check out this. Thats a factory steering wheel controls interface which unscrambles the resisters and outputs to infared... you would then have to have a infared reader for your computer, but you could then program it to do whatever you like.

kamikaze2112 · 07-09-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dmcdlrn

your sunfire has a resistor network setup... atleast my 96 sunfire did... and I think the 99 is the same, I have a 2000 now, but its different and doesn't have the controls... Your resistor wire runs through the airbag disk in the hub of the steering wheel... you would have to modify the life out of your controls, and somehow get several more wires down the steering column... which you won't be able to do with the airbag disk there... you could ask stevieg how he did it, but I'm guessing its alittle different.

Alternatively, you could check out this. Thats a factory steering wheel controls interface which unscrambles the resisters and outputs to infared... you would then have to have a infared reader for your computer, but you could then program it to do whatever you like.

If it's a resistor network, then it would be roughly the same as wiring up a Sony RM-X4S correct? BTW, how big is this hole, cause control wires like that don't need to be very big...

dmcdlrn · 07-09-2005, 12:33 PM

I'm not familiar with the rm-x4s but when I said hole, I mistyped... its not a hole, there are ring contacts in the airbag disc... the resistor wire touches this ring. So when the steering wheel turns, the wire's end rubs along the ring's surface creating contact at any and all points throughout a turn.. same as the horn wire I think.

Or Its possible I'm remembering incorrectly and it uses a clock spring(I think they call them) which is bassically a long circular spring which when you turn the wheel allows itself to wind up and unwind instead of twisting the wires right and left (which would eventually kill them)