Steering Wheel Audio Controls
 

When I quizzed my wife in November about what she'd like for Christmas, she replied that she wanted a new in-dash stereo unit that would allow her to listen to satellite radio. After a bit of research, I settled on the Sony MEX-GS820BT single-DIN unit and a Metra 99-4000 adapter panel that places the head-unit at its top and a nice little storage cubby below it, as well as a SiriusXM SXV300V1 receiver kit to add the satellite radio functionality. Since I had already replaced all of the OEM speakers with high-quality units, it seemed that the project would be reasonably straightforward.

It’s when I took notice of the fact that this new Sony could also accommodate steering wheel controls that I wandered way off the reservation and went in search of a means to provide those, as well. This quest ended up more than doubling the cost of the project, and increased the installation difficulty by an order of magnitude, but – hey – in for a penny, in for a pound, right?

After considerable additional research, I picked up a used 2002 GMC Sierra wheel with audio controls that was in excellent shape and would accept the same air bag module. Of course, this then required a more complex clock spring assembly equipped with enough circuit traces to support the steering wheel controls, as well as a separate interface unit that could transform the GM steering wheel control signals into Sony-talk. I bought a used 2004 Trailblazer clock spring with the required additional circuit traces and a PAC Audio ControlPRO2 interface, and I installed everything during the Christmas holiday. Below are some snapshots of the project.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...5a27880691.jpg
Replacement steering wheel with audio control buttons next to OEM wheel


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...aec6da9298.jpg
Dash gutted and OEM clock spring detached


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...ff9b71c37e.jpg
New clock spring in place but not yet wired in


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...09fa80c8b8.jpg
New clock spring wired up, steering column shroud and instrument cluster reinstalled


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...ad3973f8f5.jpg
Completed project pic showing new wheel with audio controls


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...029542070e.jpg
New in-dash unit installed with Metra 99-4000 adapter panel


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/blazerf...427d067080.jpg
New in-dash unit in operation

Everything works as expected, including the new steering wheel controls. It sounds great, and my wife is a happy camper.

Cheers! :icon_beerchug:

Dang, dude. Sounds like a ton of work! End result looks clean, though, like it came factory that way!

Nice work!

was it sultans of swing playing on the radio? Lol

Probably Money for Nothing lol

Hey, let a man dream here lol. Now I need to know haha.

This is really gonna help out. Thanks for the write up and pics! Looks good.

I already have the steering wheel controls but this will be a good reference if I ever what to go your route and can overcome my cheapness to replace the OEM radio. LOL

Walk of Life :)

Damn, we were both wrong! Lol

ah man, 0 for 2 lol.

anyhow, nice write up!