steering wheel radio controls

[SpecRacerDriver]

I have asked this in other areas/forums and received some interesting good meaning responses, but have not gotten a technical response. I have a 2012 SLE 2500HD Sierra equipped with an AM/FM single CD player. I have cruise control but not the radio controls on my steering wheel. I would like to know it I ordered a used steering column from a used parts place for parts, is the radio capable of steering wheel controls? What all would I need to change? I know the wiring harness in the steering wheel itself does not have a plug for this, but is the wiring already in my steering column? Can I just change out the steering wheel with the used one that has the radio controls? I wish GMC would make up grade kits for their options. I love my 2500HD and have added fog lamp kit, CID kit, and tow mirrors, but I really miss the radio controls on the steering wheel that my 2003 1500 Sierra had. They are really missing the boat on after market sales. Thank you for any technical information you may be able to provide.

[Doug_Scott]

Generally it appears that if you have cruise control, all you need to change is the actual steering wheel. On my 2010 Sierra SL 1500, it came with cruise. I ordered a new leather wrapped wheel from one of the sponsoring dealers here, and just swapped the wheel. Radio controls work now and if you also have OnStar, the same controls can be used to access the phone portion of OnStar.

[SpecRacerDriver]

Ajax, On.

Thank you for the information. Do you remember how much you paid for your new steering wheel with the controls?

[Doug_Scott]

Ajax, On.

Thank you for the information. Do you remember how much you paid for your new steering wheel with the controls?

 

Pretty sure it was under $180 shipped to Canada. There are many different versions of the steering wheel, different colours, different colour of the aluminum fill panels around the controls. I found the prices for the various colours are different for some reason. Check some of the threads here on radio controls, most of the threads have part numbers, and even pics as I recall. Even if your column does not have the wiring support for radio controls, you would only need the "clock spring" and some wiring at base of column.

[SpecRacerDriver]

Ajax,On

Thank you again for the info.

[SpecRacerDriver]

Received my new Original Equipment Steering wheel today. Ordered it from Ebay/JJ Original Equipment in Dallas, Texas. Opened the box and everything looked great. It is equipped with cruise control and radio controls. Went out and disconnected the battery for 20 min. Removed the Air Bag. popped off the old steering wheel. Installed the new steering wheel. replaced the Air Bag. hooked up the battery. Turned on the radio, and just like everyone I have asked or responded to my cries for help, the controls work just like they are suppose to. Thank you all for your help. Install time, 40 minutes including the 20 minute wait for the Air Bag system to discharge. Steering wheel cost, $119.00. After I recover for this cost I will be ordering a Costar Blue Star unit to replace my Over Priced on board GM cell phone.

[Doug_Scott]

Received my new Original Equipment Steering wheel today. Ordered it from Ebay/JJ Original Equipment in Dallas, Texas. Opened the box and everything looked great. It is equipped with cruise control and radio controls. Went out and disconnected the battery for 20 min. Removed the Air Bag. popped off the old steering wheel. Installed the new steering wheel. replaced the Air Bag. hooked up the battery. Turned on the radio, and just like everyone I have asked or responded to my cries for help, the controls work just like they are suppose to. Thank you all for your help. Install time, 40 minutes including the 20 minute wait for the Air Bag system to discharge. Steering wheel cost, $119.00. After I recover for this cost I will be ordering a Costar Blue Star unit to replace my Over Priced on board GM cell phone.

 

It is such a good feeling when you do something like that, and it actually worked.

 

If you still have factory radio, go back to Ebay and pick up the onstar vcim with Bluetooth(if you have OnStar). If you get the vcim from the same year truck as yours, it will plug in, and will work right out of the box as well. Some people have had to call OnStar to reconfigure your account for the new vcim. If you do not care about OnStar, just swap the vcim and use on board Bluetooth. The factory Bluetooth works very well.

[SpecRacerDriver]

Thnxs Ajax, ON. I'll check into it.