Swap functions of rear-steering-wheel buttons

papageoff · December 27, 2017

I know this is a first-world-problem, but...

I was wondering if anyone had any idea how hard it would be to reverse the functionality of the buttons on the back of the steering wheel. I don't like that the volume control is on the right hand side because I rarely have my right hand on the wheel, and the volume knob is 4" away by the time I've got my hand there so I just turn the knob. My last car was setup with the volume on the left and I got used to it. Now, I find myself mindlessly changing stations/tracks when I mean to adjust volume.

I'd like to make the left-side buttons control the volume and the right-side buttons adjust tuning or whatever. I've never taken the wheel apart, but I wondered if I could just swap some pins around or something to accomplish this. Any insights?

FIREBLADE74 · December 27, 2017

No help but I’d like to have mine swapped too.

MIDNITEZ71 · December 27, 2017

you would obviously would have to take the wheel apart.but i would think all you would have to do is switch the wires from the button.you might have to lengthen the wires to do this.but i think it can be done.

papageoff · December 27, 2017

Anybody have wiring diagrams? I'm not likely to dive in without knowing what I'm getting into.

papageoff · December 28, 2017

So, I came across this: http://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/578/Sierra_Silverado_Electrical_Body_Builders_Manual_Service_Manual_2015_en_US.pdf.

On page 71, I see the following:

And:

It's not super clear, but it seems like both sides connect back to a single connector in the wheel. If that's the case, then this could be pretty easy. Just a matter of swapping pins in the connector. Anyone have an image of the wheel and the connectors in there?

This image makes me think that the connector is J285, but I don't know where specifically that is in the truck. I assume it's in the wheel somewhere --probably near the right-hand side.