Steering Radio Controls

Eric Loll · February 2, 2010

I would really like to do this too. Im going to buy the the controls only just because I know mine has the controls ready. Itll be after I get home form the big sand box of course

That's one bad ass chevy. I too have been have experenced the big sand box as a cpl with 4th marine div out of Erie Pa. I too have lost a brother in arms lcpl newacky sadly missted. Good luck get home safe.

derekmorse · February 2, 2010

Just curious guys, I have a 2009 with cruise on the wheel, if I buy the wheel from gmpartsdirect that you all have been buying (15917931), from what I have read here I can just swap them and all will work correct? also the black pieces on the sides of the airbag are silver on mine, will these swap out as well? so I can swap my silver ones onto the new wheel? Thanks again!!

Derek

dlewis1111 · February 2, 2010

Thanks, thats what I was thinking my only way out was going to be. I have a feeling it is going to be a missing wire from the steering wheel connector to the stereo, but that is just my guess. I hope it is not that something much easier. Thanks again for the response and suggestions.

You are the first person to have a problem with this......did you check your fuses? The wheel is from Ebay, right? My bet is that the switch panel is bad. The wiring from the column to the radio harness is there from the factory.

dlewis1111 · February 2, 2010

Just curious guys, I have a 2009 with cruise on the wheel, if I buy the wheel from gmpartsdirect that you all have been buying (15917931), from what I have read here I can just swap them and all will work correct? also the black pieces on the sides of the airbag are silver on mine, will these swap out as well? so I can swap my silver ones onto the new wheel? Thanks again!!

Derek

Yes to all, but you can buy the wheel with the silver pieces already on it.

derekmorse · February 2, 2010

Just curious guys, I have a 2009 with cruise on the wheel, if I buy the wheel from gmpartsdirect that you all have been buying (15917931), from what I have read here I can just swap them and all will work correct? also the black pieces on the sides of the airbag are silver on mine, will these swap out as well? so I can swap my silver ones onto the new wheel? Thanks again!!

Derek

Yes to all, but you can buy the wheel with the silver pieces already on it.

I hate to bother you, but do you happen to know the part number for that? I have been looking on here all afternoon and on gmpartsdirect and can't seem to find one that I was sure was correct. I just hate to buy it and have something missing or wrong. I emailed gmpartsdirect yesterday, but havent heard back so any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

dlewis1111 · February 2, 2010

Just curious guys, I have a 2009 with cruise on the wheel, if I buy the wheel from gmpartsdirect that you all have been buying (15917931), from what I have read here I can just swap them and all will work correct? also the black pieces on the sides of the airbag are silver on mine, will these swap out as well? so I can swap my silver ones onto the new wheel? Thanks again!!

Derek

Yes to all, but you can buy the wheel with the silver pieces already on it.

I hate to bother you, but do you happen to know the part number for that? I have been looking on here all afternoon and on gmpartsdirect and can't seem to find one that I was sure was correct. I just hate to buy it and have something missing or wrong. I emailed gmpartsdirect yesterday, but havent heard back so any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

15917933

jthomsen86 · February 2, 2010

Thanks, thats what I was thinking my only way out was going to be. I have a feeling it is going to be a missing wire from the steering wheel connector to the stereo, but that is just my guess. I hope it is not that something much easier. Thanks again for the response and suggestions.

You are the first person to have a problem with this......did you check your fuses? The wheel is from Ebay, right? My bet is that the switch panel is bad. The wiring from the column to the radio harness is there from the factory.

I must be the first person, cause I have reread this thread multiple times looking for a similar issue but no luck. I got the wheel from gmpartsdirect.com and I send them an email yesterday and have not heard back from them. I am so shocked that this happened but I will check my fuses when I get home today and then I have an appointment at the dealer to look at tomorrow. I just dont want to have to pay a lot of money to get this fixed so I am hoping its something simple. If the switch panel was bad would the lights not illuminate aswell? or maybe its a wire with a bad connection that runs to the stereo. I just hope its the fuses.

derekmorse · February 2, 2010

Just curious guys, I have a 2009 with cruise on the wheel, if I buy the wheel from gmpartsdirect that you all have been buying (15917931), from what I have read here I can just swap them and all will work correct? also the black pieces on the sides of the airbag are silver on mine, will these swap out as well? so I can swap my silver ones onto the new wheel? Thanks again!!

Derek

Yes to all, but you can buy the wheel with the silver pieces already on it.

I hate to bother you, but do you happen to know the part number for that? I have been looking on here all afternoon and on gmpartsdirect and can't seem to find one that I was sure was correct. I just hate to buy it and have something missing or wrong. I emailed gmpartsdirect yesterday, but havent heard back so any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

15917933

Thank you very much, I feel like a jerk now as I just came across it in this same discussion! thanks!!

pm26 · February 2, 2010

I have the steering controls on the same exact vehicle. '07 NBS Z-71 and to be honest I think they're not all that. The volume controls seem backwards in that you have to reach around and pull them toward you. Picking your hand off the wheel. Don't know why it can't be a push like every other button on the steering wheel.

So I just don't use them.

Looking at my sticker it was $895 I could have saved. For that $895 I got

steering wheel controls I don't use

Fog lamps that got removed with my bumper replacement

Dual Zone A/C controls in a work truck that will never see a passanger hahah

17" Custom Aluminum Wheels

Heh now I know why they package all that together because a lot of people would just say NO to some of it. Mine was just like that I didn't have any choice.

For 2006 all these options could be ordered separately. Steering wheel controls were $ 125 extra, foglights $ 125, Dual zone automatic A/C about $ 125 too, and aluminum wheels about $ 250.

Now they invented a package so you have to spend money on crap you do not want. I swear that GM must employ hundreds of people who do nothing else except dream up more ways to rip the customer off. And they get rewarded for it.

dlewis1111 · February 3, 2010

Thanks, thats what I was thinking my only way out was going to be. I have a feeling it is going to be a missing wire from the steering wheel connector to the stereo, but that is just my guess. I hope it is not that something much easier. Thanks again for the response and suggestions.

You are the first person to have a problem with this......did you check your fuses? The wheel is from Ebay, right? My bet is that the switch panel is bad. The wiring from the column to the radio harness is there from the factory.

I must be the first person, cause I have reread this thread multiple times looking for a similar issue but no luck. I got the wheel from gmpartsdirect.com and I send them an email yesterday and have not heard back from them. I am so shocked that this happened but I will check my fuses when I get home today and then I have an appointment at the dealer to look at tomorrow. I just dont want to have to pay a lot of money to get this fixed so I am hoping its something simple. If the switch panel was bad would the lights not illuminate aswell? or maybe its a wire with a bad connection that runs to the stereo. I just hope its the fuses.

I know for a fact that the illumination for the wheel controls has a seperate 2 amp fuse in the l/h dash by the door which leads me to believe that there is another one somewhere else. The wire from the clock spring to the BCM is light green in color if that helps. Are you sure that you got the clock spring connector seated correctly?

jthomsen86 · February 3, 2010

Thanks, thats what I was thinking my only way out was going to be. I have a feeling it is going to be a missing wire from the steering wheel connector to the stereo, but that is just my guess. I hope it is not that something much easier. Thanks again for the response and suggestions.

You are the first person to have a problem with this......did you check your fuses? The wheel is from Ebay, right? My bet is that the switch panel is bad. The wiring from the column to the radio harness is there from the factory.

I must be the first person, cause I have reread this thread multiple times looking for a similar issue but no luck. I got the wheel from gmpartsdirect.com and I send them an email yesterday and have not heard back from them. I am so shocked that this happened but I will check my fuses when I get home today and then I have an appointment at the dealer to look at tomorrow. I just dont want to have to pay a lot of money to get this fixed so I am hoping its something simple. If the switch panel was bad would the lights not illuminate aswell? or maybe its a wire with a bad connection that runs to the stereo. I just hope its the fuses.

I know for a fact that the illumination for the wheel controls has a seperate 2 amp fuse in the l/h dash by the door which leads me to believe that there is another one somewhere else. The wire from the clock spring to the BCM is light green in color if that helps. Are you sure that you got the clock spring connector seated correctly?

Thanks for the suggestions, but I check all the fuses that dealt with steering wheel controls and audio system, but all were good. I believe it could be dealing with the clock spring, so since my warranty is still valid I am having my guy at the dealership look at it. I hope my future upgrades go better than this. I will install the DIC and have already found my cable for that. Then last will be the fog lights and so far only found one connector under neath on the right (passenger) side. Maybe should of looked harder for a truck with all goods already on it, then adding them later. But then there would not be all this great fun.

jthomsen86 · February 3, 2010

So heard back from my dealer and it turns out my stereo will not handle the audio controls. I was you got to be kidding me. So now I got to figure out what I am going to do. Will it end up working with an aftermarket HU and PAC controls? Am I going to be completely screwed? If only there was a way.....

WhiteRabbit · February 3, 2010

Hey sorry I didn't read all 14 pages. I was just curious if you could tell me how to simply remove the horn cover? When I turn my steering wheel hard left or right it sounds like a few of those vinyl wire sleeves are bunching up and making a weird noise. I figured If I can get the cover off I can look down in there and see what I can do with it. I tried pulling on the cover but it wasn't budging so I didn't know if you had to pull a screw out somewhere or not.

THanks!

jthomsen86 · February 3, 2010

Hey sorry I didn't read all 14 pages. I was just curious if you could tell me how to simply remove the horn cover? When I turn my steering wheel hard left or right it sounds like a few of those vinyl wire sleeves are bunching up and making a weird noise. I figured If I can get the cover off I can look down in there and see what I can do with it. I tried pulling on the cover but it wasn't budging so I didn't know if you had to pull a screw out somewhere or not.

THanks!

Ok well going off of my experience: Before you begin, you need to read the entire post.

*********(I TAKE NO RESPONSIBLITY IF YOU DAMAGE/INJURE YOUR VEHICLE OR YOURSELF)************

1. what type of stereo is currently installed. Factory or Aftermarket? If factory it may work or it may not.

2. the most important step disconnect the battery and wait about 5 minutes to discharge any power left in the

system. This could lead to airbag discharge which could injury you or kill you.

2. to remove the airbag (horn cover) follow this site http://www.grantproducts.com/files/install/97555-00-01.pdf

3. the only way to get the wire harness is to buy a complete steering wheel part# 15917931 to start with

4. to install new wheel w/ controls just reverse the removal process; connect the wiring harness, connect the

airbag leads, tighten wheel nut, and reattach airbag: press on until both clips lock.

5. very important to make sure air bag leads are firmly attached or you will throw a check airbag light/warning.

6. reconnect battery (positive first, then negative)

7. start vehicle

8. test audio controls

9. verify that cruise controls and audio controls light up

If audio controls work that is great and you are completed. If they do not work, look at your fuses, make sure your wiring is all connected securely, or the bad news like me: YOUR STEREO DOES NOT SUPPORT AUDIO CONTROLS.

I hope you get better results then I have and if you have more questions dont hesitate to ask.

If anyone else has any other beneficial information, please feel free to add or take away.

dlewis1111 · February 4, 2010

So heard back from my dealer and it turns out my stereo will not handle the audio controls. I was you got to be kidding me. So now I got to figure out what I am going to do. Will it end up working with an aftermarket HU and PAC controls? Am I going to be completely screwed? If only there was a way.....

Which radio do you have? My stock radio with the single disc player worked. Do you have a base radio without the player? If the problem is truly the radio, and everything else is there, then the PAC audio with the SWI-JACK should work fine. I have the factory cd player from my truck that I would be willing to let you borrow for testing if you want. It will be locked and you would have to get the dealer to program it, but if you really wanted to know.......