steering wheel audio controls: hard wired, or wireless?

batpot · Jan 2, 2010

Planning to replace the HU, and was wondering how the steering wheel controls work.
One of the filter categories on crutchfield is steering wheel controls, but upon further research, it's not clear to me how they are implemented. E.g. JVC says their units are compatible with wireless steering wheel audio controls, but it requires an additional adapter.

I'd appreciate not having a bunch of "dead" buttons after a new HU install.

JuneBug · Jan 2, 2010

The audio controls on your steering wheel are wired, not wireless.

batpot · Jan 2, 2010

I thought so...

So that means I need an additional harness, but only some manufacturers support it....the plot thickens.

This site lists a bunch:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_i495_steering-wheel-control-adapters-and-interfaces.html

here they are on crutchfield:
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_118900/Steering-Wheel-Audio-Control-Adapters.html?tp=3405

latas · Jan 13, 2010

Yes, in fact you need that adapter.
In my case I've got a Clarion MAX-983HD installed in my RAV4. In order to manage the RADIO-GPS-Navigation & Multimedia System with your Steering Wheel Controls you have to buy an adapter to convert a power signal into a pulse.

This kind of adapter are really expensive. I don't know why, but it is.

Toyota's cars uses resistive protocol for its SWC (Steering Wheel Control)
It means there is a power signal attenued by resistors. Each button is filtered with one resistor. The level of power you get once resistor has passed is the identifier the button you pressed. This signal is sent to your Radio Adapter Converter, and it is converted into a pulse, and usually sent to your new radio system thru a jack like the headphones one.

I use one of this Radio Adapters Converter for my clarion. In my case Clarion sell this adapter with a male connector that fits into the female connector toyota has, and it will be free once removed from your OEM Radio. On the other side of the male connector, clarion, in my case, did the wire links necessary to make it work.

Toyota's SWC connector has 20 pins, split in two rows of 10 pins. In your OEM radio, is the one on the left side looking the radio from behind.

I'm really interested to know what's the use the rest of the wires that connector has, because in fact you only need 3 wires. V1, V2 and Ground, in order to detect all buttons.

If anyone knows it, is welcome

Sorry for my english.

batpot · Jan 14, 2010

latas said:
Yes, in fact you need that adapter.
In my case I've got a Clarion MAX-983HD installed in my RAV4. In order to manage the RADIO-GPS-Navigation & Multimedia System with your Steering Wheel Controls you have to buy an adapter to convert a power signal into a pulse.

This kind of adapter are really expensive. I don't know why, but it is.

Toyota's cars uses resistive protocol for its SWC (Steering Wheel Control)
It means there is a power signal attenued by resistors. Each button is filtered with one resistor. The level of power you get once resistor has passed is the identifier the button you pressed. This signal is sent to your Radio Adapter Converter, and it is converted into a pulse, and usually sent to your new radio system thru a jack like the headphones one.

I use one of this Radio Adapters Converter for my clarion. In my case Clarion sell this adapter with a male connector that fits into the female connector toyota has, and it will be free once removed from your OEM Radio. On the other side of the male connector, clarion, in my case, did the wire links necessary to make it work.

Toyota's SWC connector has 20 pins, split in two rows of 10 pins. In your OEM radio, is the one on the left side looking the radio from behind.

I'm really interested to know what's the use the rest of the wires that connector has, because in fact you only need 3 wires. V1, V2 and Ground, in order to detect all buttons.

If anyone knows it, is welcome

Sorry for my english.

I got a SWI-JACK for under $50 on amazon for my JVC stereo, but haven't hooked it up yet. Here is the instructions from the PAC-Audio website:

http://76.12.243.71/swixprogramming...aceChecked=2&RadioGroupPioneer=0&mmSearch=Toyota&Submit2=Search+Vehicles&ID=310

Besides pins 6, 7, & 8 that are used for steering wheel control, the 20 pin connector also has the following:
pin 4 = purple (no idea what this wire is for)
pins 15-19 appear to be the wires for the aux-in 1/8" jack that is on the center console next to the power mirror control. I haven't verified this with a volt meter, but the wires are exactly the same as those in the 1/8" plug.
the rest are not wired.

The only thing that bugs me about the SWI-JACK is that I have to splice the wires into the rav's cabling; I cannot find a connector that fits the Toyota 20-pin...if you know of where I can get one, please tell me!

here is what the 20 pin looks like (not my pics; mine is actually blue):

In addition to this 20 pin, the stock head unit has radio & satellite radio antenna connections, the standard 1987+ toyota connectors for speakers & power, and another 12 pin connector that looks similar to the 20-pin. I have no idea what this 12-pin is for, and it won't be connected to anything after i get my JVC in.

JuneBug · Jan 14, 2010

batpot said:
I got a SWI-JACK for under $50 on amazon for my JVC stereo, but haven't hooked it up yet. Here is the instructions from the PAC-Audio website:

http://76.12.243.71/swixprogramming...aceChecked=2&RadioGroupPioneer=0&mmSearch=Toyota&Submit2=Search+Vehicles&ID=310

Besides pins 6, 7, & 8 that are used for steering wheel control, the 20 pin connector also has the following:
pin 4 = purple (no idea what this wire is for)
pins 15-19 appear to be the wires for the aux-in 1/8" jack that is on the center console next to the power mirror control. I haven't verified this with a volt meter, but the wires are exactly the same as those in the 1/8" plug.
the rest are not wired.

I'm looking at the 2007 RAV4 Electrical Wiring Manual, and that purple (violet) wire is the vehicle speed signal used for the ASL volume control. But the schematic shows it on pin 3, not pin 4. This is for the non-JBL. For the JBL, the violet speed signal is on pin 11 of the amplifier. Pins 15, 16, 17 and 19 are indeed for the aux jack. They are white, shield, black, and red respectively. The red wire is a signal that indicates a plug is inserted in the jack.

The only thing that bugs me about the SWI-JACK is that I have to splice the wires into the rav's cabling; I cannot find a connector that fits the Toyota 20-pin...if you know of where I can get one, please tell me!

I would look for a junked Toyota radio and get the connector from there--I don't know of any other source.

latas · Jan 16, 2010

I've got an issue I'm not able to fix.

Due I removed the OEM Radio, to install a Clarion Double Din, as I said before in my other post, the clarion adapter for using SWC works perfect.

But in my Steering Wheel there are also buttons on the right side for controlling bluetooth system. But, removing the OEM radio you loose the power, mute, line-in and so on the is provided by the other connecter in the OEM radio.

So I decided to used my Mki 9200 parrot. In order to use the SWC buttons for calling I bought Parrot UNIKA. It's an adapter like the one of my radio, but for using the Parrot instead with its own wireless buttons, with the buttons in your steering wheel.

Then, the problem is, Parrot has stablished a compatibility mode for all toyota cars, taking the power from SWC from pins 6 and 7. So it means I'm only able to use buttons on the left side of the steering wheel, which are, volume down, up, and forward and next song, and MODE.

But the most important in this case which are the calling buttons on the right side, which appears its signal is coming from pin 8, is not used.

Anyone has any idea how could i mix both signals into one only wired, maybe with some electric schema in order to send 7 signals, I mean 7 buttons, using only 1 wire?

Signals would be: volume - and +
songs: next and forward
MODE
Phone: Call, Hang

Sorry if my explanation is not easy to understand.

Thanks in advanced.

latas · Jan 16, 2010

I give you a link to the document I downloaded, paying from tech-toyota, where you can see a electric wiring diagram for steering wheel control, for RAV4 2009 which includes bluetooth buttons for making phone calls.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2RIOKCKF

Cheers.

steering wheel audio controls: hard wired, or wireless?

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