Steering Wheel Controls Not Working

[jer206]

Forgive me if this topic has been mentioned before, I'm new. I used the search button and found alot of the topics were regarding the steering wheel button lights not working. My controls are not working at all, but they light up. Is there something that I can do to fix this? The guy that had my car before me put bose speakers in the car and I have no idea if maybe that affected it? It's a 02 GP with no HUD...I appreciate any input.

[Explicit_Spade]

Have they worked since you've owned the car? Is the head unit stock?

Speakers should have zero affect on the steering wheel buttons.

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

A new hu will have an effect if it's changed

[Scottydoggs]

you still have the stock radio?if not thats why.

being that they light up im thinking your clock spring is still good, unless you have a airbag light on. in that case you may need a clock spring in the steering wheel.

[jer206]

I bought the car with the controls not working. It has stock radio. I pulled the radio and it has been tested a couple years ago (just saw a test sticker on it). The radio works fine. The car isn't equipped with HUD, so no problem there.

[jer206]

you still have the stock radio?if not thats why.

being that they light up im thinking your clock spring is still good, unless you have a airbag light on. in that case you may need a clock spring in the steering wheel.

No airbag lights, nothing. They light up, but don't work

[Scottydoggs]

under the dash by the driver side foot area, take the foot cover off, and look up right next to the obd2 port, for scanning your car..and look for a yellow wire, right next to it is a black wire and plug, thats for the radio controls, open the plug and try cleaning it and see if that helps.

or maybe the wire fell off the back of the radio.

[jer206]

under the dash by the driver side foot area, take the foot cover off, and look up right next to the obd2 port, for scanning your car..and look for a yellow wire, right next to it is a black wire and plug, thats for the radio controls, open the plug and try cleaning it and see if that helps.

or maybe the wire fell off the back of the radio.

Will check that out, thank you. I made sure all connections were secure to the back of the radio, they are good. Will look at the radio control wires and see if that helps. I appreciate all your feedback!

[jer206]

under the dash by the driver side foot area, take the foot cover off, and look up right next to the obd2 port, for scanning your car..and look for a yellow wire, right next to it is a black wire and plug, thats for the radio controls, open the plug and try cleaning it and see if that helps.

or maybe the wire fell off the back of the radio.

I have the foot cover off. I don't know which is the radio wire, there are many yellow wires mixed with others. Is the plug wide? I don't want to disable anything important.

[Scottydoggs]

its a flat plug, (black)about 1 inch wide, its should be on the right side by the obd2 port, tied to the yellow plug, well the wires are zipped together as they both are from the clock spring.

[jer206]

its a flat plug, (black)about 1 inch wide, its should be on the right side by the obd2 port, tied to the yellow plug, well the wires are zipped together as they both are from the clock spring.

I see two gray, pink and a black thats held on with a clip to the port housing if that makes sense?

[Scottydoggs]

not to sure about the wire colors, but like i said two wires are zip tied together, at the end is a yellow plug and a black plug, they are right next to each other.

something like the long wires in this pic.

[jer206]

not to sure about the wire colors, but like i said two wires are zip tied together, at the end is a yellow plug and a black plug, they are right next to each other.

something like the long wires in this pic.

Ok, I pulled the black plug. Tested it with test light and looks like there is no power going to it. I checked with the key on and pressing the steering controls.

[jer206]

Maybe it's the ground wire?

[Scottydoggs]

there wont be any power on the column side, just the dash side, that should come from the radio, if they light up you should find some power.

you got the radio on while testing it?

this could also be a bad switches in the wheel. they have power since they light up, but the buttons could be shot out.

you just stick a small screw driver in from the top or bottom and pry it out, carefully, the wire to them is short. maybe try to clean them up with electrical parts cleaner, under the button of course.

i had no lights or function on mine, i changed the clock spring and put on a new steering wheel with in better shape switches and they all came back to life. sad part is i was trying to get the airbag light off, but got my radio controls to work instead. lol

[jer206]

Yeah I had the radio on. I see. Ok, I'm thinking I will need to replace the whole clock spring. Not sure how hard it will be to get it to it all yet. Hope my I won't have any airbag lights come on and blow up in my face! lol

[Scottydoggs]

dont touch any of them yellow wires with out un hooking the battery, safety first. anything yellow is airbag related.

and clock springs are not cheap, (250 new) so look further into your problem before taking on that task. they are not that hard to replace at all, but you will need to take the airbag off and the steering wheel and all the plastic around the column to get it off.

and being that they light up at night i dont think your clock spring is bad.

could be the radio, or the switches are messed up. maybe pick up another radio, and some new switches if cleaning them does not help. stock radios are always being sold here, as members like to upgrade their stereos. or ebay, they are not to expensive.

[jer206]

Just seems strange that none of the switches work, I can understand one or two, but none.

[jer206]

I put it all back together and will hold off on the clock spring for now. Don't want to get into it until I know exactly what I'm getting myself into. I will be checking the radio first. Appreciate all your help!

[Scottydoggs]

there is also a wire under the airbag that goes to both switches and hooks up to the clock spring. that wire may be bad as well. or bad connection there too.