Thread: Steering Wheel swap for the audio controls

Originally Posted by douger

Impossible? Nothing's impossible.

Whether or not it's worth the effort is another story. You'll need to know how the wiring goes. You'll also need to know whether that Dash Integration Module is the same for vehicles with and without steering wheel controls. Nah, I don't think it's impossible...

Douger, What about GP to GP? Are the 97-03 interchangeable? I have a 97 GT that does not have the steering wheel radio controls. My steering wheel is pretty ratty. I have enough on my plate getting the car back on the road, but someday ... Also I would like to upgrade the radio and speakers. Not a whole lot, "mostly listen to sports radio :-)", but would like the after market one to respond to steering wheel buttons and be blue tooth. Other than AM/FM and CD not much more. I am not the cranking up the volume type.
So swap a Steering wheel "non-radio control" with one that has the buttons?
1. Are the years (97-03) interchangeable? (a) Mechanically? (b) Electricity?
2. Are the DIM's interchangeable?
3. Connectors?
4. Find a aftermarket one with those features priced the way I want it.
5. What about pulling a GP Steering wheel.? I bet there is a write up somewhere.



Also looks like you have access to wire diagrams or anyone else for that matter. I don't want to hijack this thread, can I PM you for some? I am doing the HUD/DIC(maybe) conversion. Although the threads have some good diagrams, I did not see anything on the HUD controls.

I'm fairly sure on teh 97-03 it's just an actual wire and easy. I'd suggest column swapping for super easy.

On the Bonneville, the DIM is likely going to need to be programmed

Originally Posted by douger

letting the smoke out of some fairly expensive components.

That gave me a half chuckle, my first job out of school was doing board level repair for modules that went in tv's. This was early 80s. The theory is micro chips and in those days transistors ran on smoke, if you let it out they would quit. :-).

This car is my test bed for just these kind of things. Right now my to-do list is huge, so I am not in any hurry, but I like to know, just like the HUD and DIC I found, it was luck someone had not found it yet. The car still had the steering wheel but the buttons were rubbed raw and the wheel was just as tacky mine. Sometimes I use the cars for practice on pulling x part. For example the bezel for the HUD, the first couple of pins popped out, them I broke one, then I realized how to push with a screwdriver, what I should have done is tried it first on a different GP. So I tried to pull the wheel like in the old days, could not figure out how to removed the air bag to get to the nut. Then do you needed a wheel puller? I can see why Bill suggested doing the whole column, but a column is 40+$ and a wheel is 5$ without airbag and my airbag is good.

Geez Douger.. you don't have any cool toys in your car at all do you?

I drive a Regal with HUD and tons of other cool things. No, Regals didn't have most of them as options. A little basic wiring understanding and any W body from 97-03 is cake. There's very little running on the serial lines.

Hud takes about 8 wires to get 95% of the stuff working.
Column should be a quick easy swap of about 20 bolts/screws. The dash likely has the wire in the connector for the radio controls for ease of wiring at the factory.

I found this thread that explained it pretty good. Scroll down watching for a longer message, thats the one that explained it.

http://www.gpona.com/forums/04-08-gr...ls-t16587.html

Pretty much as Bill said, the easiest way is to replace the column so you get the wiring. I hear you now BIll, when will quite doubting. I was not doubting, I am cheap. Actually that whats make this fun project, doing it cheap. I think for me to save the money, I need to pull the column, to get the wire and wheel. The Junkyard do not typically charge for wire if you are buying other stuff. The issue is the wire may not work on my column. Either I will drop mine or a different one at the yard, compare the differences, and make and a decision then. One other check, mine may not have the contacts to pass the signals, again will just have to compare. For the steering wheel puller, 3 prong puller? Will the one I used to pull the harmonic balancer work? I did the Harbor Freight/added Grade 8 bolts and washers.

Sounds like the DIM is compatible, but if I am looking for aftermarket radio then I may have to get a kit.

Interesting thing about the diagram above, it looks like the way the DIM knows what button is by the resistance. Everything goes through one wire. The DIM must use AtoD converter to figure out which one was pressed. I remember in a hacking forum someone used a Raspberry PI to control the radio, or sense which button (don't remember which). I am curious now what and how they did it.

Now to pull the Airbag, I have seen many different discussion. Some release the springs from the side and you can do one side at a time. Others come from the back and you have to have a special tool. This guy said if you use two stubby screwdrivers you can do one side at a time. Guess we will learn someday.

Find out the price at the u pull of a column that has a key. I bet you find out that it's better to toss in the whole column. That's how I'd do it.. Easy and quick.

the steering column i bought, we had it out in like 20 minutes or less. i didnt swap it in my car tho. i just took all its good parts off and used on my car, clock spring, wheel and air bag. i got a spare harness, key with lock, and multi switch. just waiting for the day it needs to be used.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Find out the price at the u pull of a column that has a key.

I have never seen a key in any of cars. Never asked if they have them? I always wonder how to remove things that needed a key. I guessing you can not swap tumblers without the key.

I googled the prices How do you understand this price list. There is Steering Column $35, Steering Column With Airbag $65, Steering Column tilt $45. If I pull the airbag off then does it become a Steering Column tilt?

PARTS DESCRIPTION	PRICE "AS IS"	CORE	W/WARR
AIR BAG W/STEERING	65	--	74.75
POWER STEER HOSE (RTN)	2.15	--	2.47
POWER STEER PRESS. HOSE	5	--	5.75
POWER STEER PUMP	12.5	5	14.38
POWER STEER PUMP “PLASTIC”	25	5	28.75
POWER STEER RESERVOIR	5	--	5.75
POWER STEER-LATE GM W/EXT	25	5	28.75
POWER STEERING RAM	11.8	1	13.57
STEERING COLUMN	35	--	40.25
STEERING COLUMN AIRBAG	65	--	74.75
STEERING COLUMN TRUCK	55	--	63.25
STEERING COLUMN “TILT”	45	--	51.75
STEERING COUPLER	5.9	--	6.79
STEERING GEAR-CAR	20.6	3	23.69
STEERING GEAR-TRK (MAN)	26.2	2	30.13
STEERING GEAR-TRK (PWR)	35	3	40.25
STEERING WHEEL	5	--	5.75
STEERING WHEEL HORN RING	2.15	--	2.47
STEERING WHEEL “AFTER MARKET”	10	--	11.5
STEERING-DRAG LINK	11.8	2	13.57

just go to a u pull it and take the whole column out, walk to the exit and ask how much?

ask if they got the keys for it too.

if they dont have the keys, taking the parts is not hard at all really. you need to get the airbag and wheel off. then its all gravy.

I'd get up there and say.. I saw the price list and steering column was $35.

I'd also check car-part.com for your area. Those columns are more likely to come with keys.