Steering Wheel Buttons

Hi,

my 2.5 td has buttons for controlling the radio on the steering wheel, but none of them works. It has the original radio, which works ok.

I have not pulled out the radio yet, and has not tried to "open up"/take off the steering wheel yet. Anyone got any ideas what could be wrong?


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Sincerely Mattis

Could be as simple as the control cable to the buttons have simply become disconnected from the back of the radio.

Failing that, its not unknown for the wee button panels themselves to develop faults, however this usually shows up as one or more buttons not working / behaving strangely, they don't normally all die at once.

Do the buttons light up (easier to see in the dark) when you turn the radio on?

Ciarán

Hi,

buttons light up? Didnt know they had any light even.

Is it easy to take the radio out? Do I need some special tools?


-mattis

Yep they are backlit (or should be) when the radio is on. Also, one of them (mute I believe), has a green light in the centre of it when active.

To get the radio out you might need some of them 'U' shaped tools, 'frauds sell them I believe.

Ciarán

Probably a cable disconnected. If you haven't seen small lights in shape of little green LEDs in the middle of every button, then they must have burnt. Can be easily replaced from the back of the steering wheel.
Concerning the extraction of the radio, if it is Philips, then you don't need the special tool, only a thin screwdriver from the "watchmaker's" set, actually two of them to push through round holes (there are also two square holes) when you take off the trim mask. Push the screwdrivers towards the bottom and help the radio come out by pushing it from backwards with one hand. To do this, you will also want to remove the plastic compartment from the shelf.

ok, thanks! I will try to remove the radio and see if I can find a disconnected cable.

-mattis

Hi,

I did remove the radio, but it wasnt any disconnected cable. I pulled out a flat large connector, with 5 pins (I think) and ohmed most combinations while pressing the buttons on the steering wheel, but no sign of life. I guess the fault is in the steering wheel. How do I proceed to open it up? Do I have to remove the airbag or is it possible to only remove the button panels?

One thing, do the buttons always work or only when the engine are running?



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Sincerely Mattis

There was a circuit diagram floating around a while ago I think. A search may find it - or someone may be able to re-post it. The buttons are very simple - there are 2 circuits (left and right sets of buttons I believe) and for each set there are 2 wires at the radio end and each button connects the 2 with a different resistance.

There is no requirement for the engine to be on for them to do their thing, the radio just has to have the power to be on.

Hi Mattis

Steering wheel air bag removal requires battery disconnection and then waiting at least 20 minutes to ensure no risk of accidental discharge of the air bag. The air bag is held in place with two long torx screws (T30) from memory but it may be a little smaller, I will check and edit this post. These are found in holes in the underside of the steering wheel fairly deeply inset so you will need to use the long side if you use a "L" shaped torx wrench. You will need to put the car key in the ignition to release the steering lock to be able to turn the steering wheel to get at each of the holes/torx screws. Air bag then lifts off with a orange two wire electrical connection to unplug. You will then see the pair of connection for the radio buttons. As I remember they are rather delicate plastic strips with the wires as surface film. If your problem is with the buttons or the steering wheel wiring then if you cannot source locally then I might be able to find a spare set to recover and send to you. Would need to check that UK and european version are the same.
There is one other possibility to explain your loss of function. I came across this where someone had fitted a non compatible radio then modifed their 2.5 so the steering wheel buttons were used for non radio functions to operate the cruise control.

John

The buttons on the steering wheel are backlit?

Mine aren't, my steering wheel buttons have a tiny light in the centre of each button.

Yes, mine too. Just a tiny green light in the centre of each button.

Derek