steering wheel controls

[CombatCQB]

I was looking over the service manual and it had a section about steering wheel audio controls. Anyone know if we can order the parts to fit the US ones? Do we need a whole new steering wheel with it pre installed?

[gtguy]

If it doesn't have it, you can't put it on. T'would be very difficult. Kevin

[brady_bunch]

I would agree with gtguy's comments. I say get a whole new steering wheel with the controls pre-installed. Just swap out your airbag unit and you should be set. Wiring may be interesting if it is not already prewired from the stereo to the steering column, though.

[OBH6UK]

Just a though, I have a Blaupunkt head unit with IR remote that fits on the steering wheel. Not as tidy as a factory option but a possible solution.

[jdkobe]

I looked into the audio controls and your parts department can order these for you. I have sport shift in that area now, and I really don't find myself using sport shift on the stearing wheel - so I thought about changing them out.. but I'm not sure if the radio harness is in place so I could just plug and play once I got the old controls off the wheel - anyone know if radio harness connector is there for the radio in steering wheel, if it came with sport shift?

[IwannaSportSedan]

does anyone with an outback have pics of these mythical controls? The only ones with controls are the ones with the mahogany inlaid wheel. I am wondering if the controls are on the sportshift panels, on the backs of them, or if they are on the wheel side of the 3-9-o'clock spokes? It all depends as to what parts to swap... The LLBean Outback has the controls, plus the non-mp3 stereo, where the VDC has the wheel and the MP3 stereo. I would think that it should work on Outbacks and XTs, as well as all Legacies, as long as the wiring harness is still in the steering column.

[thespeter]

Cool! I know some answers here! 1) The steering wheel with the stereo controls has to be ordered as unit (at least for now) according to the parts department of the Subaru dealership in which I work. Airbag pods do not come with the wheel, thank God. 2) The techs tell me that the steering column is already wired for the stereo controls--just plug and play, baby. 3) The stereo control pods for the 6-cyl models replace the sport shift pods on the GTs. I'm still trying to find out if there is a JDM black leather wheel with the controls that I might track down, because I want one BAD! Anybody got a lead out there?

[sadrs]

so your saying that all i would have to do is buy a staering wheel with control and replace it with mine and it should just plug in and work? [quote name='thespeter']Cool! I know some answers here! 1) The steering wheel with the stereo controls has to be ordered as unit (at least for now) according to the parts department of the Subaru dealership in which I work. Airbag pods do not come with the wheel, thank God. 2) The techs tell me that the steering column is already wired for the stereo controls--just plug and play, baby. 3) The stereo control pods for the 6-cyl models replace the sport shift pods on the GTs. I'm still trying to find out if there is a JDM black leather wheel with the controls that I might track down, because I want one BAD! Anybody got a lead out there?[/QUOTE]

[Monkeyshack]

How much for the new steering wheel? I think I saw one on ebay for ~$500 can you confirm?

[melayout]

Is it possible to just replace one shift pod on the 5EAT GT, with the volume control pod and leave the other shift pod intact ?

[thespeter]

[b]sadrs[/b]--Yes, that's really all there is to it! Amazing, isn't it? [b]Monkeyshack[/b]--It's been a bit since I've checked, but I remember an employee price of $650 or so for the LL Bean wheel (as in wood and stereo buttons). I would imagine retail would be closer to $750-800, but that's a guess. I will try to remember to double check tomorrow at work... [b]melayout[/b]--I think that should work, but I'm not really an authority on it. I will ask a couple techs and see what they think. I do know for a fact that ALL of the wiring for these options has been on EVERY Legacy/Outback we have removed the steering wheel from. And that count has climbed significantly since I last posted. It seems that people can't wait to faceplant them into things...only STi's are more frequent.

[Monkeyshack]

cool thanks.

[thespeter]

Monkeyshack--I was a bit off on the prices for the wheel: the retail is like $350. The number I was remembering was my employee price for both wheels. Hopefully, I din't throw you off too far... melayout--I spoke with the techs, and they said (after much boohooing and shaking their heads) they doubted it. When pressed, though, every fact says that there shouldn't be a problem. The connectors are specifically wired for each control according to the service manual's wiring diagram. It took nearly two hours of poring over the manual to provide you with this particular fact ;). I think they are just skeptical because Subaru has done such a great job of minimizing the wiring. I'm afraid the only way to know for sure is to actually do it. I would give it a 90% chance of success. Luckily, the button pods can now be purchased individually for $85 or so--way better than buying a new wheel, don't you agree?

[Boulderguy]

After I discovered that the shift buttons on the wheel work in the normal driving mode as well as sport, I use them a lot more now. If you didn't know this, it let's you shift manually in normal mode as needed, then takes over again once you let off the gas, then re-apply. It's in the owner's manual. I use it for quick manuvers in traffic or decellerating down hills when I don't want to deal with constantly shifting in sport mode. If they didn't do this, I'd probably be glad to jettison them for radio controls instead.

[tigerpawGT]

thespeter -- you didn't happen to get the part number(s) for the button pads?

[thespeter]

tigerpawGT--I have set my cell phone alarm to remind me to get the part numbers for you. Now pray I can get online on Saturday to send them your way... ;-)

[thespeter]

tigerpawGT -- according to our parts department, the part number for the button pods is #34325AG000. I am qualifying this just a little because the description on the quote receipt says "switch spt" which makes me wonder if that is the number for the sport shift buttons and not the stereo buttons. I didn't notice until just now, so I'll have to bother them again to find out which is which (I get the feeling I'm starting to wear out my welcome with asking all these questions ;-). Also, the retail price quoted was $97.52.

[tigerpawGT]

thespeter, Thanks for taking on the leg work for this. I've always been disappointed that the LGT didn't have stereo controls on the wheel. For me having redundant sport shift buttons seemed like a waste since I'm ok with using left or right pads. Also, I was wondering if the part # you found turns out to be for the sport shift pad, maybe the part # we need is for the Outback LLBean(?). I think someone earlier in this thread confirmed that they have the stereo control pad.

[dskelto]

The USDM Spec B looks like it will have the steering wheel stereo controls. Hopefully the parts will be available for purchase individually. I would love to add the steering wheel stero controls and Spec B wheels to my wagon.

[Guest *Jedimaster*]

I wouldn't want to buy a whole new wheel, but it would be neat to rig it up to work with something else, like if you press the cruise button twice it does the audio. Yeah, talkin' out my ass again :lol:

[thespeter]

TigerpawGT -- I've forgotten to check on the LLBean buttons so far, but I should get that info soon.:rolleyes: dskelto -- I'm with you on upgrading my wagon with Spec B bits: I am especially interested to see what suspension parts they put on it. Also, the rumors I've heard on the car say it has the 6-cyl engine which up to now hasn't had a stickshift available, so it may not have the stereo controls either in favor of the boring shifter buttons. :( I hope my logic is off... jedimaster -- I think the double feature buttons is a dream never to be realized on this car because these are traditional mechanical/electronic controls as opposed to the increasingly common computer-controlled ones. I'm personally very thankful for that. And BTW, if your avatar is any indication, I would avoid talking out yer ass if possible. :lol:

[trabbic]

bump / subscribed Any new info on this? Spec B steering wheel?, I am sure it is not available yet, but it looks to be perfect. How about sourcing one from Japan, is there any writing on the controls? Thanks guys...

[trabbic]

Bumpity Bump

[thespeter]

Hey trabbic -- still no official anything on the Spec B. The rumor mills are still debating which engine it has, for crying out loud! The most likely scenario at the moment is the 6-cyl with a stickshift, which means that we can finally order the steering wheel we want. Whenever Subaru gets around to making up a part number for it, anyway...

[trabbic]

[size=2]Cool, thanks! And keep us up to date on the latest![/size]