[bobda]

All of a sudden, all of my steering wheel controls have stopped working.
They were working fine this afternoon and then when I got back into the car about 2 hours later they're all bust.
It's a standard 937 head unit in a 55 plate GT with Bose. I've also got the Blaupunkt bluetooth kit and Y cord fitted.

Tried engine off, engine on & radio restart but still no joy.

The phone side of things (same part of the rear connector - hence the Y lead) still works OK. Short of checking the cables at the back of the unit anyone got any ideas?

 

[Guest]

What's this Y lead for?

 

[bobda]

So the phone kit (Blaupunkt Bluetooth) works as well as the steering wheel controls.
But you knew that...

 

[shiny_car]

Start with checking the plugs at the back of the headunit, to ensure they are connected properly.

 

[bobda]

They all seem to be working again this morning. No change in anything, other than I was driving to work rather than from.


Still going to check the connections, but it's very odd.

 

[bobda]

Alright, so it's not fixed itself.
Found out that if I put pressure on the steering wheel at a certain angle the buttons stop or start working depending on the angle.

Dodgy clock spring connection?

 

[Guest]

I'm confused by this Y-lead thing.

I fitted 2 different car kits to my 147.
Both Nokia, one cradle and one Bluetooth one.

Neither required a Y lead.

What are you splitting, combining with the Y-lead?

 

[bobda]

It's this; Blaupunkt remote / phone adaptor
Allows the phone mute part of the head unit to be used as well as the steering wheel controls because they share the same part of the block on the rear of the unit, as per this diagram; http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL97/467659/19095446/291012684.jpg
Photos of another members installation using the Y lead are here; http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/ice-...-bluetooth-and-usb-upgrade-2.html#post2420497

 

[shiny_car]

Alright, so it's not fixed itself.
Found out that if I put pressure on the steering wheel at a certain angle the buttons stop or start working depending on the angle.

Dodgy clock spring connection?

Interesting. When the buttons stop, does the horn work? What if you adjust the 'tilt' of the steering wheel?

I guess it could be a clock spring issues, or other wiring connection. What you do about it...depends what you're prepared to do. But you could remove the airbag (following required procedure), and check wires/connections, and look for corrosion and wear.

 

[Joss]

Either the clock spring is fault or the connectors behind the airbag have come loose. Undo the three allen bolts (5mm I think could be 6) on teh back of the wheel ad slide the bag forward. You will see the blue connectors behind. Check they aren't loos and clean up. There is enough room to do this without unplugging the airbag. If this doesn't cure it then get a clock spring from ebay. Not much more to change it from this point

 

[Guest]

Okay I get it now.....

There must be something wrong with that splitter.

It'd be tempted to just buy a mini ISO and make
up the pin connections directly....




Are you sure the controls are in that plug.

Aren't later models CANBus connected, not the original
voltage driven ones.... ?

 

[bobda]

Interesting. When the buttons stop, does the horn work? What if you adjust the 'tilt' of the steering wheel?

Adjusting the steering wheel tilt/reach doesn't appear to have any effect. Don't know about the horn, I'll give it a go next time they stop (they were working fine again on the way to work this morning )

Either the clock spring is fault or the connectors behind the airbag have come loose. Undo the three allen bolts (5mm I think could be 6) on teh back of the wheel ad slide the bag forward. You will see the blue connectors behind. Check they aren't loos and clean up. There is enough room to do this without unplugging the airbag. If this doesn't cure it then get a clock spring from ebay. Not much more to change it from this point

Cheers. I'll see how it goes & maybe take the steering wheel covers off. Certainly seems like a dodgy connection to me based on having to put pressure on the wheel to get the buttons to work.

There must be something wrong with that splitter.
It'd be tempted to just buy a mini ISO and make
up the pin connections directly....

There's nothing wrong with the splitter - I used it for two years in the 147 with the exact same setup.

Are you sure the controls are in that plug.

Aren't later models CANBus connected, not the original
voltage driven ones.... ?

Yes, the controls are in that plug.

As far as I am aware, all the steering wheel controls in 147/GT (937 or 947 head unit) are voltage based.

 

[bobda]

Interesting. When the buttons stop, does the horn work?

Just tried the horn this evening when the buttons weren't working and it doesn't.
Interestingly enough, the track skip and source buttons sometimes work even when the volume and mute ones don't, but not always.
None of the buttons are illuminated either, which I'm sure they were on the 147.