GU Steering wheel audio controls install

[Leary393]

Hi all,
First post here, long time reader/patrol4x4 member.
My names Cam I'm 28, live in Longford Vic, owned 4xGQ's and on my first GU (had the patrol bug for many years now). Just bought a 2012 GU8 50th anniversary and already started with the mods.
I've already posted this thread on patrol4x4 however I thought it could be helpful to post here for anyone that may be able to contribute.
Ok so I've started fitting audio controls to my steering wheel, I ordered the switch through Nissan which is now installed on my steering wheel and I'm now in the process of getting it wired up.
After removing my arirbag to investigate what wiring I have already installed and what I don't, I've sort of come to a holt in finding information. I don't have anything to compare to, that has had audio controls installed from factory and Nissan spare parts have only been able to provide limited information.
The wiring loom Coming from my clock spring/ contact reel has more wires than are needed to run cruise buttons, horn and airbag.
The information I need to find out is,

1 Is the clock spring/ contractor reel different between the models with steering controls and the models that don't? Or is it only a patch lead between steering wheel control switch and clock spring/ contractor reel that needs to be sourced?

2 A wiring diagram showing where the extra wires in the clock spring/contractor reel run and what they are for.

Any info would be much appreciated,
Cam

[cjb]

Im interested as well. I was thinking of doing the same to mine. Would be good to see some photos.

[Rumcajs]

I removed airbag on mine (05) to have a look, yes spiral cable/clock spring/contact reel has more wires than needed.
However the cable from spiral cable is not there neither is the cabling on the other side leading to stereo. Just empty sockets at the back of it (Nissan standard double DIN CD/cassette/radio unit) no harness tucked away anywhere out of sight in its vicinity so I'm assuming they're not there. I didn't check under the steering wheel if the harness continues from clock spring/spiral cable towards the stereo somewhere.

I had a hunt on older FAST (Nissan parts system) but failed to locate anything like spare harnesses to do the required job. Did locate buttons/controls interfaces but not cables.

Which leads me to believe that probably the fastest way is to make your own harness and just get Nissan wiring plugs/terminals.

I would locate the free ones on the other side of the steering wheel spiral cable if there and use make own patch cable from buttons to stereo as needed.

I only have wiring diagram for versions up to 06 models so I'm unsure how it is done on CrD versions.

Cheers

[Leary393]

Ok thanks to help from forum members and some wiring diagrams I'm slowly getting to the bottom of it.

I can say that a patch lead needs to be sourced that runs from clock spring plug to cruise switch and audio controls, as they both share the same plug from the clock spring. The extra wires and plug could be added to existing plug.
I have spent some time with Nissan dealers and this patch lead basically doesn't exist.
They dont even seem to be able to supply a replacement lead for cruise control switch to clock spring.

Next ill be investigating on the other side of the clock spring to see if the wires are there and if they run to head unit.

[pspeirs]

How did you go with this, although I assume by the number of posts I'm not going to get a response any time soon but it's worth a try.

Cheers,
Paul

[mudski]

How did you go with this, although I assume by the number of posts I'm not going to get a response any time soon but it's worth a try.

Cheers,
Paul

Paul, the GUIV and onwards use a different clock spring for the cruise and radio controls. I have a clock spring and radio button control here that Im yet to fit in my Patrol. Still yet to fit the cruise control too, but some grafting will be needed maybe to make it work. I had to graft a GUIV clock spring into my GUII as I fitted a GUIV leather steering wheel that already had the cruise buttons on it and the clock springs where physically different, also the wiring. One day I'll fit it up.

[pspeirs]

OK, I've seen some docco on using Maxima 02/03 steering wheel buttons which are the same style as what I have on the GU7/8 (Will find out for sure on Friday) and it appears from various posts that the cabling is available in the steering column. Nice leather steering wheel might be nice too :-) Its difficult finding reliable information and I'd rather use standard cabling that go all out butchering it. I understand that the controls will work with the Android head unit, being able to take the 2 wire and gnd input. Will keep poking around I guess, but I didn't think the Patrol even came out with the radio buttons.

Cheers,
Paul

[Cremulator]

I've embarked on fitting steering wheel audio buttons to my GU III.
I sourced a button module from Niss4x4 in Brooklyn, Vic late last year from a later model GU with the intention of upgrading the stereo.

Now I have recently completed the stereo upgrade with a Kenwood double din head unit, I just last week started to decipher the wiring of the button module and clock spring.

The good news is that the button module works when wired directly to the head unit audio control input. I was able to program and successfully test the functionality of all steering wheel buttons.
Next step is to work out the input wires to the clock spring and the output wires and where they run to so I can splice the head unit control to them.

I already know there are enough wires in the clock spring for it to work and that I will have to cut the factory plug off (behind the steering wheel horn that goes into the clock spring) and wire another plug that I can connect in the new audio control buttons and existing cruise control buttons to.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/06/111.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/06/112.jpg

The button modules are the same across multiple Nissan models from what I have researched, but many of them we didn't get in Australia;
2010 Nissan Patrol Ti
2001–2003 Nissan Maxima
2003 Infinity Q45
2003 Nissan Cima F50
2002–2004 Nissan Altima
1999–2004 Nissan Gloria/Cedric (Y34)
2003?–2005? Nissan Elgrand E51

Have a read of this document that was created by someone with the alias Ghosty on 4x4earth.com.au about "How to wire up your steering wheel radio / cruise controls for a GU Patrol"
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5d09e4b043a60/How%20to%20wire%20up%20steering%20wheel%20audio-cruise%20control%20buttons%20on%20a%20GU%20Patrol. pdf

[magsit]

I did this mod end of last year on my 2014 ST Patrol. I had to splice the wiring from the Audio Switch into the plug that the cruise control switch uses to plug into the clock spring.

From there, the wiring harness at the stereo end had 2 or 3 wires I could connect my remote lead to, much like what is in your picture with the 3.5mm jack.

The big gotcha was that I didn't have the correct wire on the stereo earthed, from memory it was the handbrake wire. This needed to be cabled up, IOT for the programming feature for the audio controls to become active.

[magsit]

I am pretty sure I used this thread (http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?18138-GU8-Nissan-patrol-Steering-wheel-audio-controls-with-Eclipse-unit-on-a-ST-IT-WORKS/page3&highlight=steering+wheel+audio)initially for assistance

[magsit]

Just found the post I was thinking of, it goes to another forum, so hopefully I am not bending the rules to much putting a link here.... https://www.patrol4x4.com/threads/diy-retrofit-audio-steering-wheel-controls.341954/

[Cremulator]

I just finished off my audio controls installation in my 2004 GU III today and it's all working great.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/97.jpg
A quick run down. There were enough wires in my factory clock spring, but no audio wires ran from the back of the clock spring under the steering column to the stereo.
Here's the plug that goes into the back of the clock spring under the steering column. (Those gaps with no wires in them are connected to the red and green wires at the other end of the clock spring behind the airbag - see later photo).
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/98.jpg
I removed one of the connectors to inspect its shape.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/99.jpg
I found it was the same as the connectors that were in the plug that came with my audio controls.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/100.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/101.jpg
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/102.jpg
I didn't need that plug, so that made creating extra wires to connect into the factory clock spring plug easy.
Here is the loom I created using the connectors from the audio plug to connect to the 3.5mm audio control jack that came with the Kenwood head unit.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/103.jpg
And this is the connectors inserted into the clock spring plug under the steering column. Red to red and black/green to green.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/104.jpg
This is the plug that is at the front of the clock spring behind the airbag.
It has five wires that run through the clock spring, but the red and green weren't used (set aside for audio I guess). This is what I connected my new loom to.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/105.jpg
I was going to cut off this plug and wire in a new molex plug, but then thought if I could get the factory pins to add to the plug, I'd just need two pins and the short wires they are connected to (like I had used to connect to the back of the clock spring plug) to make the connection with the factory plugs behind the airbag.
I called Niss4x4, but they wanted $25 just for a cruise control loom - too much for two pins.
So I went to Jaycar and found these Dupont cables for $5.95.
The pins aren't exactly the same, but they do fit.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/106.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/107.jpg
Here is the plug with the two extra pins. They are a little shorter, but the female connectors in the clock spring plug are long, so no problem.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/108.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/109.jpg
Here is the modified loom. From the audio buttons, the two blue wires merge into one and connect to the red wire on the clock spring plug, the yellow wire I spliced to the green wire on the cruise control, the green wire runs to the green wire on the clock spring plug. plug.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/110.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/111.jpg
And finally this is the button configuration I used.
Vol ▲ = Volume up
Λ = Skip Forward
Mode = Play/Pause
Voice control = Voice control
Vol ▼ = Volume down
Phone = Answer/Hang up call
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/112.jpg
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/113.jpg

[mudski]

I just finished off my audio controls installation in my 2004 GU III today and it's all working great.
Now can you come around and do mine please? :D

[Cremulator]

Now can you come around and do mine please? :DI tell you what, I'll give you some Dupont pins/wires, the left over two female connectors for the back of the clock spring and all the assistance you need ;)
Honestly, the hardest part for me we working out which wires connect to what.
That part is done for you now!
Here are my cheat sheets for reference :Dhttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/114.jpg

[mudski]

I tell you what, I'll give you some Dupont pins/wires, the left over two female connectors for the back of the clock spring and all the assistance you need ;)
Honestly, the hardest part for me we working out which wires connect to what.
That part is done for you now!
Here are my cheat sheets for reference :Dhttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2019/07/114.jpg

Bring them to Licola mate! :) You coming to this shindig?

[Cremulator]

No, I'm not unfortunately. Sounds like it will be fun, but I can't make it.

[0-TJ-0]

Brilliant write up mate. Would you mind posting each page as it's own picture? Or maybe it can be added as an attachment or something? It might motivate me to do it one day if it's all there for easy reading haha.

[MudRunnerTD]

Outstanding!!! Thanks for your time. I will come back to this one day. Love a good walk through.

[Cremulator]

Brilliant write up mate. Would you mind posting each page as it's own picture? Or maybe it can be added as an attachment or something? It might motivate me to do it one day if it's all there for easy reading haha.

Here you go 0-TJ-0 and MudRunnerTD, workshop manual pages with source reference, wiring colours and retrofitted wiring harness diagram.
Now you've got no excuses ;)

78912
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5d2e88438b362/Workshop_Manual_Pages_and_Diagram_GU_III_Steering_ Wheel_Audio_Controls.pdf

[MudRunnerTD]

Here you go 0-TJ-0 and MudRunnerTD, workshop manual pages with source reference, wiring colours and retrofitted wiring harness diagram.
Now you've got no excuses ;)

78912
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5d2e88438b362/Workshop_Manual_Pages_and_Diagram_GU_III_Steering_ Wheel_Audio_Controls.pdf

^^^^^^ . This Guy is a Legend . ^^^^^^

[pspeirs]

Where did you get the cabling for the steering wheel buttons, or did yours come with the cable attached?

Cheers,
Paul

[Cremulator]

Where did you get the cabling for the steering wheel buttons, or did yours come with the cable attached?

Cheers,
PaulWhen I went along to the wreckers I specified that I wanted the cable from the audio buttons included.
Then also haggled on the price too ;)

[mudski]

When I went along to the wreckers I specified that I wanted the cable from the audio buttons included.
Then also haggled on the price too ;)

Was that a Niss4x4 in Brooklyn?

[Cremulator]

Was that a Niss4x4 in Brooklyn?It sure was! Got the audio controls when I was getting some other bits for the car at the end of last year.

[mudski]

It sure was! Got the audio controls when I was getting some other bits for the car at the end of last year.

And you actually got to haggle with them?

[Cremulator]

And you actually got to haggle with them?Yep. They wanted $115 for the audio controls and wires. I told them that was ridiculous. So they came down to $90 – which is still bloody expensive for what it is, but I searched eBay and wreckers overseas first and had no luck.

[firey441]

Hi, where can I buy an gu audio control unit

[Cremulator]

Hi, where can I buy an gu audio control unitI got mine from Niss4x4 in Brooklyn (Victoria).

[threedogs]

very handy thread as just brought a SWC set recently.
ha ha you can tell me what I have when you come over
alright Cremulator

[Cremulator]

very handy thread as just brought a SWC set recently.
ha ha you can tell me what I have when you come over
alright CremulatorSure thing threedogs! Happy to help out.

[4.8man]

Hi Cremulator. Looks good, I' thinking of installing the radio/volume/phone module as you have done. Where did you get the control module from? Cheers.

[Cremulator]

Hi Cremulator. Looks good, I' thinking of installing the radio/volume/phone module as you have done. Where did you get the control module from? Cheers.Hey 4.8man I got them from Niss4x4 in Brooklyn (VIC). I paid $90 including the plug and cable that connects to the back.

[4.8man]

Ok, thanks, I'll check them out.

[4.8man]

Hi all, I've advanced a little now, have bought the control switch from Niss 4X4, for $200 plus postage, they wouldn't come down on their price! Oh well will move on.
It has 4 wires coming out of the switch, plus a tab spliced on, witch I presume is for the horn, or earth? Not sure what vehicle it came out of, and looks like it has been modified already.

85915ý

At first, after looking into the install job, it seemed a bit complex, so I contacted some professionals, mobile and retail radio installers, but they weren't keen to do the job!
So after thinking a bit more, and investigating my wagon (2002 4.8lt. Petrol model) it's looking straight forward, and may not be as complex as first thought, as long as the following work:
So my wagon has a cruise control system and switch installed from factory built and also a steering wheel air bag.
The air bag has its own yellow plug and 2 wires going through the clock spring. The cruise control has 2 wires and the horn, 1 wire going through a white plug, going through the clock spring, all on the air bag side of the clock spring.

85916

As you can see, there are 2 spare terminal slots, in the white plug.
On the other side of the white plug, going into the clock spring, there are 5 wires going through the clock spring.

85917

On the other side of the clock spring (under the steering column) there is 7 wires coming out. Therefore that must include the 2 spare wires. Good news. Remember there is only 5 wires used to date; 2 for the cruise control, 2 for the air bag, and 1 for the horn.

My head unit is a Pioneer AVH-Z5250BT and doesn't require an intetface module to make the steering wheel switch to work.

85918

It has a single radio jack in the back of the head unit for the steering wheel control.

85919

So I'm thinking: could I just join/soldier 2 pairs of the 4 wires together to make 2 double wire to plug into the 2 spare terminals in the white plugs, leading into the clock spring. Then pick them up on the outward side of the clock spring, find out where they run to/install new wires and plug them into the back of the head unit with a new jack plug?
Sounds simple, but is there something I'm missing?

Thanks in advance, cheers, Col.

[Cremulator]

Hi all, I've advanced a little now, have bought the control switch from Niss 4X4, for $200 plus postage, they wouldn't come down on their price! Oh well will move on.
It has 4 wires coming out of the switch, plus a tab spliced on, witch I presume is for the horn, or earth? Not sure what vehicle it came out of, and looks like it has been modified already.

85915ý

At first, after looking into the install job, it seemed a bit complex, so I contacted some professionals, mobile and retail radio installers, but they weren't keen to do the job!
So after thinking a bit more, and investigating my wagon (2002 4.8lt. Petrol model) it's looking straight forward, and may not be as complex as first thought, as long as the following work:
So my wagon has a cruise control system and switch installed from factory built and also a steering wheel air bag.
The air bag has its own yellow plug and 2 wires going through the clock spring. The cruise control has 2 wires and the horn, 1 wire going through a white plug, going through the clock spring, all on the air bag side of the clock spring.

85916

As you can see, there are 2 spare terminal slots, in the white plug.
On the other side of the white plug, going into the clock spring, there are 5 wires going through the clock spring.

85917

On the other side of the clock spring (under the steering column) there is 7 wires coming out. Therefore that must include the 2 spare wires. Good news. Remember there is only 5 wires used to date; 2 for the cruise control, 2 for the air bag, and 1 for the horn.

My head unit is a Pioneer AVH-Z5250BT and doesn't require an intetface module to make the steering wheel switch to work.

85918

It has a single radio jack in the back of the head unit for the steering wheel control.

85919

So I'm thinking: could I just join/soldier 2 pairs of the 4 wires together to make 2 double wire to plug into the 2 spare terminals in the white plugs, leading into the clock spring. Then pick them up on the outward side of the clock spring, find out where they run to/install new wires and plug them into the back of the head unit with a new jack plug?
Sounds simple, but is there something I'm missing?

Thanks in advance, cheers, Col.I can't see the first photo you posted, doesn't load for some reason, but you are on the right track with your investigations tracing the wires through the clock spring.
Have a look at post #12 in this thread and you can see exactly the two wire loom you are describing that I made that connects to the audio jack.

[4.8man]

I can't see the first photo you posted, doesn't load for some reason, but you are on the right track with your investigations tracing the wires through the clock spring.
Have a look at post #12 in this thread and you can see exactly the two wire loom you are describing that I made that connects to the audio jack.

Thanks for the quick reply. Just a quick side note do you get notifications when a reply is posted on your post?
Another point, did you have to check the resistant values on the wiring from the switch? if so, how did you check them with a multi meter?
I'll try posting the first pic. again as above:

85930

85931

Above is my switch I bought
It came an ugly light beige colour. I painted it the dark brown colour to try and match my wagons colour scheme!

[Cremulator]

Sometimes I get notifications when there is a reply posted, not always.

I checked the switch values with a multimeter, they are all different so no need to use any resistors.
http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2022/09/20.jpg

That module you have, along with the loom and plug, looks identical to what I purchased.
Follow the directions I have posted above and you should have no trouble getting it all working.

Post up any questions you have and I'll be happy to help out.

[4.8man]

Great. Looks like your like me, taken lots of photos!
So what terminals did you touch with the multi meter probs? Is one of the wires/terminals, an earth?
Cheers.

[Cremulator]

I'm pretty sure the yellow wire is the earth, so test the other three terminals as positive while pressing the buttons.
The good thing is, using trial and error with a multimeter to measure resistance won't damage anything as there is no voltage or polarity that you can mess up.
Have a look at post #8 in this thread and you can see how I temporarily wired the plug to the buttons to test functionally on the head unit. This is more useful than testing resistance of each button with a multimeter as you can understand the wiring, then just work out extending it through the clock spring (use the pins in that large redundant plug you got with the audio buttons).

[4.8man]

Ok, thanks. Why do you splice the audio yellow wire to the cruise control green wire?
Also, on the radio side of the loom you made, is that an earth open tag that needs to be connected to ground somewhere?

[Cremulator]

Ok, thanks. Why do you splice the audio yellow wire to the cruise control green wire?
Also, on the radio side of the loom you made, is that an earth open tag that needs to be connected to ground somewhere?From memory I spliced the audio yellow wire to the cruise control green wire as I thought the green was the cruise control earth wire, but I have a feeling that someone else has spliced it to the cruise yellow wire and it works the same, but worth testing yourself.

Yes, that's is an earth wire on the radio side of the loom with the ring terminal that needs to be connected to an earth point.

[4.8man]

Ok, thanks. I thinks that answers all the queries I have at the moment. Now I just need to hook it up! Cheers.

[4.8man]

Hi Cremulator, and others, I just posted my report in this section, of my finished install job. Works well. Thanks again for your help, Cheers.

86111

[Cremulator]

Hi Cremulator, and others, I just posted my report in this section, of my finished install job. Works well. Thanks again for your help, Cheers.

86111Nice work. I had a read of your write up, good to see you got it all working.