Steering Wheel Volume Control

[Evan.]

Alright, so ever since I've been around all the new cars at work, I thought this would be a cool idea. I know everyone says it's for the lazy, but I think it's nice to have and if I can get my idea to work, it would cost less than $10.

So, what I did first was get the dimensions of the civic cruise control switch. I said, alright the volume control on the other side has to be around the same dimensions in order to fit. Well sure enough after going through all the odyssey and crvs I could, I found it on a 98' Accord EX V6:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=330214954176&rd=1

The switch is good. I know volume control will work with the stock headunit because the odyssey has the exact same headunit (and volume control). The port's even follow the same pattern (odyssey vs. civic), so I'd just have to tap a wire into the blue connector on the back of headunit.

The problem with all this is, the cable reel. Can you guys think of a practical / safe way to make it work?

 

[Matt.]

if you do it, make a wire up, cause I'd be interested in doing it myself.

 

[Evan.]

if you do it, make a wire up, cause I'd be interested in doing it myself.

yeah, that's if I can figure out a way around the cable reel.

My two solutions so far are:

1) tap into the cable reel on possible "extra" pinouts, but I can't confirm if there are extra slots?

2) use an accord cable reel, however it looks different and I hate to fish out the money for nothing.

 

[Matt.]

you can tell I was tired and just got home from work, I mean write up, lol

 

[Evan.]

you can tell I was tired and just got home from work, I mean write up, lol

damn, I was hoping that your reply had something insightful. I might just have to trash this idea. I'm thinking the accord cable reel will NOT work, it looks way different. But I need someone that has an extra cable reel / their steering wheel off to tell me if there is extra pinouts on the reel itself (the civic one).

 

[ryanM]

steering wheels are easy to take off, why dont you just yank yours off and take a look?

 

[Evan.]

steering wheels are easy to take off, why dont you just yank yours off and take a look?

eh... I just hate to tear s**t apart for nothing. I think instead of trying to pin-in though, the accord reel is actually looking for promising...

99-00 Civic:

98-02 Accord:

Opinions?

 

[ryanM]

i got nothin, my car doesnt have a cable reel. my CC buttons just contacted with the solid metal on metal between the steering wheel and the hub. I dont even know what i'm looking at in those pictures

 

[Evan.]

well, if you rotate the bottom one, does it look like the top one?

 

[ryanM]

it might be that tag in the way, but they look different to me.

 

[Mr. Jollypants]

Looks different. There's a connector missing on the accords long cable, and one missing on the civics round thing

 

[Evan.]

Yeah, that's kind of my thoughts too. Plus, if I had to buy a cable reel, it'd be like a $60 project, which isn't worth it IMO.

I guess the final option then is, can you tap an extra wire into the cable reel? I'm not too hopeful on getting answers though if you guys aren't even familiar with the piece normally.

 

[wfw12]

sounds like a good idea. i wish i knew more about the steering wheel so i could give you some insight, there has got to be someone here that knows about it.

 

[ryanM]

i'm tellin ya man, it takes like 10 minutes to remove a steering wheel, you dont even need any special tools, just dive into it and find out!

 

[Evan.]

yeah, I already ordered the part (I can return it) and brackets. On wednesday / thursday ill pull it apart and go at it.