Steering wheel controls not working after fixing airbag light!

Surly · 05-04-2011, 08:34 PM

I did some searching on the forum before posting this, there is a ton of info regarding steering wheel controls but it's a bit overwhelming and wasn't specific enough to my question. Any help would be appreciated!

I just had a Kenwood DDX318 head unit installed. I had to reset the windows and also had the airbag warning light go off.

I was so thrilled when I read I could fix the airbag warning light myself, I just followed the steps and it worked!

I should have known better than to think I was in the clear. Now the steering wheel controls do not work whatsoever.

Any information on how I should proceed? I'm hoping it's something I can do through the steering wheel or head unit and it won't be necessary to take it to a shop.

Anyone help would be hugely appreciated!!!!!!

*sigh*

modme · 05-04-2011, 09:03 PM

If you installed a new headunit, how do you expect the steering wheel controls to still work?

Surly · 05-05-2011, 09:27 AM

Really?

There is an adapter for the new head unit, of course the steering wheel controls can be set up to work.

They were working before I fixed the air bag light.

modme · 05-05-2011, 09:48 AM

That wasnt specified in your post. Go back and check all the connections. THere is no reason that the airbag reset procedure, which requires turning the car on and off 3 times, would disable the PAC Interface.

kenchan · 05-05-2011, 11:49 AM

yah, sounds like your remote module lost the setting. you'll need to go back and reset the module, reprogram. remember not to turn the car on without plugging the SRS-ON/OFF indicator lamp for the passenger seat.... newbs tend to forget this often.

Surly · 05-05-2011, 12:39 PM

Sorry if I wasn't clear, the steering wheel controls were working when I left the shop.

It's possible that they stopped working before I fixed the airbag light, but I only noticed it immediately after I fixed it.

I didn't install anything and I don't intend to take anything apart on my own. I guess I have to take it back to the shop to get reprogrammed, great.

kenchan · 05-05-2011, 12:58 PM

yah, have them take it apart again and re-set and program the module.

also tell them NOT to turn on the car while the SRS ON/OFF indicator module for the passenger seat is unplugged. they have to have that connected when they do the programming, otherwise you'll have to do another SRS re-set. (btw, shops should know this stuff...)

Surly · 05-05-2011, 01:02 PM

Thanks for the info!!!

The worst part is that this shop is 9-5 Monday-Friday... total pain to try to make it over there during the week, took the day off for the install. Ugh.

Thanks again.

Surly · 05-05-2011, 01:30 PM

One more question, would unhooking the battery cause the steering wheel controls to need to be reset? He did initially do that to try to fix the airbag warning light. Not sure if I tried the controls after that.

kenchan · 05-05-2011, 01:54 PM

that's a good question. im not sure if that's a flash based memory or powered... perhaps a good question to search online for PAC/Peripheral whichever you used.

i dont unplug the battery to do most installs unless it's directly related to the airbag (like swapping steering wheels) so i dont know off hand.

bigaudiofanat · 05-05-2011, 09:57 PM

They keep there memory settings even after being unplugged. In order for it to lose settings it would need to be reset.

Surly · 05-26-2011, 10:07 AM

A little embarrassed to say... the steering wheel controls stopped working due to a setting change on the head unit. "Remote Sensor" menu setting must be on, I assumed that was for the optional remote, not steering wheel controls!

kenchan · 05-26-2011, 02:41 PM

hey glad to hear you found the root cause. now go enjoy your new stereo and car.

Surly · 05-26-2011, 02:52 PM

Thanks!

It would've been nice to find the root cause before the guy took the console off and saw the adapter was still getting the signal, lol, but you can't win them all.

kenchan · 05-26-2011, 04:50 PM

yah, the guy should've checked the setting BEFORE taking everything apart!

05-04-2011, 08:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Surly Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	Steering wheel controls not working after fixing airbag light! I did some searching on the forum before posting this, there is a ton of info regarding steering wheel controls but it's a bit overwhelming and wasn't specific enough to my question. Any help would be appreciated! I just had a Kenwood DDX318 head unit installed. I had to reset the windows and also had the airbag warning light go off. I was so thrilled when I read I could fix the airbag warning light myself, I just followed the steps and it worked! I should have known better than to think I was in the clear. Now the steering wheel controls do not work whatsoever. Any information on how I should proceed? I'm hoping it's something I can do through the steering wheel or head unit and it won't be necessary to take it to a shop. Anyone help would be hugely appreciated!!!!!! sigh

05-04-2011, 09:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
modme Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NY Posts: 345 Drives: G37 Rep Power: 16	If you installed a new headunit, how do you expect the steering wheel controls to still work? __________________ GTM Twin Turbo Stage 2\|GTR Turbo/Engine Gauges\|KW V3 Coilovers\|HKS Exhaust\|Oil Cooler\| Vossen CV1

05-05-2011, 09:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
modme Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NY Posts: 345 Drives: G37 Rep Power: 16	That wasnt specified in your post. Go back and check all the connections. THere is no reason that the airbag reset procedure, which requires turning the car on and off 3 times, would disable the PAC Interface. __________________ GTM Twin Turbo Stage 2\|GTR Turbo/Engine Gauges\|KW V3 Coilovers\|HKS Exhaust\|Oil Cooler\| Vossen CV1

05-05-2011, 09:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	They keep there memory settings even after being unplugged. In order for it to lose settings it would need to be reset. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

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05-05-2011, 09:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Surly Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	Really? There is an adapter for the new head unit, of course the steering wheel controls can be set up to work. They were working before I fixed the air bag light.

05-05-2011, 11:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, sounds like your remote module lost the setting. you'll need to go back and reset the module, reprogram. remember not to turn the car on without plugging the SRS-ON/OFF indicator lamp for the passenger seat.... newbs tend to forget this often.

05-05-2011, 12:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Surly Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	Sorry if I wasn't clear, the steering wheel controls were working when I left the shop. It's possible that they stopped working before I fixed the airbag light, but I only noticed it immediately after I fixed it. I didn't install anything and I don't intend to take anything apart on my own. I guess I have to take it back to the shop to get reprogrammed, great.

05-05-2011, 12:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, have them take it apart again and re-set and program the module. also tell them NOT to turn on the car while the SRS ON/OFF indicator module for the passenger seat is unplugged. they have to have that connected when they do the programming, otherwise you'll have to do another SRS re-set. (btw, shops should know this stuff...)

05-05-2011, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Surly Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	Thanks for the info!!! The worst part is that this shop is 9-5 Monday-Friday... total pain to try to make it over there during the week, took the day off for the install. Ugh. Thanks again.

05-05-2011, 01:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Surly Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	One more question, would unhooking the battery cause the steering wheel controls to need to be reset? He did initially do that to try to fix the airbag warning light. Not sure if I tried the controls after that.

05-05-2011, 01:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	that's a good question. im not sure if that's a flash based memory or powered... perhaps a good question to search online for PAC/Peripheral whichever you used. i dont unplug the battery to do most installs unless it's directly related to the airbag (like swapping steering wheels) so i dont know off hand.

05-26-2011, 10:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
Surly Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	A little embarrassed to say... the steering wheel controls stopped working due to a setting change on the head unit. "Remote Sensor" menu setting must be on, I assumed that was for the optional remote, not steering wheel controls!

05-26-2011, 02:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	hey glad to hear you found the root cause. now go enjoy your new stereo and car.

05-26-2011, 02:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
Surly Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	Thanks! It would've been nice to find the root cause before the guy took the console off and saw the adapter was still getting the signal, lol, but you can't win them all.

05-26-2011, 04:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, the guy should've checked the setting BEFORE taking everything apart!