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Steering wheel with audio switches

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:20 pm
by Splinter
Anyone know of a steering wheel that fits our cars that has a few CD player control switches built in?

Specifically, volume and track progression.

Preferably from another subaru, and really hopefully with a cruise control lever built in that I can wire straight across. No airbags.

I'd like to avoid hacking up the steering wheel I have now, since Im almost certain there's no way I could make it look good.

I did a couple searches on eBay, but I couldnt find anything.

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:12 pm
by corsair
No dice bud, the stock radio doesn't have provisions and nor do aftermarkets. No Subaru I can recall has that feature.

You could get a new head unit and some have steering wheel mountable remotes though.

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:16 am
by BAC5.2
The 2003 Outback H6 VDC Sedan had steering wheel controls I think, with the McIntosh stereo.

Probably wouldn't work, but you might get lucky.

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:24 am
by corsair
gah Phil, way to find the exception, I more or less am discounting all 2003+ models, I think the B9 and maybe the newer outbacks have it now, not entirely sure, too lazy to check, probably way too complicated to integrate unless you swap the whole system

and now I realize you have a carputer right? that's what this is for? ok so I'm a moron, hah, good luck with it though

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:28 am
by Subaru_Nation555
The new Outbacks do but good luck getting one of those steering wheels. It would be pretty sweet though.

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:22 am
by Splinter
corsair wrote:and now I realize you have a carputer right? that's what this is for? ok so I'm a moron, hah, good luck with it though
I just need the switches to be in place.

It'll all be rewired to work with the carputer.

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:23 am
by Splinter
BAC5.2 wrote:The 2003 Outback H6 VDC Sedan had steering wheel controls I think, with the McIntosh stereo.

Probably wouldn't work, but you might get lucky.
Would that bolt onto our column, and does it have a CC lever?

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 3:48 pm
by BAC5.2
It should. And it does.

It'd be pretty gangster if you could do it.

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:10 pm
by Splinter
BAC5.2 wrote:It should. And it does.

It'd be pretty gangster if you could do it.
Hey come on, look who you're talking to here 8)

If I can find a wheel, I can do it.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:37 am
by vrg3
How would you get the signals through?

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:44 am
by Splinter
Cordless USB gamepad.

Just put in the circuit board, replace the gamepad buttons with extensions to the steerwheel buttons, attach a small 3V transformer, and write some software on your computer to recognize gamepad buttons as keypresses.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:09 am
by wiscon_mark
Look on Crutchfield. I think some of the Blapunkt headunits have compatible control switches that are made to be universal, you could probably buy one for cheap.

Yeah, this goes against "hacking" your steering wheel, but it might be a good option...

That's my contribution

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:15 am
by Splinter
Yea Im not using a headunit tho

I wouldnt even have a place to put one :P

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:16 am
by wiscon_mark
wouldn't matter, you could just use the switch.

I think...

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:17 am
by Splinter
All I need is the steering wheel and I'll be good to go