Need help finding a specific wire in the Steering Column

[Zack]

Thanks in advance.
I need to locate the wire(s) that run to the 'Next' button on the steering wheel.
A scanned image and/or the color of wire im looking for would be great.
Im trying to run a duplicate button over to the passenger side door panel so the girlfriend can change the stations with ease during outings in the MM. :D

[Power Surge]

Maybe a stupid question, but can't she just use the radio itself? Seems to me that it's the same distance to the radio and to the door, sitting in the pass seat.

[Power Surge]

Okay, here's the way it works...

There is a wire in from the radio module, it's LB/RD. Then there is a signal return wire (shared signal return like the engine uses for sensors) which is DG/OG. All the switches in the wheel have resistors in them. Each switch has a different OHM resistor. So you press a button, and the radio does what you want based on the resistance of the button you press.

I don't know how you'd "add" in another channel. I suppose you could run a wire from each wire in parallel over to the pass side, and then put in the proper resistors. Come to think of it, you could probably get a second switch pack, run the two wires to it, and have full controls on that side of the car as well.

[BAD MERC]

You cannot do that. The wire by the way is a lt.blue/red on the back of the radio. You cannot just add another switch. It is a resistance switch and all the audio controls work through it. It would be easier get a girlfriend with longer arms or one that listens to what you're listening to.

[Loco1234]

Wow and who said Zack isn't a Ladies man.....

[Marauderjack]

Sounds like a sneaky line lock or nitrous button trick to me??:eek:

Come on....Fess Up!!:cool:

[rvaldez1]

Okay, here's the way it works...



I don't know how you'd "add" in another channel. I suppose you could run a wire from each wire in parallel over to the pass side, and then put in the proper resistors. Come to think of it, you could probably get a second switch pack, run the two wires to it, and have full controls on that side of the car as well.

You know, that sounds like a pretty good Idea, the only problem would be fitting the "switch pack" into place.

I do not know why It would not work, there sould be no problem pulling the wires in parrallel, as long as both buttons are not depressed it should operate normally.

[UAW 588]

Thanks in advance.
I need to locate the wire(s) that run to the 'Next' button on the steering wheel.
A scanned image and/or the color of wire im looking for would be great.
Im trying to run a duplicate button over to the passenger side door panel so the girlfriend can change the stations with ease during outings in the MM. :D

Ah, young fresh love.:D It's lasts till about a year.:puke: Wait till you get married, it's all down hill from there.:bigcry: Good Luck buddy. I think you should work on that passenger seat ejector button first. It just might come in handy when you least expect it.:lol:

[Zack]

You guys are nuts!
Ill make it work. When her right arm is resting on the armrest, its a convenience she will appreciate.
When her left arm is in my lap, its a convenience I appreciate!

[MENINBLK]

There are 2 rules in my car...

1 - Everyone listens to what the driver listens to.
2 - If you want to listen to something else, find a car that's playing what you want to listen to.....

[UAW 588]

When her left arm is in my lap, its a convenience I appreciate!

Like I said. After marriage it's all down hill from there.:argue: Oh yea, that opening the car door ***** stops too.:help:

[Drock96Marquis]

Zack, so long as you don't both try using the switches at the same time, it you can just wire in another unit as at 'rest' there is no resistance. So, source a steering wheel redundant audio control switch unit (you won't need the EATC one, but you could add that too for nifty-ness :D) from one of many Ford models to use the same unit, and splice/wire over the two wires (signal/return) from the radio to the new switch unit.
Resistance is only applied once a button is depressed.

here is the schematic:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/463042/thumbnail/redundantcntrls0304.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/463042)
(click!)

As you see, at rest, no resistance. So you can wire in another switch setup, just don't press two at the same time or it may get confused :P


Also, I would source it from the back of the radio, easier access there.


You can find the same switches as your MM in 1995-2004 Town Cars, 1998-05 CV/GM/MMs (of course), 1998-2002 Navigators, 1998-2002 Town Car Cartier L (in the backseat armest, but good luck finding parts from one of those :P), ...to name a few

Only 98+ switches will illuminate GREEN. Also, simply source illumination feed from the window switch panel.



If you are like me, you could get a little
craftier. Using a radio from a -02 Lincoln Navigator in place. THis is setup for DUAL redundant controls, so, by depressing the 3<-->5 buttons at the same time you can disable the auxilary redundant controls ;) This will require wiring in older style 16pin main connector, though, NBD.

[CRUZTAKER]

Maybe a stupid question, but (WHY) can't she just use the radio itself?

She's HOT. :coolman:

[Haggis]

You guys are nuts!
Ill make it work. When her right arm is resting on the armrest, its a convenience she will appreciate.
When her left arm is in my lap, its a convenience I appreciate!

TMI....:puke:

[Zack]

Zack, so long as you don't both try using the switches at the same time, it you can just wire in another unit as at 'rest' there is no resistance. So, source a steering wheel redundant audio control switch unit (you won't need the EATC one, but you could add that too for nifty-ness :D) from one of many Ford models to use the same unit, and splice/wire over the two wires (signal/return) from the radio to the new switch unit.
Resistance is only applied once a button is depressed.

here is the schematic:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/463042/thumbnail/redundantcntrls0304.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/463042)
(click!)

As you see, at rest, no resistance. So you can wire in another switch setup, just don't press two at the same time or it may get confused :P


Also, I would source it from the back of the radio, easier access there.


You can find the same switches as your MM in 1995-2004 Town Cars, 1998-05 CV/GM/MMs (of course), 1998-2002 Navigators, 1998-2002 Town Car Cartier L (in the backseat armest, but good luck finding parts from one of those :P), ...to name a few

Only 98+ switches will illuminate GREEN. Also, simply source illumination feed from the window switch panel.



If you are like me, you could get a little
craftier. Using a radio from a -02 Lincoln Navigator in place. THis is setup for DUAL redundant controls, so, by depressing the 3<-->5 buttons at the same time you can disable the auxilary redundant controls ;) This will require wiring in older style 16pin main connector, though, NBD.

Thanks, but Im gonna have to read this a few times before it sinks in!

[Loco1234]

Zack if you are willing to change out your radio for a radio from an aviator or navigator...etc

A vehicle that has the rear passenger seat controls....
that already has a built in redundant control...
You can strip the entire setup from a junk yard car...

then it's just a matter of cutting wires to length an mounting the rear passenger panel in the passenger seat.... so it looks good....

[pantheroc]

I'm repeating a bit here but.....Disconnect the connector from the back of the radio. Then measure resistance between ground and the LB/RD lead when pressing the NEXT button and not pressing any buttons (should change value). This will be the resistor value you will need to duplicate the NEXT function. Run a single wire tapped into the LB/RD over to the passenger door. Solder a resistor to the end of that wire and the other side of the resistor to the switch you install. The other side of the switch tie to a ground point.

Do the resistance measurment again and verify the new NEXT button gives the same or very close resistance to the original NEXT button you measured earlier and verify your resistance is the same when no buttons pressed.

From the looks of the wiring diagram, there is infinite resistance when measuring "no buttons" pressed.

BTW, you can also duplicate other radio funtions with this method using the same single wire.

Trying to run wires from the steering wheel will be a pain in the butt. That would be a last resort if your trying something different than remote radio control.

Hope I'm right on all this. I'll have to verify against the big red Helm book when I get home.

[pantheroc]

For the 2003 Crown and GM, per Workshop manual(415-00-14):

VOL Down - 30-132 ohms VOL Up - 132-312 ohms
MEM - 312-642 ohms BAND - 642-1322 ohms

MEM&BAND for NEXT&MODE may be the same.

[frdwrnch]

I'm struggling with a similar issue trying to add a Navigator Steering wheel to my 99 F 250. The speed control buttons work on different resistance values on each vehicle. I'm trying to make a resistance block of sorts to mount at the base of the steering column to change the resistance after the clockspring. Lot of hassle for a little Bling.