What To Avoid When Installing PAC-SWI for Steering Wheel Controls

Finally got my SWI-PS going, but it took about 3X longer than I expected, and that it should have. Most of these items are elsewhere in the forums, but for what it's worth, here are some tips (I have an AVIC D3, but it should be similar for other HU's):

1. As the instructions say, the white wire from the interface should go to the Green/Red wire coming out of the factory radio harness. Make sure you also ground the brown wire coming from the harness. I stupidly assumed that it had more to do with Mode functionality and the resistors (since it's in the same paragraph in the instructions). It's not - make sure you do it.

2. I used the 5100 ohm resistor in my 07 Ridge (Canadian model). Seems to work fine.

3. I programmed Vol Up, Vol Down, Track Up, Track Down and Source (the latter mapped to the Mode button on the wheel). This means you skip Mute, and the last 2 or 3 choices when programming. The Channel buttons will then skip to the next/previous track on the iPod, or the next/previous channel on radio or Sirius.

4. It's awkward to solder in there, so I used wire nuts to twist and crimp the connections for the most part. Again, working fine, but ask me again in a year if they have vibrated loose.

5. Be sure to go to PAC's website and get the specific instructions for the Ridgeline. The instructions packed with the unit have the same info, but it's much harder to figure out.

The most frustrating part was trying to program it for the umpteenth time, swearing, and then coming to the computer to find all the posts that say "It WILL work". The posts were right, but it was hard on the ego all the same.

Now that it's working, all is well, and I'm glad to have the steering wheel functionality again. Recommended.

caz

I feel your pain, HD, but once it's working the pain goes away. I used butt splices instead of wire nuts, and taped the whole assembly up for rigidity.

I soldered my connections. When I need to mute, I just hold down the mode button for a few seconds and my Pioneer shuts off. A quick tap on the mode button powers up the HU just as I left it. If I was listening to a CD, it picks up where it was turned off.

Okay, it's not as quick as a mute button, but I can live with it.

Thanks for the tips. I just want to make sure I understand.
1) Ground the brown wire in position 11 of the factory radio harness coming from the vehicle. I'll do this by connecting it to the ground wire on the after market harness, right?
2) Use a 5100 ohm resistor across the interface's black and white wires. I'm assuming you tried it without a resistor and there were issues?

Thanks for the tips. I just want to make sure I understand.
1) Ground the brown wire in position 11 of the factory radio harness coming from the vehicle. I'll do this by connecting it to the ground wire on the after market harness, right?
2) Use a 5100 ohm resistor across the interface's black and white wires. I'm assuming you tried it without a resistor and there were issues?

you are so rite sir, I had to use the same 5100 ohm resistor too. I thought I was going to use the 3900 but it took me a hour to find out after programming it 5 time to find out it just wasnt going to work :(

On the brown wire what I did is ground it to the black harness on the aftermarket harness side.

Uggh...cannot get it to work-won't program. It's like the SWI-PS doesn't recognize any of the buttons on the steering wheel.

AVIC-D3 installation works fine (incl the ipod cable). Love the unit n GPS. Just picked up the SWI-PS a couple weeks ago, finally got around to installing.

Used the install instructions from here and from the pac-audio website (www.pac-audio.com)-both (http://www.pac-audio.com%29-both) sets of instructions agree (nice). The only vagueness is in the resistor to use, so I've tested with no resistor, 3900 ohm and 5100 ohm.

Behavior I get:
I can set the unit to version "3" (what the Ridge needs). Then I do the "clear programming" (hold button till light comes on, release), and proceed into programming (press and hold volume button), but nothing happens on the unit. The LED eventually goes out (after about 3 seconds), but never comes back on after I release the volume button.


Quite frustrating (I've done plenty of stereo installs, even rewired cars, but this thing has me stumped). Any ideas?

Thanks

Uggh...cannot get it to work-won't program. It's like the SWI-PS doesn't recognize any of the buttons on the steering wheel.

AVIC-D3 installation works fine (incl the ipod cable). Love the unit n GPS. Just picked up the SWI-PS a couple weeks ago, finally got around to installing.

Used the install instructions from here and from the pac-audio website (www.pac-audio.com)-both (http://www.pac-audio.com%29-both) sets of instructions agree (nice). The only vagueness is in the resistor to use, so I've tested with no resistor, 3900 ohm and 5100 ohm.

Behavior I get:
I can set the unit to version "3" (what the Ridge needs). Then I do the "clear programming" (hold button till light comes on, release), and proceed into programming (press and hold volume button), but nothing happens on the unit. The LED eventually goes out (after about 3 seconds), but never comes back on after I release the volume button.


Quite frustrating (I've done plenty of stereo installs, even rewired cars, but this thing has me stumped). Any ideas?

Thanks

same happened to me (and worst the wires broke of on the resistors so i need to go to radio shack and get some new ones) if you find out anything please let me no

I had to use the 5100 the 580 and another one that i forgot which one. I had to call in to PAC and they helped me with installing mine. Very helpful and there is a guy there named Clipton or how ever you spell it that has a RL also.