Replace junk infotainment bezel with Factory bezel?

[ehart814]

A few years ago I bought an 8.4 ra4 upgrade kit on eBay. It’s an infotainment bezel with a junk added on volume knob. I don’t have steering wheel audio controls so I need the dash knob. Well now the knob is junk and the volume willll turn up but not down which is really inconvenient.

Is there a cheap, easy way to upgrade to the factory bezel that has the knob and the up down buttons for temp? Can I use the factory bezel with the adapter harness I have been using?

 

[SitKneelBend]

A few years ago I bought an 8.4 ra4 upgrade kit on eBay. It’s an infotainment bezel with a junk added on volume knob. I don’t have steering wheel audio controls so I need the dash knob. Well now the knob is junk and the volume willll turn up but not down which is really inconvenient.

Is there a cheap, easy way to upgrade to the factory bezel that has the knob and the up down buttons for temp? Can I use the factory bezel with the adapter harness I have been using?

Cheapest would be to add steering controls.

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[ehart814]

I’m scared to pull the steering wheel off. I did it before to add the Bluetooth buttons (back in 2016 or so). I was nervous as hell then and I just don’t want to risk it again. Partly cuz my cruise control buttons have been finicky ever since then.

So it’s either buy a replacement $300 bezel, or buy the kit to put the factory bezel kit in ($600). Or do steering wheel audio Controls... how much is that? Like a couple hundred?


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[SitKneelBend]

I’m scared to pull the steering wheel off. I did it before to add the Bluetooth buttons (back in 2016 or so). I was nervous as hell then and I just don’t want to risk it again. Partly cuz my cruise control buttons have been finicky ever since then.

So it’s either buy a replacement $300 bezel, or buy the kit to put the factory bezel kit in ($600). Or do steering wheel audio Controls... how much is that? Like a couple hundred?


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You'll be replacing the wiring harness so you may fix your cruise issue during replacement.

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[clifford15]

Can you replace the volume control? Is it a pot or an encoder? That might be the easiest and cheapest solution.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Can you replace the volume control? Is it a pot or an encoder? That might be the easiest and cheapest solution.

If I'm not mistaken, it's an analog solution to a digital problem and is prone to failure even when brand new.

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[dwhutch]

I’m scared to pull the steering wheel off. I did it before to add the Bluetooth buttons (back in 2016 or so). I was nervous as hell then and I just don’t want to risk it again. Partly cuz my cruise control buttons have been finicky ever since then.

So it’s either buy a replacement $300 bezel, or buy the kit to put the factory bezel kit in ($600). Or do steering wheel audio Controls... how much is that? Like a couple hundred?


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The only scary part I remember was pulling the airbag and if you buy the tool for that it's pretty easy, just be careful with the clock spring.

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[Jbyron]

I had the same kit as OP and the volume never worked right so I installed steering wheel controls and eventually replaced the whole HU with a pioneer unit. OP I was hesitant to remove the steering wheel but there are some good guides out there. To prevent your clockspring from moving around there’s a trick where you stock a pin into a guide hole and it prevents it from moving while you work. Also the airbag removal tool seems like a silly purchase but it had me popping the clips with no struggle.

 

[ehart814]

I had the same kit as OP and the volume never worked right so I installed steering wheel controls and eventually replaced the whole HU with a pioneer unit. OP I was hesitant to remove the steering wheel but there are some good guides out there. To prevent your clockspring from moving around there’s a trick where you stock a pin into a guide hole and it prevents it from moving while you work. Also the airbag removal tool seems like a silly purchase but it had me popping the clips with no struggle.

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I don’t even remember how I did it the first time but I do remember being very Nervous about messing up the clock spring.

Anyhow, I bit the bullet and just bought the kit to use the factory bezel with new HVAC unit. They gave me a discount, and no tax or shipping. $540. Still an ouch but it will be nice to have a working volume knob and nicer hvac controls


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[ehart814]

If I'm not mistaken, it's an analog solution to a digital problem and is prone to failure even when brand new.

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Yes, exactly.


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[Jpercy14]

I don’t even remember how I did it the first time but I do remember being very Nervous about messing up the clock spring.

Anyhow, I bit the bullet and just bought the kit to use the factory bezel with new HVAC unit. They gave me a discount, and no tax or shipping. $540. Still an ouch but it will be nice to have a working volume knob and nicer hvac controls


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Do u have a picture of what u are using now?? I bought the bezel from infortainment.com and now my volume button isnt working at all. Tried everything I found researching and it just doesn't work anymore. I'm out of options need some help. What does the bezel and new hvac controls look like? I had the ra2 radio or what ever it is with basic single zone climate. Bought Bought 8.4 radio but then had no volume controls. So I needed infortainments bezel and wiring. Which cost **** 4-5 hundred canadian if I'm not mistaken and that lasted a year or so. Thanks

 

[augiedoggy]

Why not just buy the wiring harness and a used heater control module along with a used factory 8.4 bezel? your looking at about $400 total if you buy the bezel and module on ebay. I just did this upgrade a couple weeks ago myself. theres a website M2 somthing thats advertised here a lot they sell everything for the conversion.... I thought even infotainment went away from the base model bezel with the random volume knob

you will also have a 7 speed heat control system you can control from the touchscreen as well. I havent touched my steering wheel but I did update my stereo, ad a rear camera and upgrade to the 7" digital display dash cluster... ive had steering wheel audio controll on my company cars for 8 years and I still havent gotten in the habit of actually using them so..