Steering Wheel Volume Controls

Olepainless · May 16, 2019

I've got 2014 Laramie 2500 6.7. The volume down button does not work at all. The volume up button works 50% of the time.

Everything else works.

Do you think that would be a clock spring issue? Bad volume switch (or need to clean the switch terminals)? Blown fuse?

PolarisCobra · May 16, 2019

I would start with the switch. Not sure how hard it would be to get it our of the wheel, hopefully you can pry it out easily. It's hard to imagine that the only thing that would fail is that one conductor if the clock spring is bad. If the control on the dash works fine, the radio is likely OK.

kad · May 16, 2019

Olepainless said:
I've got 2014 Laramie 2500 6.7. The volume down button does not work at all. The volume up button works 50% of the time.

Everything else works.

Do you think that would be a clock spring issue? Bad volume switch (or need to clean the switch terminals)? Blown fuse?

It would not be a fuse and it's probably not a bad clockspring since the other buttons work. The buttons don't each have their own wire, each cluster of buttons is on one wire. Pushing a button connects through a resistor, with each button having a different resistance value. The truck's BCM knows which button you pushed by the resistance it sees. That all said, sounds like a bad or dirty switch. I've never dissembled the actual switch itself to see if the inside can be cleaned, but they are not very expensive to replace.

Here's the part numbers for the two switches and the short harness inside the wheel:

56046099AD Left Switch

56046098AD Right Switch

68163713AC Wiring Harness

-K

Olepainless · May 16, 2019

kad said:
It would not be a fuse and it's probably not a bad clockspring since the other buttons work. The buttons don't each have their own wire, each cluster of buttons is on one wire. Pushing a button connects through a resistor, with each button having a different resistance value. The truck's BCM knows which button you pushed by the resistance it sees. That all said, sounds like a bad or dirty switch. I've never dissembled the actual switch itself to see if the inside can be cleaned, but they are not very expensive to replace.

Here's the part numbers for the two switches and the short harness inside the wheel:

56046099AD Left Switch

56046098AD Right Switch

68163713AC Wiring Harness

-K

What is the harness for? just replace that too?

Jbyron · May 16, 2019

If you need a switch I have extras. It came extra with the kit from allmopar parts I’d be happy to mail it to you tomorrow if you dm me your address. I’ll let you know the shipping costs (usps priority) after.

Jbyron · May 16, 2019

No cost for the switch other than the shipping which should be minimal

Olepainless · May 16, 2019

Jbyron said:
If you need a switch I have extras. It came extra with the kit from allmopar parts I’d be happy to mail it to you tomorrow if you dm me your address. I’ll let you know the shipping costs (usps priority) after.

Oh, right on!! Thank you

(trying to figure out how to PM you. New to the forum)

kad · May 16, 2019

Olepainless said:
What is the harness for? just replace that too?

I just listed in case you got in there and found a frayed wire or something like that.

-K

TomT · May 16, 2019

I just want to reverse the functions from right to left. My previous vehicle had the same buttons but the volume was on the left. Now (even after 4 years) I still find myself changing tracks when I meant to adjust the volume. :Grenade:

Jbyron · May 16, 2019

Olepainless said:
Oh, right on!! Thank you

(trying to figure out how to PM you. New to the forum)

I think you just click my user name and hit start conversation!

kad · May 16, 2019

TomT said:
I just want to reverse the functions from right to left. My previous vehicle had the same buttons but the volume was on the left. Now (even after 4 years) I still find myself changing tracks when I meant to adjust the volume.

I'm not sure if that would be possible. The two switches are different part numbers, I think because the housings are angled to the back of the wheel.

-K

Olepainless · May 16, 2019

TomT said:
I just want to reverse the functions from right to left. My previous vehicle had the same buttons but the volume was on the left. Now (even after 4 years) I still find myself changing tracks when I meant to adjust the volume.

I say give it time and you will adjust without even realizing it.

My old 05 ram had a shifter arm that would catch on the "Rooster comb" when taking out of park. It got so bad that I snapped my cable in the steering column. After that I was too scared to put it in park again due to the amount of "yank" i had to do to get it out of gear.

For 5 years, I left my truck in neutral when parked and used the emergency brake to keep it from moving. On top of that my battery would drain overnight too so i had to disconnect my batteries every night.

Anyway, when I bought my 14, for about a month (randomly tapering down over time) as I got in my truck I would reach and pull the parking break release. So trust me, I know the feeling - repetition.

I would leave them alone and over time your brain will make the adjustment for you.

kad · May 16, 2019

BTW, while you shouldn't need to do a complete disassembly, you will need to remove the airbag as the switches go in from the inside. There is a good set of instructions in this thread on installing them on truck that did not come with them:

DIY: 2013-2014 OEM Steering Wheel Audio Control Install

And while you can do the airbag removal with a pick or screwdriver, it is MUCH easier with this $12 tool: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073QWMHMP

-K

Jbyron · May 16, 2019

That tool is amazing I used it to great success

magician · May 16, 2019

Mine did the same thing about a year after I installed the switches, I just replaced both. To my knowledge the clock spring has nothing to do with the buttons. Pulling the steering wheel is pretty straight forward, you can rent a puller at Autozone or Advance, removing the airbag is not big deal either, I used a screwdriver and mirror both times.

BTW, my buttons were doing the exact same thing yours are. Normally I’d advise you to check connections and routing, clean everything up and try it but if do all the disassembly you might as well replace them.

Guido2112 · May 17, 2019

TomT said:
I just want to reverse the functions from right to left. My previous vehicle had the same buttons but the volume was on the left. Now (even after 4 years) I still find myself changing tracks when I meant to adjust the volume.

I guess I am lucky, I installed the switches on my express and my volume is on the left.

Olepainless · May 17, 2019

magician said:
Mine did the same thing about a year after I installed the switches, I just replaced both. To my knowledge the clock spring has nothing to do with the buttons. Pulling the steering wheel is pretty straight forward, you can rent a puller at Autozone or Advance, removing the airbag is not big deal either, I used a screwdriver and mirror both times.

BTW, my buttons were doing the exact same thing yours are. Normally I’d advise you to check connections and routing, clean everything up and try it but if do all the disassembly you might as well replace them.

When you say "Puller," are you referring to the $12 tool Kad and Jbyron are talking about?

kad · May 17, 2019

Olepainless said:
When you say "Puller," are you referring to the $12 tool Kad and Jbyron are talking about?

No, a steering wheel puller looks a lot like a gear puller. I had problems finding one that worked with the ram wheel, but mine actually popped off with one good hand whack once the bolt was out.

-K

magician · May 18, 2019

Olepainless said:
When you say "Puller," are you referring to the $12 tool Kad and Jbyron are talking about?

What Kad said is correct, a puller is best but in some cases you can yank real hard and it will come off. The “puller” I was referring to is a steering wheel puller.

I don’t remember f the switches can be reversed or not, I think they are specific to eac side but I could be wrong on that one....

Olepainless · May 20, 2019

Jbyron said:
If you need a switch I have extras. It came extra with the kit from allmopar parts I’d be happy to mail it to you tomorrow if you dm me your address. I’ll let you know the shipping costs (usps priority) after.

Recieved these the other day. Thank you very much!!!

Steering Wheel Volume Controls

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