Radio Button Control Swap

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Remen

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I received and installed the steering wheel rear cover with volume/channel buttons and wiring harness the end of August. I just didn’t want to keep switching hands on the steering wheel to adjust the volume so I decided to address this issue. Other post cover steering wheel removal so I won’t go through those steps.

This is the original location of the buttons, different part numbers.
619FFB1E-AABB-46EC-AA4C-EAD916702C06.jpegI removed the buttons to modify the back covers so that mounting will allow correct orientation on the steering wheel back cover. The harness connectors can’t be swapped since the buttons control functions are different. You can see the red and brownish wires piggybacked so the control function is from the buttons. I also marked the circuit boards with a dot to make sure I kept the volume and channel up locations at reassembly.
420FC773-B999-4508-B7F4-D65FB425C373.jpeg
I notched the opposite side of the button covers so that after installation the buttons were in the correct orientation. The buttons will not mount on the rear cover without the notch. Notice the red dot on the unmodified cover.
C814DC7F-8AF0-4044-98F3-65D8C377436E.jpeg
Here are the modified control buttons and wiring harness re-wrapped with Tesa tape. You should notice that the connector wires are now on the other side of the buttons. This keeps the circuit board mounted right side up, otherwise, controls functions would be reversed. Labels reapplied. Note: If you choose to remove the labels do so only after you separate the back button covers by applying heat with a heat gun for a few seconds. Don’t want to damage the circuit boards. Labels do not need to be removed. CF4685AB-2281-4CCE-9B10-298835A9B7A9.jpeg
913000C0-FF05-4B0F-B470-2BAA7552B9DC.jpeg
 
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Remen

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Rear cover ready to mate with the steering wheel and front cover then reinstallation.
E62E53AA-2C44-495D-AE7D-D3720A18167C.jpeg
Make sure the control button wires are not pinched when you snap the front and rear covers together.
 
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Remen

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Installed the steering wheel and tested the control button functions. All tested as desired and I can adjust volume on the left and channels on the right. Much more comfortable, for me at least.
 

Guido2112

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I guess I was lucky when I bought the upgrade kit to make my Express have the steering wheel controls.
After I put it all back together, The volume was on the left side and channel on the right (I guess something in the pigtail must be reversed). The buttons were upside down (up was down, down was up) but I just flipped the switches without having to take the wheel back off so it all works correct.
 

Naldo1710

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So essentially you only notched the button back plates so that they can be placed in the opposite side correct? What about the harness? No modification there? Is the picture you showed only to illustrate that the harness is piggybacked from factory? I might attempt this later today. Thank you!
 
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Remen

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That is correct. Make sure the buttons are installed in the back steering wheel cover as shown in the last photo.(I reapplied the labels right side up). Harness is just as received from AllMoparParts.com, no modifications. I just detailed the discovery process and solution.
 
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Remen

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I guess I was lucky when I bought the upgrade kit to make my Express have the steering wheel controls.
After I put it all back together, The volume was on the left side and channel on the right (I guess something in the pigtail must be reversed). The buttons were upside down (up was down, down was up) but I just flipped the switches without having to take the wheel back off so it all works correct.
My steering wheel back cover had the buttons factory installed so the initial installation placed the volume on the right side. When I tried to install the volume button on the left side it popped back out because the notch was in the opposite corner of the back cover.
 

duckman631

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I wish I could put volume on left along side the channel change buttons.
 

enolS

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And here I thought it would be a simple setting on the radio. Nice work!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 

Naldo1710

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Did it today. Fresh installation and moved the volume to the left. I'm loving it.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
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Remen

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Did it today. Fresh installation and moved the volume to the left. I'm loving it.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Glad you made it happen, I feel the same.
 

KC Cryptkeeper

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Now if we could reprogram the channel select buttons to work where I could scan up and down on my favorites and the middle button be to do the general scan.......
 

Naldo1710

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Now if we could reprogram the channel select buttons to work where I could scan up and down on my favorites and the middle button be to do the general scan.......
You can, but only with an aftermarket radio and the maestro interface. Then you can use a laptop to setup all the button functions.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

KC Cryptkeeper

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You can, but only with an aftermarket radio and the maestro interface. Then you can use a laptop to setup all the button functions.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Sounds cool but I would be happier if I could do it with my AlfaOBD software that I already own.
 

billiards4me

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Just for future reference, for anyone wanting to do this in an alternate way... check out the PAC BCI-CH41 module. On amazon for $170, and it’s pretty plug and play into the back of the radio. It opens up some configuration features that are pretty sweet... one of which, is to swap the buttons on the rear of the wheel. You can do just the up/down swaps from side to side, and/or the center button swaps.... independently. Pretty nice setup.
 

KC Cryptkeeper

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Just for future reference, for anyone wanting to do this in an alternate way... check out the PAC BCI-CH41 module. On amazon for $170, and it’s pretty plug and play into the back of the radio. It opens up some configuration features that are pretty sweet... one of which, is to swap the buttons on the rear of the wheel. You can do just the up/down swaps from side to side, and/or the center button swaps.... independently. Pretty nice setup.

More reason that Alfa can do this......
 

Mpgrimm2

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More reason that Alfa can do this......
It can't. It just turns things on/off.

The PAC unit, like similar units is intercepting the CANbus messages and sending out different ones for the desired outcome.

M² Mods.
 

tnctx02

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Going to do this upgrade, really miss them from my 2002 SLT.
Just found the complete kit, Genuine Mopar Steering Wheel Audio Control Upgrade Black, over at all mopar parts for under $65 including shipping!!
 
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