new idea? stereo controls on the steering wheel

[58ragtop]

it would be my luck that some one else has allready done this, but i want SOMETHING that no one else has done yet.
i was looking at an extra deck i have and thought i would use the factory buttons to add volume, skip and a couple other features to the spokes on the steering wheel, i know how to do it, but would it be a cool feature? since the deck IS so close any way.
can i get some opinions from you folks ??

[mezonesxbox]

Sounds like a great idea!! The steering wheel pokes are removable any way and are mostly hollow, perfect for the job. Probably just run some wires down and hide them nicely and your all good!

[Whitacre]

I have always wondered why the beetles never get steering wheel controls. No matter how fully loaded you get it.

The beetle doesnt get a lot of new features that other vw's have. The other one i really want is the automatic blinker where it blinks three times when you just tap it, for changing lanes safer. I LOVE it.

Off topic but anyway i would love a new steering wheel with those features on it.

[Steinola]

Definitely.
I've thought about it myself, but the closest I got was strapping the remote to my iPod to the steering wheel. It would definitely be nicer to have it integrated and factory-like.
But why stop with stereo controls. Put your sunroof control on there too, maybe even your turbo spoiler switch.

[Beeble]

It's definitely a nice feature. Maybe you could swap the wheel from a wrecked Jetta? The wiring could be an "interesting" job, but you're up to it, or you wouldn't be asking about it, right?

[Steinola]

Originally Posted by Beeble

The wiring could be an "interesting" job

Yeah... how would you do it? You wouldn't want the wires to wrap around the stalk as you turn the wheel. But, I guess a lot of other cars already have the feature... so I guess that little detail's already been solved.

[gilligan]

Hey 58 ragtop your springs show up yet?

[58ragtop]

hey bud, the springs should be here tomorrow :-)

the stereo portion is the easy part believe it or not, but takeling the wheel....i just need to see a a break down on it, there is a few different ways to go about it...no of em easy of course, but thats what makes it fun..it's the chalange :-)

[gilligan]

Originally Posted by 58ragtop

hey bud, the springs should be here tomorrow :-)

the stereo portion is the easy part believe it or not, but takeling the wheel....i just need to see a a break down on it, there is a few different ways to go about it...no of em easy of course, but thats what makes it fun..it's the chalange :-)

Ummmm yea about that steering wheel idea if you can pull it off youd be a better man than...well about every auto engineer out there. I actually though I saw that on tv about a week ago but not sure where or what kind of car it was but I'm guessing something that runs more than I will ever see in my lifetime. you would need some...mannnn I cant even fathom it. you couldnt do it with wire so it would have to be some kind of contact plate with as many contacts as things you want to do at the wheel. unless it was some kind of wireless remote thingy.

[pixelnexus]

i had a remote on my steering wheel for my stereo. I don't use it anymore since I upgraded HUs, but the remote is still in place.

[Steinola]

Originally Posted by pixelnexus

i had a remote on my steering wheel for my stereo. I don't use it anymore since I upgraded HUs, but the remote is still in place.

Was it "built in"? Or just "mounted"?

[58ragtop]

i used to work at good guys a few years ago, we did the remote thing on a acura, we basically took the remote and built it into the wheel and extended the wirs for the infra red sender to the back side of the wheel so the stereo could see it.
i work at a ford dealership now and ive seen the parts involed with wheels whith stereo controls, i just dont any way to do this with out pulling the wheel, ive never messed with air bags and dont think im going to start. it's a neet idea, but it would be allot work for such a little mod.

[lil'turbo]

that would be amazing iknow the deck is not that fair away. but i use my remote i no i am lazy lol. let me know when and if you do this i am very interested but probably not capable of doing something to that extent. you know what else i have always wanted is a heated stearing wheel and shifter. wanna work on that on for me. plez it cold in northern canada. let me know if you accomplish the buttons thou i am sure u will.

[58ragtop]

i did a qiuck search and found that some vw's have heated wheels. now you might want to check and see if one of these wheels will fit on your car, if so i would go to a junk yard and get the necessary parts and have it done. i did find a stearing wheel cover that is heated for $49 but is for golf carts and such but looks pretty ugly.