Steering wheel audio controls: Why didn't they offer this?

I finally finished putting the steering wheel controls in my 94 RMW. Put the bag and wheel from a Park ave in there with the clock spring to go with it. The radio is out of a 98 PA. I picked up the dash from a 96 RMW so the large one would fit. I made an adapter harness with an adapter from walmart and the harness out of the 96 RMW I pulled the dash out of. Everything works great
I swapped the radio because I could not get the controls to work on my original 94 radio. The PA I pulled the wheel out of had an identical looking radio, so I assumed mine would work too, but doesn't. Now I gotta ask, why didn't they offer these on any B-bodies?

Looks good. I'm so used to steering wheel audio controls from my other cars now, it sucks the B's don't have them. I don't get why that was though. I know the Roadmaster was slotted below the Park Avenue, but the LeSabre could have steering wheel audio controls (no HVAC controls though) so why the heck not? There's a LOT of things other lesser Buicks at the time had that the B'd and even D's don't have (I was surprised at the things a DeVille had that a Fleetwood doesn't). The only reason I can figure was that GM didn't want the RM taking sales away from the other Buicks. Possibly a reason why they were so short lived; unless you were dead set on RWD only, you paid more and got less creature comforts and gadgets. I'm ready for my next Caprice though I've got a nice Monte steering wheel and spring all ready to go in, just have to find a car! Now, if I could just find a way to put in dual sun visors like most other Buicks and Olds' of the time had...

Awesome. I had planned to do that in the Marshmallow too, but never got around to it. Then I put in the T-Type wheel.

My V has SWC's, but none for the radio. Doh!

Lynol wrote:

Looks good. I'm so used to steering wheel audio controls from my other cars now, it sucks the B's don't have them. I don't get why that was though. I know the Roadmaster was slotted below the Park Avenue, but the LeSabre could have steering wheel audio controls (no HVAC controls though) so why the heck not? There's a LOT of things other lesser Buicks at the time had that the B'd and even D's don't have (I was surprised at the things a DeVille had that a Fleetwood doesn't). The only reason I can figure was that GM didn't want the RM taking sales away from the other Buicks. Possibly a reason why they were so short lived; unless you were dead set on RWD only, you paid more and got less creature comforts and gadgets. I'm ready for my next Caprice though I've got a nice Monte steering wheel and spring all ready to go in, just have to find a car! Now, if I could just find a way to put in dual sun visors like most other Buicks and Olds' of the time had...

There are some large Olds sedans that had steeringwheel controls with horn buttons like the OCC. They were from about the same era. I have seen a couple, but they were in bad condition. The airbag is directly interchangable with the OCC airbag, but I would think the clockspring might be different.

Nice. I need a radio for the 95 RMW, so I may as well grab a wheel, too! Anyone know if the steering wheel with controls came in red?

I do not know about the Buick wheels. I believe the Olds wheels came in ruby red and gray. I haven't seen any other colors in the Olds wheels.

jayoldschool wrote:

Nice. I need a radio for the 95 RMW, so I may as well grab a wheel, too! Anyone know if the steering wheel with controls came in red?

Yup, same red as the LT1 wagons. i have a bag in my garage waiting to go in my 95. That one is out of a 95 Lesabre, but just about any Buick from that era with this wheel will work.

How late can I go with the head unit?

95BRMW wrote:

jayoldschool wrote:

Nice. I need a radio for the 95 RMW, so I may as well grab a wheel, too! Anyone know if the steering wheel with controls came in red?

Yup, same red as the LT1 wagons. i have a bag in my garage waiting to go in my 95. That one is out of a 95 Lesabre, but just about any Buick from that era with this wheel will work.

The LeSabre wheels are perfect for our cars, since they didn't have SWC buttons for the HVAC, so every button on the wheel can be used in a B body since it's controls for radio only. A wheel from a PA like 95BRMW has here has controls for temp which we can't use

Oh, and Fred, I've seen the buttons you're talking about. I've seen them on the last Toronado for sure. I found some info that claims they were only on '91 to '92 Olds 88, 98, and Toronado. Supposedly working ones are rare now. Apparently they were prone to breaking easily. I'd love to find a steering wheel with controls from an early to mid '90s Olds 88 or 98. The wheel looks different than the OCC, but it should have been in the same colors.

This is the wheel you're talking about, right Fred?

The one from the later cars looks like this:

Sorry about the size of the pics. These are linked-as-found

I had a Ruby Red SWC bag that I had in the Marshmallow for a while. Never got the clockspring for it though... I'm pretty sure I hadn't sold it yet, but I'll have to look.

Lynol wrote:

95BRMW wrote:

jayoldschool wrote:

Nice. I need a radio for the 95 RMW, so I may as well grab a wheel, too! Anyone know if the steering wheel with controls came in red?

Yup, same red as the LT1 wagons. i have a bag in my garage waiting to go in my 95. That one is out of a 95 Lesabre, but just about any Buick from that era with this wheel will work.

The LeSabre wheels are perfect for our cars, since they didn't have SWC buttons for the HVAC, so every button on the wheel can be used in a B body since it's controls for radio only. A wheel from a PA like 95BRMW has here has controls for temp which we can't use

Oh, and Fred, I've seen the buttons you're talking about. I've seen them on the last Toronado for sure. I found some info that claims they were only on '91 to '92 Olds 88, 98, and Toronado. Supposedly working ones are rare now. Apparently they were prone to breaking easily. I'd love to find a steering wheel with controls from an early to mid '90s Olds 88 or 98. The wheel looks different than the OCC, but it should have been in the same colors.

This is the wheel you're talking about, right Fred?

The one from the later cars looks like this:

Sorry about the size of the pics. These are linked-as-found

Yep that is the one I was referring to. I thought about getting one, but could never find one in decent condition. Now I have aftermarket wheels in both of my wagons. I see they came in OCC compatable blue too.

toomanytoyz wrote:

I had a Ruby Red SWC bag that I had in the Marshmallow for a while. Never got the clockspring for it though... I'm pretty sure I hadn't sold it yet, but I'll have to look.

Yeah, we PM'd about it...

I thought so. lol. Sometimes I really suck at that. Sorry.

If the monte carlo clockspring will work, I DO have one of those...

95BMRW....were you able to hook up or use the left side HVAC buttons? This is what has kept me from doing this mod in the past. Also, can yoj elaborate on what all you need from the donor car so the next time I go yarding I grab all the proper componets? I have the radio for this sitting on a shelf waiting for install but the HVAC hookup and proper wire routing has kept me from going further.

toomanytoyz wrote:

I thought so. lol. Sometimes I really suck at that. Sorry.

If the monte carlo clockspring will work, I DO have one of those...

I guarantee I am worse than you. Could you give it to Tom at WFNY? I could grab it from him on the way home from Maine.

The clock springs look the same, but I don't have one on hand to see if the connector is the same for the controls. As far as the head unit, I am assuming any head unit that looks like the one in the Roadmaster will work. Later models could work too as long as they have the steering wheel controls and they work the same.

I could not get the hvac control to work, I tried ever open spot on the ECC and it didn't respond to it. The red one I bought is the first one I ever saw that does not have hvac controls, it had more radio controls on it (that I can't remember what they did at this time). That is the bag out of a 95 Lesabre with manual heater controls. Those are ideal for our cars obviously. Once I get some time I'll pull the radio back out and take some pics and do a nice right up. It's not as hard as it first seems.

On a side note, the controls to detach from the airbag and can fit on bags that didn't have controls, the mounting holes are there.

I'd also appreciate a detailed write-up on how to install-wire this. Had planned to do a three-spoke older wheel but if this can be made to work will go this route instead. Love this option. Also didn't know they made non HAVC controls for leSabres.

Will be hitting the yards SOON!!

-Mike

I know this is an old thread, but could someone possibly write up a "how-to" and parts list to do this mod for a 94-96 Roadmaster?

I'm not electrical but can plug-and-play with the best of them.   LOVE this mod!

-Mike

Does that mean you have a 94-96 to put a steering wheel into?   

Cadet57 wrote:

Does that mean you have a 94-96 to put a steering wheel into?   

I will let you know soon.......

-Mike

I think every member here has their fingers crossed for you Mike!

Parts needed:
clock spring from a 90's Lesabre, Park ave, monte carlo, etc. I found the monte ones easiest to pull without damaging the wiring. Also cut some of the pigtail the clock spring plugs into under the dash, makes wiring a little easier.
Wheel controls from 90's buicks. The buttons come off the air bag, but the plastic is so brittle that is usually cracks in the process. You're better off buying the whole airbag. If you can find it, grab them from a lesabre. Those didn't have heat controls which are useless on roadmasters.

I didn't document the process, but I used the info from the SS forum below. Everything was pretty much the same except the location for the signal wire on the radio. I'll have to look that one up.
http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=227770

Thanks a LOT! I'm hoping to have a Roady wagon again in the near future, and want to remove the wheel to re-dye it, and want to add this option and change the worn turn signal lever all at the same time.

We shall see!!

-Mike

I'm on the hunt for a dark red LeSabre airbag with controls, and the clockspring/wiring.     We got new Pick-A-Part yard in Austin and I ran down there this past Sat afternoon, but no luck sadly.

Will check out Wrench-A-Part soon.     If anyone comes by one of these in a yard near you, a bag with buttons that do not have the climate control, and are not all worn, I WILL buy it from you.

Oh and to help the Caprice wagon folks, I found this write-up about putting a Monte Carlo wheel with the buttons over on the Impala site: http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=227770 This looks like the same link as above but it was not opening for me.

Trying to figure out what exactly from the steering column I need to pull and how hard it will be to pull it in the salvage yard.  

-Mike

Mike,
I would suggest looking for a Century, Regal or Skylark as they don't have the HVAC controls. They have the properly labeled buttons for what you are doing.

You also will need the SRS coil. You will have to fish it out from the steering column from bottom to top. It has to be fished out from the top.

Removing the column and or the lower connector shell will help get it out.

-D

YachtDriver wrote:

Mike,
I would suggest looking for a Century, Regal or Skylark as they don't have the HVAC controls. They have the properly labeled buttons for what you are doing.

You also will need the SRS coil. You will have to fish it out from the steering column from bottom to top. It has to be fished out from the top.

Removing the column and or the lower connector shell will help get it out.

-D

This is one of my winter projects (along with re-painting the roof rack and front and rear bumpers).

-Mike