3ES: Steering wheel retrofit
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: UT
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3ES: Steering wheel retrofit
Hi there,
I have an 01 ES, and was wondering if its possible to retrofit one of the newer ES steering wheels with the steering wheel controls? Not a must have but would definitely be a nice upgrade.
Thanks!
I have an 01 ES, and was wondering if its possible to retrofit one of the newer ES steering wheels with the steering wheel controls? Not a must have but would definitely be a nice upgrade.
Thanks!
#3
Its definitely possible, you're just going to have to go through a lot of work to do it. A friend of mine did it for his Acura, however, as I recall it took him a long time to figure out exactly how to get the buttons working because he had to open up the stereo itself and basically connected wires to where the external buttons wound send their signal and added variable resistors so that it would function properly (I could be remembering wrong on this part). In the end he said it wasn't worth it, but to each their own.
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: UT
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#6
I'm interested too. Just wondering how much work it would be to get the actual wheel on the hub, and if possible to connect the airbag.
Is there any particular lexus that would be the best, and are there any differences in the way the steering wheels actually attach?
Theres plenty of aftermarket solutions to get the controls working
Is there any particular lexus that would be the best, and are there any differences in the way the steering wheels actually attach?
Theres plenty of aftermarket solutions to get the controls working
#7
Haha, the lack of a ton of buttons is one of the things I like about the 02-04 ES wheel. The controls are well designed enough that the volume and seek buttons fall easily to hand.
Trending Topics
#8
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: UT
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#9
Lead Lap
This is all doable, interfacing the stock controls with an aftermarket radio and SWC adapter can work, the steering wheels generally swap the splines are all the same. your biggest challenges are:
- You will need to use the matching airbag for the wheel you put on. It will likely be a two stage airbag where the old ES has a single stage. You can do some wiring to tie the second stage of the wheel to the trigger of the stock wiring.
- You need to get the SWC wires through the roll connector (also called "clockspring") down the column. IIRC there are two unused wires already there for you, the stock car supported a dealer installed cell phone that had SWC for the phone. You can use those wires for your SWC in the wheel and pick them up on the other side of the roll connector in the column.
This is totally possible to do this you just need to be a bit handy to do it there is not sticky or step by step telling you how to get it done.
- You will need to use the matching airbag for the wheel you put on. It will likely be a two stage airbag where the old ES has a single stage. You can do some wiring to tie the second stage of the wheel to the trigger of the stock wiring.
- You need to get the SWC wires through the roll connector (also called "clockspring") down the column. IIRC there are two unused wires already there for you, the stock car supported a dealer installed cell phone that had SWC for the phone. You can use those wires for your SWC in the wheel and pick them up on the other side of the roll connector in the column.
This is totally possible to do this you just need to be a bit handy to do it there is not sticky or step by step telling you how to get it done.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post