Steering Wheel Controls - I recently purchase a new radio?

Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 2011 TOYOTA TACOMA
  • 2.7L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
Hello, my name is Charlie Hoover.

I recently purchase a new radio (Pioneer 1770NEX). While doing this I decided to upgrade my truck to support steering wheel controls. My truck was a base model with absolutely no frills. There were, however, other 2011 Tacoma models that had those features, so I thought I was safe. Along with the radio, I purchase a PAC unit, XM tuner, microphone, and backup camera.
When I started my upgrade, I had to get a new air bag. Then I added two OEM switches (right and left side) on the steering wheel. I had to replace the clock spring to accommodate the connectors from the switch. The clock spring is also OEM. I got the ribbon cable that connects the two switches from a junkyard.
With that taken care of, I needed a 3-wire harness from the clock spring to the PAC. While at the junkyard in clipped two connectors (clock spring and radio end from a 2007 Corolla with swc). That was the closest vehicle to mine that I could find (there were no Tacoma's on site). I also procured a wiring diagram from Toyota to verify the correct pins. They did match up. I also called PAC support to verify the pin outs on the radio end. They also were the same. So, at that point I soldered three wires into those two connectors and finished my harness. There was one other wire from the clock spring that I soldered in (it was for the horn).
Everything worked with the exception of the Steering Wheel Controls (SWC). I am at a loss now. One last thing that I have to try is to re-calibrate the PAC unit based on their documentation. By doing that, I will be able to tell if I am getting any signal from the switches to the PAC unit.
If you have any ideas, as to what I overlooked, I would appreciate hearing them. One thing that I am not sure about is how the switches get power. Should there be a power wire leading into the clock spring? Again, any help is appreciated!

Thank you,
Charlie
Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 AT 10:59 AM

14 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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I would start over and check all power and grounds for the system. This guide can help, and I have found the radio wiring diagrams including the spiral wire. Check the continuity, we are missing something, the system doesn't look that complicated.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens. I know you said you have the wiring diagrams, but I find these are easier to read than factory diagrams.
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Wednesday, July 13th, 2022 AT 11:20 AM
Tiny
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I pulled things back apart and checked continuity. It is good for each of the three wires in the harness, and the wires are going to the appropriate pins
Clock spring Radio Connector
46
58
67

Not sure what to do at this point.
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Friday, July 15th, 2022 AT 7:55 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Does the new radio (Pioneer 1770NEX) support steering wheel controls?
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Friday, July 15th, 2022 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
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Yes, it does support steering wheel controls.
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Friday, July 15th, 2022 AT 11:03 AM
Tiny
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Here is the pic.
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Friday, July 15th, 2022 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Hmm, all connections are good, I am wondering about the spiral wire from the junkyard, I know it tests good, but I have seen that part cause all kinds of intermittent troubles. All other parts are new?
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Saturday, July 16th, 2022 AT 10:31 AM
Tiny
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Actually, the spiral cable was new, it was the ribbon cable connecting the two switches that was from the junkyard. Everything else is new.
I did some more testing since we talked. If you will bear with me I will try and explain what I've done. On my 3-wire harness, I will refer to the wires as SW1, SW2 and SWG. I found that I am getting power from the radio. Both SW1 and SW2 are carrying approximately 4+ volts. I checked the current at the connection where I enter the clock-spring and both wires are carrying voltage which tells me that my harness (at least those two wires are functioning. Next I disconnected the steering wheel control switch from the clock-spring and tested the pins in the clock-spring. Two of the pins in the clock-spring were carrying 4+ volts, which tells me that the clock-spring is working and passing current through it. Next I wanted to test the switch itself. First, I plugged the switch back into the clock-spring. My thinking on this is that if the voltage is coming into the switch via SW1 and SW2, then whenever I depress a button on the switch it is completing one of those circuits and sending the voltage out SWG. Working on that assumption, I disconnected the connection point where my harness plugs into the PAC (vehicle connector 3). Then I de-pinned SWG. Once that wire was out, I reconnected to the PAC. Now I tested with the multimeter. With the ignition on, one lead grounding out the other lead attached to SWG and button depressed, I expected to see voltage (which I hoped would confirm that my switch is working. However, I did not see any voltage.
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Sunday, July 17th, 2022 AT 5:55 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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The only thing I can think of is to start the testing over again because we might have missed something. If all connections are good, then the radio must be defective.
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Sunday, July 17th, 2022 AT 11:43 AM
Tiny
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After my last message, I noticed something else. After my test failed, I decided to test continuity to SWG while I had it disconnected. It actually connects to pin 3 under the steering wheel thrust the Clock spring to pin 4 where my harness connects. The problem is that no wire goes into pin 3. So, there is no path back to the radio. Does that mean that the click spring and steering wheel control are not compatible, even though they are designated for my truck? One last question which has me confused. I am only using a three-wire harness, then why in the world are there seven wires coming from the control? Makes zero sense to me, if my path to the radio is only three wires.
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Sunday, July 17th, 2022 AT 12:32 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, that is strange, you would think that three wires are not enough to control the radio from the steering wheel, can you call the radio manufacturer and ask them why there are only three wires? Maybe it won't work with your particular car are they have an adapter.
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Monday, July 18th, 2022 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
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Okay, thanks.
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Monday, July 18th, 2022 AT 12:18 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Please let us know what happens.
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Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 AT 10:26 AM
Tiny
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Ken, Can you send me the clockspring wiring diagam fro my 2011 Tacoma?
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Thursday, July 21st, 2022 AT 7:08 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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They don't really show it like that, it is more of parts of other systems which I have included in the diagrams below.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2022 AT 11:04 AM

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