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Old 26-05-2011, 12:34 PM   #1
turquoise
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Default spare buttons

I've put a Cd player in my AU as an upgrade from the tape deck, making the buttons on the lefthand side of the steering wheel redundant (search, vol up, vol down)

I know i can get an (expensive) wiring harness to make them functional again but not really that interested, reaching for the vol knob doesnt kill me. My question/idea/point of interest is;

Can i use the now redundant buttons for another function? (I assume the answer to this is Yes, sort of, in a limited way, depending on what sort of function) and...

What function could that be? (I was thinking lighting; using the search button to scroll through on/off for driving lights or supplementary reverse lights or something)

Worth doing? Or is it all gonna be too much of a headache and should i just go with a normal switch for whatever i might want to control?

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Old 26-05-2011, 12:46 PM   #2
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Default Re: spare buttons

The buttons could be used for anything - just find the terminating wire and you're in business. Keep in mind that they are momentary buttons only (ie you have to hold them to do whatever function it is you want them to do - not like an on/off button). So a flash of high beam, or a toot of the horn might be good uses.....
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Old 26-05-2011, 02:04 PM   #3
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Default Re: spare buttons

Good to know that they're momentary switches, makes sense.

Now I'm thinking a flash of highbeam AND a toot of the horn...
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Old 26-05-2011, 03:54 PM   #4
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Default Re: spare buttons

nos..
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Old 26-05-2011, 04:03 PM   #5
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Default Re: spare buttons

ejector seat?
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Old 26-05-2011, 06:02 PM   #6
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Default Re: spare buttons

Quote:
Originally Posted by turquoise
Good to know that they're momentary switches, makes sense.

Now I'm thinking a flash of highbeam AND a toot of the horn...
LOL. Otherwise known as the "Get out of the right hand lane" mod!
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Mods: Tune, HSD/ShockWorks, black GT335 19” staggered replicas with 245 & 275/35/19 Michelin Pilot sport 5s

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Old 27-05-2011, 04:03 PM   #7
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Default Re: spare buttons

So far we have;

horn & lights
NOS
ejector seat

all excellent ideas, and with 3 buttons available, look out!
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Old 28-05-2011, 12:18 PM   #8
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Default Re: spare buttons

Unfortunately the buttons all use one wire. Pressing them switches the wire to ground through a different resistor for each button, thus creating a different voltage on the wire for each button. So you need electronics to do anything with the signals. I used a PAC SWI-PS http://www.pac-audio.com/SWI/ (about $60 from ebay if you buy from the US) to control my Sony head unit, works nicely and was pretty easy to install and program. Can dig up the details if you want...
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Old 28-05-2011, 12:31 PM   #9
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Default Re: spare buttons

http://222.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11295688

Red/white wire is the one. Seek switches it straight to ground (via BCM), vol+ through 248 ohm resistor, vol- through 910 ohm resistor (according to Max Ellery's manual, so may be wrong...)
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