D4 steering wheel gearshift switches

[Graeme]

I finally fitted switches to the steering wheel to provide gear upshifts and downshifts, having obtained the equipment 14 months ago for the large outlay of $36. The switches are in a remote control for a set of 4 relays, 2 of which are now connected to the upshift and downshift wires going to the gearbox as they pass through the 2nd battery box. I could have mounted the remote inside the wheel if there was somewhere to mount 2 momentary switches but it was too simple and tempting to stick the remote onto the side of the wheel below the phone buttons, which also meant no modifications to the wheel.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/07/1452.jpg


I regularly want the gbox to shift up a gear but having to go into sport mode often causes an immediate downshift. I also often forget to get out of manual mode, only realising its still there when the gbox doesn't change up normally.

[101RRS]

Your car needs a clean :o.

Garry

[Graeme]

You haven't seen the outside...

[lpj]

Hi Graeme.

Is there any delay when you shift up or down? Are you happy with the results?

[Graeme]

There is no effective delay. The moment I've released the button, the instrument panel is showing 'command-shift selected' or similar and the next gear shows after the D with the gear change following soon after. Normal command-shift mode rules apply, such as if the speed is too low then the gear number reverts to the current gear and no change occurs. I don't yet know if it will automatically up-shift earlier than in sport mode but I'll find out tomorrow - I'd prefer it did.

I've only been out on the road for a short run and noticed that once command-shift mode is entered, it may be necessary to keep changing up manually because the TCM stays in command-shift mode for some time. This may be good in some circumstances and not so good in others, but at least full auto mode doesn't resume prematurely which might otherwise cause an undesired down-shift.

Command-shift mode can be cancelled by moving the lever to sport mode momentarily and as its already in command-shift mode, there is no automatic down-shift. I could set another button to activate sport mode momentarily to cancel command-shift mode if it becomes a problem but I suspect that once in command shift mode I expect to want to stay there until in 6th gear.

Down-shift works well too, having tested it on throttle over-run down a steep hill in 3rd then dropped it to 2nd then 1st.

Yes, I'm very pleased with the facility.

Edit: The idea came from Pete Bell of Bell Autos UK but finding the right connector and wires in the aux battery spot was my doing.

[Duck's Guts]

Well done! Very clever!
I don't need or desire such a modification, but I appreciate your ingenuity!
It also looks very 'factory'. And $36! I wonder what L/R would have charged for such an option....

[~Rich~]

I can see the advantage for Low range 4wding.
Great to be able to select 1st low for a steep decent or maybe 2nd low for a steep climb. :)

[Graeme]

I think in low range I'd use manual mode and the lever, as whilst the remote is easy to access when driving straight ahead, it gets hard to find and use with the steering turned. That's where my setup isn't nearly as good as paddle switches (as found on the RRS these days) but even those might be less convenient than the lever. Also, eventually (for most gears - not 2nd when stopped at traffic lights!) the box reverts to full auto which might not be what's required.

The steering wheel and paddle switch cable from a 2010 RRS can be fitted to a D4 (some used ones are available ex UK because people fit heated ones instead) which then only requires enabling with Faultmate etc, but they're way too expensive for me. The remote control facility works with D3s and D4s.

[CaverD3]

Great job Graeme :BigThumb:

Where they are positioned looks good and in a goood spot.

[Graeme]

The only disadvantage is that if the gbox is still in command-shift mode when the vehicle stops (eg at traffic lights or a roundabout), it stays in 2nd and needs to either have command-shift mode cancelled or driven manually at least into 3rd. I intend connecting a 3rd button to ground the sport mode signal wire, which when released, instantly cancels command-shift mode, to avoid having to find the gear lever then move it left then right.

[Graeme]

It was time to revisit my setup to limit the time the up-shift or down-shift was activated. Sometimes I held the up-shift button for a longer time than the gearbox ecu expects the gear-lever electronics to activate the up-shift or down-shift facility, which results in a gearbox fault that requires the ignition to be cycled to clear. I've also wanted to add a sport/manual button so that command-shift can be cancelled without having to move the lever to the sport mode position then back.

I invested $14 to have some pcbs produced (min qty 10 - I only need 1!), fitted about $10 in components and now with the up-shift and down-shift set to 200 ms duration, faults no longer occur regardless of the time a button is pressed. No further change requests will be accepted until 500 ms after the button is released. The pcb uses the outputs from the remote control module so is an add-on to the original facility. Provision has been made for a S/M button (LR call it the Dynamic button when fitted) to use the 3rd RC channel, which will be implemented tomorrow.

I have some spare pcbs so can make-up modules at cost if wanted, noting that a remote control facility is also needed to operate the gear-shift remotely. The pcbs have some design flexibility, catering for 4 inputs/outputs (the RC module I purchased has 4 channels) and can be built to switch to 0V as for this application or switch to 5V or 12V using triggers of 0V or 5V respectively.

[gghaggis]

I've got a spare remote 3ch lying around, so I'll take one to play around with!

Cheers,

Gordon

[Graeme]

Hi Gordon,I expected your RRS to have paddles, but it seems not. I'd be interested to know how useful you find the press-button "paddles".