Steering wheel audio controls

[Tins]

My new, very cheap car radio allegedly accepts steering wheel control inputs. So, if I get the higher end wheel with the buttons is it a simple matter of plug and play? With a little help from the Nanocom.

[sierrafery]

Not plug and play at all, it has nothing to do with nanocom or similar, it's about te vehicle's main dashboard harness which if your's was not equipped from factory with steering wheel controls the lower line harness doesnt have the necessary wiring. All you can do is to fit a unit with wireless controll pack which you can retrofit easily as they are built to fit almost any steering wheel... or you need something like this Landrover Discovery 2 steering wheel control interface (HARMAN/KARDON AMPLIFIED SYSTEMS) - InCarTec (https://incartec.co.uk/product/Landrover-Discovery-2-steering-wheel-control-interface-HARMAN-KARDON-AMPLIFIED-29-724'srsltid=AfmBOopn6WFqfbYBY1R2Sn0Q7nLQW8E5kMPEs1 yipzWsFDLUt5AGW44q) to suit your radio

[Tins]

Not plug and play at all, it has nothing to do with nanocom or similar, it's about te vehicle's main dashboard harness which if your's was not equipped from factory with steering wheel controls the lower line harness doesnt have the necessary wiring. All you can do is to fit a unit with wireless controll pack which you can retrofit easily as they are built to fit almost any steering wheel... or you need something like this Landrover Discovery 2 steering wheel control interface (HARMAN/KARDON AMPLIFIED SYSTEMS) - InCarTec (https://incartec.co.uk/product/Landrover-Discovery-2-steering-wheel-control-interface-HARMAN-KARDON-AMPLIFIED-29-724'srsltid=AfmBOopn6WFqfbYBY1R2Sn0Q7nLQW8E5kMPEs1 yipzWsFDLUt5AGW44q) to suit your radio

Thanks, sf. I'm reasonably handy with wiring, well, I used to be. I know of a donor car. Do you think the dash/cluster harness will plug into the car's main loom? Or were LR silly enough to have looms that were bespoke? ( The Japanese showed us the folly of that back in the 70s or perhaps earlier. )

The cheap radio I got plugged directly into the existing radio harness with zero mods needed. But I think the original head unit in my low end car was a Eurovox.

Provided I can get the stuff out of the donor then I'm prepared to put in the time, but if I have to go the "add on" route I can't be bothered, it doesn't matter that much. It's just that the biggish screen stuff no longer comes with handy knobs.

[sierrafery]

Thanks, sf. I'm reasonably handy with wiring, well, I used to be. I know of a donor car. Do you think the dash/cluster harness will plug into the car's main loom? Or were LR silly enough to have looms that were bespoke? ( The Japanese showed us the folly of that back in the 70s or perhaps earlier. )

I'm affraid that the only way to achieve what you want is to replace the whole main dash harness cos there are the circuits and they are not compatible with each other...it's about the complex harness with many connectors shown here Discovery 2 1998 - 2004 Classic (l318) / Harness-main (rhd,with Diesel Engines) | Jaguar Land Rover Classic Parts (https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.com/parts/index/part/id/14.55783.56186.59788/brand/land-rover/_gl/1%2A14pzdvm%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2ANzk1MzkwMDcxLjE3M zczMzI5NTc.%2A_ga_6WEX61NFXZ%2AMTczNzMzMjk1Ny4xLjA uMTczNzMzMjk1Ny4wLjAuMTY3Mjc1MjIw/) nr. 1, click on + to see how many they are. I dont see any way around this but i didnt even think about it too much cos seems too complicated to botch it up somehow. Sorry but i can't help you more with this

[Tins]

You’ve been a great help. You have definitely helped me decide to do without 😂
But seriously, thanks. I was hoping it would be you who chipped in.

[admiralranga]

Looking at the wiring diagrams I suspect it won't be the worst to do, there's only one part number for the rotary coupler so if you're fitting a complete steering wheel it should plug in to the rotary coupler and then you'd just need to run two wires from C0082 (pins 1 & 2) to your headunit. Fairly sure that's the 6 pin version of the switch connectors so pins are readily available (or pull the wires out of the donor harnes imho more effort but also I've got crimpers/pins etc to make cables up)

[Tins]

Looking at the wiring diagrams I suspect it won't be the worst to do, there's only one part number for the rotary coupler so if you're fitting a complete steering wheel it should plug in to the rotary coupler and then you'd just need to run two wires from C0082 (pins 1 & 2) to your headunit. Fairly sure that's the 6 pin version of the switch connectors so pins are readily available (or pull the wires out of the donor harnes imho more effort but also I've got crimpers/pins etc to make cables up)

Thanks. I also have many types of terminals and crimpers, including Deutsch. Not bad at soldering either, although I prefer not to on cars. What I don't have is a wiring diagram, cos my copy of FreeRave has gone to [ insert deity of choice ]. Best I get a new one...

[sierrafery]

Looking at the wiring diagrams I suspect it won't be the worst to do, there's only one part number for the rotary coupler so if you're fitting a complete steering wheel it should plug in to the rotary coupler and then you'd just need to run two wires from C0082 (pins 1 & 2) to your headunit. Fairly sure that's the 6 pin version of the switch connectors so pins are readily available (or pull the wires out of the donor harnes imho more effort but also I've got crimpers/pins etc to make cables up)
Which wiring diagram you mean cos there are many for ICE, base, middle, high line, etc all of them need dedicated main harness... IMO you are too optimist with that, but if you can do it i'll bow to you...the gist is that if the vehicle is fitted with a main harness which was not designed for steering wheel controll no matter what you do untill that section cos there will be no circuit there to connect it if you see what i mean... the wiring diagrams from RAVE are generic they dont show exaclty how the various harnesses were built.

[AK83]

.... Not bad at soldering either, although I prefer not to on cars. What I don't have is a wiring diagram, cos my copy of FreeRave has gone to [ insert deity of choice ]. Best I get a new one...

I would give admiralrangers suggestion a try, or at least a look at.

Wouldn't install the wheel as such, just temporarily hook up the rotary coupler and remote dongle thingy.

You reckon the aftermarket radio went in without any mods to the LR wiring, hence the std radio plug??
So the std plug in the disco fit the new radio fine.

I have a few D2s now, one of them is a 'hiline' ... car isn't call hiline, but has the fancy-schmancy 1.5DIN radio head plus CD changer and whatever additional speakers.
In terms of hiline and 'lower line' remote controls, according to the electrical library they're all one and the same.

That is, doesnt' matter if hiline or not, the circuit diagram does look a bit different, as there are other/additional connections and wires in the hiline loom, but the two wires from remote that feed to the radio head unit still connect to the same connector same pins at the radio end anyhow.
So hi end and low end use the same radio connector. C0098(radio end).

The loom that SF talks about seems to go to a connector under the stg colums on the LHS of it. There should be four connectors mounted to the frame, arranged vertically. Two top are both black, then third down is white and bottom one is orange. So you have this setup? Take photo and post it. Black connector second from top is where the loom from the steering wheel control/coupler goes to, the hard mounted connector(C0067), the removable connector(C0229) is the one then heads to the radio connector.

ps. you dont' need fancy software to view rave files. They're just pdfs. so any pdf viewer will do, and still search terms and stuff.
I just use a plain ol(lightweight) pdf viewer to find stuff on RAVE. The hard bit about RAVE is knowing which pdf files you need to open.

If you want, I can somehow send you the pdf files you need, just open them with your preferred pdf viewing program.

and ps. if you have never used THESE (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/355437784439?chn=ps&_ul=AU&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-166974-041499-5&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=355437784439&targetid=2275367127251&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1000567&poi=&campaignid=21806516367&mkgroupid=169788438918&rlsatarget=pla-2275367127251&abcId=10061461&merchantid=5455207239&geoid=1000567&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy8K8BhCZARIsAKJ8sfTNZbRO4YAmUs2kRXjG 3Q6iVECJ3xRwFSh9yi2lGWW9T82OsRkePewaAk_XEALw_wcB) solder/heatshrink wire connectors, I suggest you should try them. I've been using them maniacally for the past few years. so easy to connect broken wires together again. But you need a heat gun with a 180° deflector for best results.

[Tins]

I would give admiralrangers suggestion a try, or at least a look at.

Wouldn't install the wheel as such, just temporarily hook up the rotary coupler and remote dongle thingy.

You reckon the aftermarket radio went in without any mods to the LR wiring, hence the std radio plug??
So the std plug in the disco fit the new radio fine.

I have a few D2s now, one of them is a 'hiline' ... car isn't call hiline, but has the fancy-schmancy 1.5DIN radio head plus CD changer and whatever additional speakers.
In terms of hiline and 'lower line' remote controls, according to the electrical library they're all one and the same.

That is, doesnt' matter if hiline or not, the circuit diagram does look a bit different, as there are other/additional connections and wires in the hiline loom, but the two wires from remote that feed to the radio head unit still connect to the same connector same pins at the radio end anyhow.
So hi end and low end use the same radio connector. C0098(radio end).

The loom that SF talks about seems to go to a connector under the stg colums on the LHS of it. There should be four connectors mounted to the frame, arranged vertically. Two top are both black, then third down is white and bottom one is orange. So you have this setup? Take photo and post it. Black connector second from top is where the loom from the steering wheel control/coupler goes to, the hard mounted connector(C0067), the removable connector(C0229) is the one then heads to the radio connector.

ps. you dont' need fancy software to view rave files. They're just pdfs. so any pdf viewer will do, and still search terms and stuff.
I just use a plain ol(lightweight) pdf viewer to find stuff on RAVE. The hard bit about RAVE is knowing which pdf files you need to open.

If you want, I can somehow send you the pdf files you need, just open them with your preferred pdf viewing program.

and ps. if you have never used THESE (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/355437784439?chn=ps&_ul=AU&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-166974-041499-5&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=355437784439&targetid=2275367127251&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1000567&poi=&campaignid=21806516367&mkgroupid=169788438918&rlsatarget=pla-2275367127251&abcId=10061461&merchantid=5455207239&geoid=1000567&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy8K8BhCZARIsAKJ8sfTNZbRO4YAmUs2kRXjG 3Q6iVECJ3xRwFSh9yi2lGWW9T82OsRkePewaAk_XEALw_wcB) solder/heatshrink wire connectors, I suggest you should try them. I've been using them maniacally for the past few years. so easy to connect broken wires together again. But you need a heat gun with a 180° deflector for best results.
Thanks for this Arthur.
I’m not sure what my car is. It’s not the “hiline “, but it does ( did) have the CD changer. The cheap head unit simply plugged in, which I must say surprised me. It’s a PITA in many ways but my needs are few. It allegedly accepts steering wheel control inputs and a reverse camera if I can be bothered to fit it.
I have the PDF files but I don’t find the search function as useful as when it’s all combined as RAVE. Perhaps I should be a little less lazy 🥱
I’ll look at the connectors. I have a spare rotary coupler if I need to play.
Could prompt me to install a couple of other things I haven’t got around to yet.

[sierrafery]

IMO even if you succeed to retrofit the LR steering wheel controller for that to work with aftermarket head unit you'll still need the adapter shown in post nr.2 based on it's description

[AK83]

....
I have the PDF files but I don’t find the search function as useful as when it’s all combined as RAVE. Perhaps I should be a little less lazy 🥱
.....

If you still have the RAVE pdf 'folder' as a whole, then it should be easy-ish to find the files you need.
In the rave folder(sorry, in M$ world we call them folders, but you may know them as directories) you will have a host of files and folders.
If you can locate the rave folder and in that folder you can see a folder called pdf, open that one.
In the pdf folder you see a host of folders, maybe 'general' lt, ld, lm, library ... blah blah.
ignore all except the folder called lt. Thats little L and little T.
In there are again various pdf files.

You should see cdlt033n, you want this one. cdlt010x you want this one too.
It will make sense with the cryptic naming.

So folder structure should be RAVE->pdf->lt
Files of interest(for D2n not D2a) are cdlt033e, cdlt010x, wmlt016n. Those 3 will get you going.
I've very few differences between D2a and D2 in terms of wiring, but for the most part same.
The other gotcha is the workshop manual there(wm016n) doesn't have TD5 stuff in it. I downloaded another file(cant' remember from where) years back and use that instead, so I don't use wmlt016n at all.

lt = d2 and cd = circuit diagram. wm = workshop manual. hl= I dunno, but is just a owners handbook! [biggrin] il is the audio and navigation handbook.

I use SumatraPDF for pdf file viewing, because it has a tabbed system, and uses very little resources on Win.
So every time I open it, it has all the pdf files I want opened(D1 and D2 stuff) already there waiting for use.

You can rename them of course, and if you never use the auto opening of RAVE, then it won't matter(it will if you rename them and want to use the full functionality of rave and it's ability to auto open the right page if you click on the model you want.

But, just to view the circuit diagram(wiring) open the file cdlt010x for (pre D2a) wiring diagrams.
For connectors, find cdlt033e pdf, this shows you all the connectors and their locations.

The files still have the ability to search, and I dunno how it works on other pdf programs, but in Sumatra I just search a word term ... eg. I want to find the crank position sensor, it gives you all the pages where the terms is listed. So it's not a mechanical search method, but still finds it.

I don't know what pdf programs are useful on Mac, but I can't recommend Sumatra, as it's not made for Mac. But there must be a half decent featured program for you there.

[Tins]

Lol. The Mac has been using "Folders" for yonks. Directory is an old DOS term. Well, that's my story.
Macs come with Preview, which handles PDFs pretty well, but not perfectly.
You can see a few of my PDFs in the Files(New) section on here. I guess I'll try combining them. Macs are good at that as well.

[admiralranga]

Which wiring diagram you mean cos there are many for ICE, base, middle, high line, etc all of them need dedicated main harness... IMO you are too optimist with that, but if you can do it i'll bow to you...the gist is that if the vehicle is fitted with a main harness which was not designed for steering wheel controll no matter what you do untill that section cos there will be no circuit there to connect it if you see what i mean... the wiring diagrams from RAVE are generic they dont show exaclty how the various harnesses were built.

The includes everything diagrams in RAVE, I'm not saying OP is going to have the wiring they need. What I'm saying is that if they're sticking a complete steering wheel on (with the wiring to the rotary coupler), the rotary coupler only has one part number so it should have the extra connections for OP. At which point OP will need to make up a cable from the rotary couple (6 pin Multilock 070 connector) to the head unit. From some of the rotary coupler photo's I've seen it might even be a pigtail so can splice straight off that.