steering wheel controls

hey guys, i just bought a kenwood kdc138 head unit yesterday. I know it is just as easy just to use the radio controls but i like being able to use the steering wheel ones. My head unit doesn't have a remote so does that mean i cant use some sort of pac adaptor? If not, is there a way i can splice some wires into the harness to make this work?

If the radio doesn't have either a remote or a remote jack in the back, then you're probably out of luck, unfortuately. The PAC adapters require one or the other.

If you head unit has an optional remote I think theres this interface that you program to buttons but its wireless to the HU. There's like a IR sending unit in it that works like a remote' it can be annoying tho because you have to aim it just right so it can control the HU

PAC SWI-X Steering wheel control interface — use your factory steering wheel controls with an aftermarket stereo at Crutchfield.com

mine doesnt have a remote though... i dont know if it has it as an option either

the pac will work fine.

Originally Posted by gtpinsc

the pac will work fine.

Which one will work? His radio has no remote capability. The SWI-JACK requires a 1/8" remote jack, and the SWI-X requires an infrared sensor. I could be wrong (and usually am )...I'm just not aware of any other options.

Originally Posted by GP04GT2

Which one will work? His radio has no remote capability. The SWI-JACK requires a 1/8" remote jack, and the SWI-X requires an infrared sensor. I could be wrong (and usually am )...I'm just not aware of any other options.

i dont know either im confused. how do the stock ones work anyway?

Originally Posted by macey43

i dont know either im confused. how do the stock ones work anyway?

They're like a wired remote control that send commands to the factory radio. If you put in a new radio, those commands go nowhere. The PAC SWI-X interface can intercept those commands and send them to a radio's remote sensor through a little infrared eye. If your radio has a remote jack (headphone-sized) in the back, the PAC SWI-JACK can be plugged into that instead.

Your radio does not have either infarad or a remote jack so you will not be able to use the steering wheel controls. If you can take it back and step up one model to the KDC-MP142 you can use the SWI-X interface.

Ok and Theres no possible way to hardwire it in? What about hardwiring in the onstar or making it show the station on the HUD?

Originally Posted by macey43

Ok and Theres no possible way to hardwire it in? What about hardwiring in the onstar or making it show the station on the HUD?

I don't want to sound like a jerk but I dont think you realize how integrated and complex your car is. Or how car audio works in general. No, neither of those would be possible and please don't go hacking up wires trying to get it to work because you can only do more harm than good.
This thread started out with steering wheel controls. which is possible. But you got the cheapest HU kenwood makes and the only one that can't do it. Take it back and pay $10 for the next model up or a similar brand with remote so you can use the SWI-X interface. Or pick a cheap one with a remote jack on the back. The cheapest Kenwood that can do that would be the KDC-HD545U.
And with all this being said, I must ask WHY would you buy this cheap Kenwood unit? I can't think of what feature it has that your factory radio doesn't other than a front input jack. You can get a ton more features for just a tad more $$.

A simple no would have been adequite

A few of us did before, me included. I've even explained twice how you can get them to work. Then you went further about hacking into your onstar and HUD... I said "no" and explained in simple terms why.

Originally Posted by Carpepoon

A few of us did before, me included. I've even explained twice how you can get them to work. Then you went further about hacking into your onstar and HUD... I said "no" and explained in simple terms why.

ya haha thats true it was that one kid that said i could... then i didnt know who to believe