Steering Wheel Radio Control

Technical Area Electrics & ICE
2

 

Hi everyone

My MX5 MK3 2007 does not have a radio control switch on the steering wheel.

Is it possible to fit one to the existing steering wheel?

If so is the wiring to the radio etc already there?

I trust that there is someone in the MX5 OC that can help.

Thanks and a happy New Year to you all.

TT

 

 

3

Blimey, that’s a rare beast you have there. Only non option pack cars had steering wheels without audio controls and not many people chose those. Option pack was a factory order option so I’m don’t know if the wiring is there for the steering wheel controls on non option pack cars. If I had to guess I’d say it was but don’t hold me to that. The option pack cars also had leather wrapped steering wheels so I don’t know if a urathane steering wheel has the fittings to mount the controls. If you can get hold of a steering wheel to try that’s the easiest option unless you want to go chasing wires to see what’s there.

4

Hi RR,

Thank you for your reply. She maybe a rare beast but she’s the first MX5 I have ever owned and I am well pleased with my purchase. 

I don’t think I will go poking about looking for cables and such like. At the moment I will just keep stretching out my left arm or get the wife to do the necessary regarding the radio.

The idea of putting in this control [not the wife] is just the fact, as like you say, all the other MXs I have seen have this control and perhaps I was missing out.

Regards TT

 

5

I didn’t mean that to sound negative. Has it got the steel wheels that it would have had when new also?

6

Hi RR,

Didn’t take it as a negative comment; life’s too short.

The wheels are alloys not steel; whether they have been changed at some time I don’t know, why do you ask?

regards TT

 

7

Just because it’s rare to see them with the steelies on.

8

Forgive me if i’m wrong but wasn’t the non option 5 supplied with a vinly roof as well as steelies?

9

 

Short answer - I don’t know.

 

Longer answer - I was doing some work on the car today (swapping the wiper stalk for an RX8 stalk), so I took a couple of photos.

^^ This photo was taken from under the steering wheel.  Hanging down on the right is the bottom steering column cover.  To the left of it is the ignition key barrel.  There are 4 connectors.  From left to right, they are (I assume): inidicator stalk, wheel controls, airbag & wiper stalk.   This is from a Mk3.5 Sport, so the “wheel controls” includes both Radio/Bluetooth and Cruise Control. 

 

^^I’ve put a screwdriver onto the steering wheel controls connector.  It goes into the clockspring, which you can’t see in that photo.

 

What I suggest that you do is to remove the steering column cover and take a peek underneath.  If you know how to do it, it’ll take 5 minutes.  If you don’t, then:  remove the 2 nearest screws from underneath the column.  Pop the top half of the column cover off.  Then remove the third screw.  Pop the bottom half off.  Note: the bottom-half screw is different to the top-half screw.  If you’ve pulled a Mk1 apart then you’ll find it very familar.

 

 NOTE: some of this is guesswork, based on quick observation, and the fact that all of the SRS/airbag connectors that I;ve seen on MX-5s are yellow.

 

10

Yes.

11

Stuartb

Thanks for the trouble taken in posting photos.

I did contact the supplier of the switch [ a Mazda Dealer] who informs me I am unable to fit such a switch to my existing steering wheel retrospectively [I hope that’s correct spelling], but I will look as you suggest when I’ve got a minute to spare to see if the car has the wiring facility.

Many thanks

TT

PS. I do have a vinyl top but alloy wheels as previously stated; this is for the others debating the non-option 5