There are a lot of convenience features on a car that, once you have, you don’t want to be without. Power door locks and remote car starters are great examples of this. Steering wheel audio controls are another. The built in buttons on your steering wheel allow you to intuitively control tuning, volume, mute and other audio functions without ever taking your eyes off the road. They make using your radio easier and add a level of safety since you never have to move your hands from the wheel.
All that is great, but what happens when you want to upgrade your car stereo? Do you have to decide between better sound and the loss of your steering wheel controls. Of course not. There are devices available that interface your aftermarket radio to your steering wheel controls. Most aftermarket radios have provisions built in to accept the input from these devices. In the case of the Eclipse AVN726E, the steering wheel interface is built in!
Example of a steering wheel interface
Installation of these devices can be pretty straightforward, but some vehicles are more complex. The devices interface with the vehicle with anywhere from 1 to 5 wires, usually in the steering column. In some cases, they simply plug into the aftermarket radio. In others, a few connections are necessary. As always, we recommend professional installation if you are not adept with new car electronics.
After the installation, your steering wheel buttons will control the functions of the new radio. You can change Satellite Radio stations, move to the next song on your iPod and control volume and mute. Many other features are controllable through the steering wheel depending on the vehicle and the radio.
These devices are not expensive. Most are under $100 and take about 30-45 minutes to install. Mobile Edge stocks the popular units and can special order any others that are available. If you have any questions, please stop by our store and we will be sure to help you out.
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