i just installed my sony mp3 head unit...however after installing it discovered that the steeringwheel controls for volume, etc. aren't working. is there a way to connect it somehow, or is it "dead" forever??? thanks.

 

There is a way to retain the factory steering wheel controls with an aftermarket head unit. You have to buy an adaptor - I got one from Perepherial Products. It hooks up the the factory controls and uses an infrared signal(the same as the remote for your new cd player) to control it. You have to mount the IR sender somewhere in the cab where it is facing the front of the cd player.

I bought my adaptor for somewhere around $60.

 

there's a kit that you can get from crutchfield: here

 

If your head unit has a remote, you can get an adapter from places like Circuit City or your local stereo shop.

 

thanks for the replys guys. what kind of adapter is this? would it still be using the stock controls on the steeringwheel? thanks!

 

yeah it's on the stock controls, but usually it's an infrared thing where you hook the controls up to a IR sender and then hook the sender up to somewhere in front of the faceplate so it's facing it, then it'll do the commands via infrared.