I recently installed a used '01 head unit into my '02 gle. You might ask why I did this. Simple, to add a USA-Spec IPOD controller (It works and sounds great). However, after the swap, the steering wheel controls will not work. I have searched and haven't found a definitive answer. Someone suggested to ground the brown wire to regain functionality of the trip computer. Does this mean to simply ground the wire going to the head unit onto a bolt on my frame? Does anyone know if one of those "PAC" adapters would work? I have seen many use these adapters, but they were always for an aftermarket HU. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Yes, ground the brown wire in your factory harness and you will be fine. Which PAC adapter are you speaking of?

 

Not of any one unit in particular. I know that most of them are manufacturer specific (i.e. alpine/jvc). I was just wondering if anyone had done this yet, and if their is a specific part number that I need for an OEM to OEM combo.

Also, which brown wire would it be? I see several (brown with silver stripe/solid brown on two different connectors). Would it be the brown wire coming from largest cluster of wires?

 

i believe its the one coming from your Steering wheel controls.. I could be wrong, as i drive a 2k1.. but im pretty sure it should be coming from that harness

 

Would you happen to know which cluster of wires (larger or smaller) contains the correct brown wire?

 

Smaller ones, it should be the one that goes into the farthest left connector.. Well atleast thats where my steering wheel controls snap into..

Does all of your harnesses from the 5.5Gen HU plug into the 5th Gen one?

 

Smaller harness. I believe it's brown/yellow.

 

Yes, it is a direct fit, and the USA Spec PA-NIS11 integrates seamlessly as well. Thanks for the info on the trip computer. I will try this today if it warms up outside.

Also, does anyone have any clue on how I could splice the steering wheel controls into a different jumper to make them work. Or possibly a preexisting adapter. Any other suggestions?

 

If the wires are same, you could get the harness connector from a 5th gen at a junk yard if your lucky.. but you would still need to ground that brown wire either way...

If your talking about grounding that wire, you could just quick splice it into the main radio harness ground..