The audio controls on my '01 I30's steering wheel work intermittantly. Sometimes they work great but other times I have to press the buttons multiple times to make them do anything. The cruise control buttons all work fine though. Is there any fix for this without paying the dealer loads of money? This seems to be a pretty common problem, several A33s I've driven exhibit it.

 

Replace the button set?

 

How much would that cost?

 

Try taking it out and cleaning it carefully, if that doesn't work, look for one to buy at local junk yards, the classifieds on this .org, car-part.com, ebay, craigslist, stealerships.

 

Yeah mine do the exact same thing. If I turn the wheel to a certain degree when they are not working they will work again, but obviously thats not possible at all times.

If you don't mind Matt I am going to add another question, Does anybody know why the sub in my 01 goes out and turns back on when it wants to? Now that gets annoying when you get into a song then the bass cuts off at that moment!

 

That is known Issue for 5th gens and I30/35. mine does the same thing. The only way to go, is to buy new one. I got an extra sub(used) I bought it a week ago here on the Org but I feel like I want to sell it. Too much cash went for my OE BBK. Let me know if you interested.

 

Its crazy because I was actually going to go buy an aftermarket sub this week but, things happen and I don't have enough money to get it now. But ever since I have been talking about getting a new sub, the damn thing has been working fine, but I am sure now that I am broke its going to start acting up again! Is it a Bose sub you have or an aftermarket? And what is a OE BBK? Lost me on that one.

 

It is an OEM sub off 2003 max I believe.

OE BBK stands for 6th gen Maxima calipers and rotors.

 

Some 5th gen guys had problems with their steering wheel controls. The ones that posted that they solved the problem ended up replacing the buttons.

As for the sub, it's probably going bad like the others said. I'd just remove it all together, and go aftermarket. I did and never went back. Even swapping out the stock sub with an aftermarket Freeair 8" sounds better.

 

Can you buy just the buttons for the audio controls from the dealer?

On a semi-related topic, if I get an OEM head unit from an '02+ I35 (which I assume fits), will it be able to control the trunk 6CD changer as well as its own internal changer? And will the RDS work? I've gotten so used to having the song title show up on my XM unit, now I want the normal radio to do that too.

 

Yeah, the buttons can be purchased from the dealership. I would probably try buying from DAVEB first though. The Maxima part should be identical.

The 6 disc in dash changer from the I35 doesn't have a port on the rear to connect the trunk changer. So, the only changer you'll be able to use will be the one in dash. The RDS is contained in the HU itself, so it will work too.

 

That's unfortunate. I was hoping to have 12 CDs available simultaneously. I will definately check on getting the identical Maxima part...did the Maxima ever come with the latte colored interior?

 

Not sure on that one. DAVEB should be able to tell you though (if you provide your VIN).

 

Just wanted to 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) this discussion. My buttons are crazy! They work most of the time but every once in a while as I'm increasing the volume it'll change tracks or presets instead. Sometimes it happens when I haven't even touched the radio buttons.

 

I had this problem and of course when I brought it to the dealer they said the buttons worked fine. I *****ed and they finally replaced them, my warranty was up in a month.

 

Anybody know what the labor charge would be to replace these buttons? The part isn't that expensive to buy brand new.

 

Hey my sub did the same thing, my problem was the black thing that is rite under the sub i think its a ground insulator anyway it was shorting causing the signal to the sub to be cuz but if you take it out and just connect the wires without it you should be fine mine is working just fine with out it whatever it is. hope this helps you.

 

What exactly does it look like? From what I could see theres a lot of "black things" under it. Are you talking about the little piece of foam? If I could get this fixed I could hold of on replacing it with an aftermarket sub with an amp and box. You just might save me $300.

 

Missed this last time around-

Don't know for sure, but last time I looked up under and behind the steering wheel it didn't seem like it'd be too involved to remove the button assembly.

I haven't looked in a while, but IIRC, there's a panel to pop off back there on the wheel, then I'll bet there are a couple screws to be removed and a wiring harness to unclip and that'd be all it takes for those buttons.

I'd play around with it back there and see what it looks like. You can't really harm anything, and if you do figure out how to remove it, all you need to do is buy the part and swap it on there.

 

Yes, i am talking about the little piece of foam, inside it is the little circuit i still don't know what it's called pssh.

 

My audio buttons work fine 95% of the time ('01 silver i30), but yeah once in awhile I need to try a couple times to change radio stations.....must be an intermittent bad contact. One thing I noticed is if you push the TOP ("up") button near the BOTTOM of the button, near the "lower left corner" where there's an indentation, it always works fine.

Not a huge deal to just reach over one foot to the head unit, but kinda a hassle...

Cruise always works fine, thankfully.

 

Hey, I have 2002 maxima Se for parts ...so if anybody needs parts
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m...maparts017.jpg

http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m...ulek/?start=20

 

ahh man if only you had tan ones

 

I'm having the same problem with the audio control buttons *01 SE-20th). Cruise works fine, but audio is flaky. They work pretty well in warm temps, but otherwise the steering wheel has to be "just so" or they won't work. If I turn the steering wheel back and forth while pushing the buttons I can get them to work. I was thinking it may be the clockspring. Has anyone tried cleaning it or is it sealed? I'll take a look at the buttons but it makes more sense to me to be the connection between the column and the steering wheel.

Thanks

 

I agree with you. I don't think it's a problem with the buttons. I removed the buttons and cleaned the contacts with contact cleaner and still have the same problem. Let me know if you end up working on the clockspring

 

Clock spring? How would you clean that? Also if I understand correctly a bad clockspring would affect more than just the audio controls, but would affect the horn, airbag, and cruise control.

Infiniti's solution to this problem is to replace the buttons. Just cleaning them may not be enough.

 

I have not been able to find a lot of info on the inner workings of the clockspring but the way I understand it is that the spring has "channels" or "lines" for each function. There is an audio channel, a cruise channel and an airbag channel. So it's possible that one gets dirty or worn (the audio side gets used more than the others). I don't know if contact cleaner will work and I'm reluctant to experiment on mine as I don't want to disable the airbag or worse, set it off! I'll keep looking around and maybe a junkyard will have a candidate for surgery. The nissan dealers have not been much help...replace it..is all they say. It's $180 at Rosenthal. Let me know if anyone finds anything out.

 

Hey MAKSIMA, send me a PM, I'm interested in the audio controls, clockspring, etc Thanks