I'm currently looking at an Alpine head-unit, and then purchasing an Alpine CD-Changer. It'* just came to mind that, wow like everyone else, i'm going to lose my steering wheel controls if i do this! So, this is to the big guns out there. DOES ANYONE HAVE A WAY AROUND LOSING THESE BUT AT THE SAME TIME UPGRADING TO A CD-CHANGER EQUIPPED SYSTEM?? I don't really want to get an FM modulated CD-Changer, and i've HEARD of those steering wheel control adapters, but have no idea where to find them. Those are the only two good options that I am currently aware of. As usual, ANY help is appreciated. Thanks

I've got one of the steering wheel control adapters--works great, and you cant even tell it'* in the car.

I got mine from the store over at www.clubgp.com--they had the best price

The only thing it requires is a headunit that uses a RF remote--the adapter converts the steering wheel button signals into a RF signal that it transmits.

You can find info on the adapter here:

www.go2pac.com

it'* the SWI-X

Ditto for me..... I love my adapter.... I even reprogrammed my FADE FRONT/REAR button to do "Directory" UP/DOWN on my MP3 deck... again... works great and you don't even notice.

Sweet, i guess i'm going to be placing an order for one of those. Is it a Bitc* to install, or does it go fairly easy? I also keep hearing about how the stereo is wired to the climate control? Whats the deal with that? I have the automatic climate control feature. And for that converter, do all of the buttons work?

No, it'* worse than that: the _climate_control_ is wired to the _stereo_ (although I understand this problem only involves '92 and '93 models, after which this bit of electrical lunacy was abandoned). I think if you have a car newer than 1993 or older than 1992, you don't have to worry about this.

The fluorescent display of the electronic climate control panel is driven by an output from the factory stereo below it. I know, I didn't believe it myself until I saw the wiring diagrams. I don't know how anyone would ever be able to put an aftermarket stereo in a '92 or '93 without some sort of extra electrical gymnastics to get around this.

(I think one member here said he'* got his original stereo riding around in the trunk, just to provide the proper feed for the climate-control display via what I assume are some really long wires...?)

LOL, I used to have that, but I then took out the 93 climate control and rewired in a 94 climate control head. That thing in the trunk was silly.

I have heard of people with the 88-91 having the same problem.

I'm not sure if you will be able to retain the climate control steering wheel controls if you take out the factory head unit, it depends on how it is wired.

How big a deal was it to swap in the '94 climate control head in place of the '93? Is it the same color of display as the '93, or is it red?

Steering wheel controls for climate control? I assume you mean stereo controls... It'* a ladder-resistor setup, one wire out and one back, with each button on the wheel representing a different resistor value. So each button you press allows a different voltage to pass back to the stereo, and the stereo figures out which button you pressed by what the level of the signal is. Pretty clever, huh?

There'* a picture of my dashboard with my 94 head unit. It has the same lighting scheme as the 93. The buttons are slightly different - no black buttons.



The procedure for the changeout is not too bad. You just have to do some minor wiring and change a few pins around. See:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/techinfo/?article=58

As for the climate controls on the steering wheel, the 88-91 with steering wheel controls had both controls for the radio AND controls for the HVAC on the steering wheel. They don't have that anymore.

Wow, it'* like looking into my own car! I have the exact same interior as you. My beast is a '94. And that thing with the climate control being wired to the stereo seems pretty GM to me... Where does GM come up with these splendid ideas... Must be one more way for them to drain $$$ from our wallets after we've bought the car. Like how it seems they time breakdowns for when your just getting out of debt.. Ahh nothing like a 500 dollar repair job after i've spent all cash on bills... If only i could wake up to that EVERY morning

danpuzak said: Ditto for me, same interior.....except mine has the #()@#(#* cassette player instead of that nice CD w/ eq......mine is '94 SSEi. Did yours come with the CD? I've thought about replacing my cassette with CD but i've heard so many different things about which years are compatible/easy to replace. I actually found one on ebay once that said it would guarantee it would fit....but not that the CD player would work!!