Dodge Ram steering wheel audio controls with aftermarket radio

Getting your factory steering wheel audio controls to work with your aftermarket radio on your early 3rd gen Dodge Ram.

[@pcexpresstechcenter4834]

MY MAN! This was the last piece of the puzzle for a full system install, and you solved it. Cheers! Confirmed on 2008 Ram 2500 with Infinity System. Same spot, same wire colors. Cut it, route it, ground the other swc wire, bam. Good to go. Thanks again.

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm happy to hear this this video helped!

[@connorallen8368]

I cannot thank you enough for this video, I installed my head unit almost 2 years ago and I finally got the steering wheel controls to work thanks to you!

[@Marks_Garage.]

For sure! I'm glad this video was able to help you out! Out of curiosity, which radio are you using?

[@smokem725]

This is exactly what I needed to get my steering wheel controls working with my Atoto head unit. Thanks for the video. 2004 Dodge Ram

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm glad to hear that the video helped you!

[@JoeSanchez8720]

Found your video today!! This is great. Thank you! I have a recently purchased a low mileage 114K, one owner 03 Ram 3.7V6 ST basic truck. I mean really basic. Not even pwr locks and windows! I want to have the tilt wheel, and cruise controls and especially the radio controls for my aftermarket Kenwood. So, once I get a steering column out of a junker I am going to attempt this steering column swap. But first, I am going to do the front/back seats, install the amp/sub wiring, and sound deaden the floor. I already have the proper dash harness, door harnesses, and floor seat harnesses from stripped junkers.

[@Marks_Garage.]

That's awesome! I wish you luck on your build! On my 03 Ram 2500 SLT (different truck than in the video), I added the steering wheel controlls from a junk yard truck, dynomatted the cab from the rear window to the firewall, installed new carpet, and installed 4th gen Ram Larmie interior.

[@nikmccoy]

I was hoping I could add audio controls to my 2005 Dodge Ram steering wheel. I'm glad I found this video!

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm glad the video helped!

[@user-tz5ek3wg4v]

Amazing!!! Did it as shown in the video and finally got back the steering wheel controls. Thank you, great job!!

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm glad to hear that this helped!

[@henrycummings7832]

2001 Durango replaced stock Infiniti system with xtrons android head unit..works like a charm thank you!!

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm glad to hear that this method worked on your Durango!

[@justis9484]

Works great! Bought the proper module and couldn’t get it. Did it your way works perfectly and costs nothing! 06 Ram 2500 with infinity sound system.

[@Marks_Garage.]

I am glad to hear that this video helped you out!

[@ryderontheroof5118]

Your a badass! Helped me out thank you!

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm happy to hear that this video helped!

[@tred2604]

Been trying to find something like this thank you now I'm going to do this on my 2014 challenger

[@Marks_Garage.]

I hope you were able to get it working!

[@joemaletta2767]

Thank you!!!

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm glad the video helped!

[@apbtmaxx]

Nice work! Please, tell me something, this work for a 3rd gen 2006+ ? The truck that don't came with the steering wheel radio controls but if add the oem internal wiring harness and switches with an aftermarket sereos like kenwood? Need can bus? Like axxes or idatalink maestro fo this? This can make bypass the tipm? Otherwise must go to a dealer that add rdz sales code the the truck recognize the controls

[@Marks_Garage.]

This should work since most of the switches used for the radio controlls are resistance based. I took this video on my 03 Ram 1500 Larmie that had factory steering wheel controlls, but I have since bought a 03 Ram 2500 SLT. My 2500 didn't come with factory steering wheel controlls, so I pulled steering wheel controlls from a junk yard truck and added them in. (I had to also add a couple of wires on the plug located on the column side of of the clock spring) The method in this video bypasses the vehicles CAN communications network, and the resistance based switches interact with the radio directly.

[@maxwell5098]

Did you need to use one of those little boxes to retain your factory amplifier or did you just use the plug in adapter?

[@Marks_Garage.]

When I installed the radio, I just used one of the plug-in harness kits and wired it to the aftermarket radio harness.

[@Kevcandoit]

Are you using any sort of interface? Or just a simple aftermarket harness adapter. I just put in an ATOTO f7 using an interface and no SWC are working.

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm not using any aftermarket interfaces, I used a basic aftermarket radio harness kit and wired it to the harness that came with the radio. This method bypasses the vehicles CAN communications network and wires the steering wheel controls directly to the radio. The harness on the aftermarket radio had the wires labeled for the steering wheel controls.

[@dnswab5575]

So I recently added the aftermarket steering wheel switches in a kit with new harness inside the steering wheel. Not working with my current radio but looking to upgrade soon to one that is compatible. Did you already have the steering wheel switches? I did not.

[@Marks_Garage.]

On the truck in the video (03 Ram 1500 Larmie), the steering wheel radio controls came with the truck as a factory option. However, I have a 03 Ram 2500 SLT that didn't come with them, and I pulled a set off of a junk yard truck and added them in. I just had to add 2 wires to the column side of the steering wheel clock spring since the factory harness didn't have them.

[@magohn]

Hello, Any idea if this will work with a 2008 RAM? I don't think I have "can bus". Do you have to cut the grey wire or can you just splice into it? Thanks!!!

[@pcexpresstechcenter4834]

YEP Just completed and confirmed working. I'd spliced the wire, as it goes next into a canbus module in the cluster I've read.. I didn't want to have any issues.

[@magohn]

@@pcexpresstechcenter4834 Turns out I do have CANBUS. So you're saying splice the wire (dont cut) from the bottom of the steering column and patch a wire over to the ATOTO? Any tips on where the wire is accessible from the steering column base? THANKS!!!

[@Marks_Garage.]

You may be able to splice into it instead of cutting it, but i haven't tried it. I just cut the wire since its only purpose was to control the radio functions.

[@DanCastle518]

Did you find the grey wire on the harness behind the stereo or did you have to tap in at the column

[@GilHofferman]

This is an important question. I'm wondering the same now.

[@DanCastle518]

@@GilHofferman I wasn’t able to find a way. With the 2005 because of the canbus I had to use an axxess box to make them work.

[@GilHofferman]

@@DanCastle518 thanks for the speedy reply Dan! I will likely go that route! Thanks for your input!

[@Marks_Garage.]

The wire that was cut in the video is wired directly from the steering wheel controls to the gauge cluster. The gauge cluster interprets the signal from the controls and transmits it over the vehicles CAN communications network. The factory radio then intercepts the signal from the CAN communications network and performs the function. In the video, I am taking the raw resistance based output from the steering wheel controls and wiring them directly to the radio to let the radio interpret the signal directly.

[@donrussell8872]

Great video. Do you happen to know will this work in 4th generation Ram? I have a 2015 1500, and my stereo is the Atoto S8 Ultra.

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm unsure if this will work in a 4th gen, since they are quite a bit more computerized. There may be a roundabout way of doing it, but I don't think it will be as straight forward as it is on the 3rd gen's.

[@shawnwilliams1754]

Is it the same on a 2014 challenger???

[@Marks_Garage.]

I haven't tried it on a challenger, so I am unable to confirm. However, the method in this video basically just bypasses the vehicles CAN communications network and routes the steering wheel controlls directly to the radio. In the case of the challengers, I know that the steering wheel controls also control the menu's on the gauge cluster, so to retain those functions, you may have to try splicing into, but not cutting the wire that goes from the steering wheel controls to the gauge cluster (CAN communications wire).

[@bertcollison9275]

Will this work with a Gen 4 Ram?

[@Marks_Garage.]

In theory, this should work since most radio steering wheel controls are resistance based. As long as your radio supports it, the method in this video just bypasses the vehicles CAN communications network and connects the radio controlls directly to the radio.

[@waywardexperience537]

How did you install the toggles on the wheel?

[@DeltaH-9]

They are factory

[@waywardexperience537]

@@DeltaH-9 What year were they on the wheel?

[@DeltaH-9]

@waywardexperience537 I have a 2010 ram 1500 sport, and it has the buttons on the wheel.

[@JoeSanchez8720]

@@waywardexperience537 You have to have the steering column WITH the radio switches. My '03 ST model didn't come with them. It does have blank covers for the cruise control switches and I found that I could install the required parts to get Cruise working. I already obtain these parts, installed them, and have only these 2 switches to install and connect the throttle cable and I will be golden. But this fix redrat009 has provided for steering controls has lit a light in my head to get the upgraded steering wheel. I have seen other videos of 4th gen steering wheels working on a 3rd gen. Those have the controls. There are also the upgraded Laramie 3rd gens that have the radio controls.

[@Marks_Garage.]

The steering wheel controls came with this 03 Ram 1500 Larmie (the truck in the video). However, I have a 03 Ram 2500 SLT that didn't come with these steering wheel controls, and I pulled a set off of a junk yard truck, and I installed them. I just had to add 2 wires to the plug on the column side of the steering wheel clock spring.

[@calenalexander9824]

Do you know if this all gen 3s?

[@Marks_Garage.]

I'm pretty sure this will work with all 3rd gens, but I haven't had access to any later model 3rd gen to know for certain.