Audio Steering Controls Retrofit

[kirk-35]

Hi All. I have another question. Parts supplier just got back to me and said wiring harness doesn’t match my VIN. Guessing because mine didn’t come stock with audio controls. They are suggesting 68449246AA.

Just confirming 100% that 68449274AA is the one we need to make it happen?

If you are buying the complete wheel the wiring harness will already be installed. It's the orange harness in the pics you posted.

 

[Canadian3500bighorn]

If you are buying the complete wheel the wiring harness will already be installed. It's the orange harness in the pics you posted.

Thanks for saving me from buying a harness. The steering wheel just arrived. Presuming this harness is all I need? Now on to watching a bunch of videos to help with this dreaded air bag removal!

 

[kirk-35]

Thanks for saving me from buying a harness. The steering wheel just arrived. Presuming this harness is all I need? Now on to watching a bunch of videos to help with this dreaded air bag removal!

That should be the only harness you need.
Air bag removal is aggravating. I had one side pop out right away and spent 20 minutes trying to get the other side to let go.

 

[Canadian3500bighorn]

Did it this morning, wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. I noticed the pause button doesn’t seem to work but everything else is up and running.

Out of curiosity does anyone know what the plug I circled in blue is for? Heated wheel? Guessing there needs to be an extra harness installed? This was on the new wheel but not my old one.

Thanks again for the help everyone!

 

[ChillxPoint]

I'm most likely going to try this mod soon.

 

[ChillxPoint]

Happy to say, mission accomplished I now have working audio controls in the Tradesman. No programming necessary. The parts I listed in my prior post all appear to be working as expected. I took a bunch of photos and will post a thorough write up of the mod over the next few days. I still need to hunt down the part number for the small trim panel for the audio control bezel. Didn’t get a chance to go the dealer parts counter yet.
View attachment 14316View attachment 14315

Would you say that your trim pieces and illuminated lights match your existing interior?

 

[ChillxPoint]

So I would like to add audio buttons to my steering wheel but the button layouts changed 2023-2024 model year. Anyone have the updated parts list for those years when ordering?

 

[ChillxPoint]

Did it this morning, wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. I noticed the pause button doesn’t seem to work but everything else is up and running.

Out of curiosity does anyone know what the plug I circled in blue is for? Heated wheel? Guessing there needs to be an extra harness installed? This was on the new wheel but not my old one.

Thanks again for the help everyone!

Did you ever get your steering wheel to work? Found a complete wheel with the heating steering which I won't use just throw audio part.

 

[Pinero61]

Not sure if anybody has tried this yet, but I went ahead and purchased a 19+ ram 1500 wheel for my 19-22 ram 2500.

I know the wiring harness is different, but my thoughts are that the wheel itself is identical. I ordered the proper harness and plan to swap in my button set.

If this works out, it will give everyone a much cheaper path to retrofitting audio controls. I found the wheel for $98 on eBay and the harness for $50.

 

[Jimmy07]

Not sure if anybody has tried this yet, but I went ahead and purchased a 19+ ram 1500 wheel for my 19-22 ram 2500.

I know the wiring harness is different, but my thoughts are that the wheel itself is identical. I ordered the proper harness and plan to swap in my button set.

If this works out, it will give everyone a much cheaper path to retrofitting audio controls. I found the wheel for $98 on eBay and the harness for $50.

It won’t work… at all.

 

[Pinero61]

It won’t work… at all.

Another possibility is I’ll use the pinouts to adapt the harness to the new style buttons.

Worst case scenario, none of it works and I’ll have already had purchased 2 out of the 3 parts needed to make the swap.

 

[Jimmy07]

Another possibility is I’ll use the pinouts to adapt the harness to the new style buttons.

Worst case scenario, none of it works and I’ll have already had purchased 2 out of the 3 parts needed to make the swap.

The 1500 switches can’t be made to work on the HD Rams, they use a completely different message system through the steering control module.
The 1500 wheel splines are different, and the metal frame of the wheel needs to be cut up to fit. More info from someone else that tried this in this thread link:

Post in thread '2023 Ram steering wheel'

Aug 1, 2023

I am in the middle of this swap (2021 to 2022) right now! It’s not easy! Pictures are coming but here is what I have found and done so far!

I recently bought a 2021 Ram. Coming from too many Toyotas to mention! Thinking it was just a bolt on, I bought a 2022 steering wheel because I wanted leather, and I liked the layout of the up and down button! After purchasing the 2022 wheel, I discovered that the 2021 did NOT have volume control buttons in it! What was Ram thinking!! Luckily I discovered that the 2022 had volume controls built in, an added bonus that I didn’t even know about! On the...

• ZFORCE

• 

 

[Pinero61]

The 1500 switches can’t be made to work on the HD Rams, they use a completely different message system through the steering control module.
The 1500 wheel splines are different, and the metal frame of the wheel needs to be cut up to fit. More info from someone else that tried this in this thread link:

Post in thread '2023 Ram steering wheel'

Aug 1, 2023

I am in the middle of this swap (2021 to 2022) right now! It’s not easy! Pictures are coming but here is what I have found and done so far!

I recently bought a 2021 Ram. Coming from too many Toyotas to mention! Thinking it was just a bolt on, I bought a 2022 steering wheel because I wanted leather, and I liked the layout of the up and down button! After purchasing the 2022 wheel, I discovered that the 2021 did NOT have volume control buttons in it! What was Ram thinking!! Luckily I discovered that the 2022 had volume controls built in, an added bonus that I didn’t even know about! On the...

• ZFORCE

• 

Thanks for the info! That's odd that they would make them different.

Are the audio control switches themselves the same? I'd like to at least salvage them before tossing the wheel.

 

[Jimmy07]

Thanks for the info! That's odd that they would make them different.

Are the audio control switches themselves the same? I'd like to at least salvage them before tossing the wheel.

Audio switches are the same.

 

[ChillxPoint]

I went to co par I believe that's what it's called and bought a used 2023 steering wheel with audio for approximately $230.00. Works like a charm.

 

[Pinero61]

Got everything swapped in. Oddly I have every function except for volume. I’ll take back apart tomorrow and check connections, but even the media button on that side functions. I’ll try getting a new switch for that side if the issue persists.

 

[Herck1971]

Can anyone tell me what wires they are at the radio? I want to add the buttons in a different location than the steering wheel