Steering wheel controls

[ThierryC78]

Hello from France everybody

I am thinking of getting a 2003 Tahoe LT. I noticed that the steering wheel doesn't have the control buttons, even thought the radio is the regular BOSE unit.
If I buy a regular steering weel that has the controls, will it just be plug and play or will it need a special control module ?

Thanks.

T.C.

 

[Boomer73]

You're going to need a different clock spring. The wheel will swap right on (there's nothing special about the spline shaft of the steering wheel with controls), but the clock spring has all the plugs you need. Removal and installation is pretty easy, its just time consuming if you've never done it before - it could take you 4 hours or more. There are about 14 connectors on the column you will have to match up. I believe the part number you want for the clock spring is 26101829.

You may also need some dealer programming to activate the controls. I would get the wheel installed first, then see if it works. If it doesn't work, take it to a GM dealer and have them reprogram the BCM so it know it now has steering wheel controls. It's possible, but unlikely that your gauge cluster will also need to be reprogrammed. There's a lot of info on this over at gm-trucks.com. Here's a useful thread...

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=36834

 

[ThierryC78]

Hey

Thanks for the reply, I found all the info in this sticky: http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144071

For the clockspring I got the part#26101828. I hope it is the right one since I live in France and need to order everything back from the states.

I saw that for the radio controls I need to have a dealer reprogram the computer. That's gonna be fun to do here knowing that there are no Chevy or GM dealers in this country.

---------- Post added at 05:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 PM ----------

Does anybody know how a BCM can be reprogrammed ? I guess it must special hardware to connect to a computer ? but does anybody know how ?
I spent an arm and a leg to get all the parts shipped overseas, and it sucks that I am stuck due to some programming issue.

 

[ThierryC78]

Well I took apart my airbag, and it looks like I need a 26101829.

So if anybody needs a 26101828 I have in stock and available. I am now also looking for a 26101829, if anyone of you has one or knows where I can find one... I've been looking all over eBay but so far no results.

 

[Boomer73]

Yeah, I was pretty sure I posted the right part number. I think you picked up spring for the single stage bag.

You'll need a Tech II programmer to reprogram your BCM. Sometimes you can find them on ebay for about $1800-$2000. You'll also need some codes/programs that you can only get from GM as far as I know. You load those on the Tech II to reflash the BCM.

 

[ThierryC78]

And since I am in France and that GM dealerships don't exist, I am going to have a fun time getting those codes

Can I just send the BCM to a dealer in the states or do they need the whole truck so connect the Tech II programmer ?

 

[jpaeltz]

Yeah I finished my DIC upgrade yesterday. Weird thing was the clockspring wasn't like the others seen on the TO DO FORUMS. It didn't have the extra harness for the quadrasteer and was missing a two wire harness that my original one had that plugged into the base of the gear shifter on the steering column. It took about an hour to swap out the clocksprings, not too hard to do, just pay attention to where your wires go.
I did spend about two hours at the chevy house telling the tech and his manager what to do. They told me it couldn't be done b/c there was no wire from the steering wheel to the radio. I called bs and told them to call the techline and add the uk3.
They eventually got it done. It's awesome to have it.

I got the clockspring for 150 shipped and the steering wheel for 70 shipped. Hopefully I can get at least some money back by selling my old clockspring and steering wheel.

 

[ThierryC78]

Cool, did they actually "add" the UK3 or did they just reflash completely the BCM ? Since I can't go to a dealership, I am looking into getting a used BCM from a truck similar to mine but which had the steering wheel controls and simply flash my VIN into this BCM.

 

[jpaeltz]

Yeah they had to reflash it.

 

[bobbally]

Yes, I do need a clockspring #26101828. How much? phone 309-467-2222

---------- Post added at 03:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:42 AM ----------

Well I took apart my airbag, and it looks like I need a 26101829.

So if anybody needs a 26101828 I have in stock and available. I am now also looking for a 26101829, if anyone of you has one or knows where I can find one... I've been looking all over eBay but so far no results.

Please respond to 309-467-2222. I need your part!