Help: Issues Installing a MK6 R Steering Wheel in 2007 B6 Passat

**ranton-inc** · 30-03-2012, 04:43 AM

Hey all

I am currently Lodged between a Rock and a Hard place...

After waiting Nearly 2 Months for my Airbag and Wheel to arrive from Europe...

I Eagerly Cracked in to installing the Nice Shiny new Flat bottom wheel.

Some Back Ground on my Car

2007 B6 Passat Variant TDI
- I have RCD510 Installed
- I have Correct "q" Index Gateway installed
- I have OPS Installed
- I have a Passat CC Cluster (Colour MFD)
- I have the most recent Bluetooth installed with a2dp streaming
- Current SWCM is 3C0 953 549 K

I was told I needed the following for the retrofit
- Steering Wheel (duh!)
- Matching Airbag (my current airbag is/was already Single stage)
- New Slip ring... (altho after pulling everything apart the slip rings were identical already....)
- New Steering Wheel Control Module 3C0 953 549 AH

In short with the New Module Connected the Car has no idea how to turn on if the Steering column lock is still engaged when installing the new SWCM. If you trick the car to unlock the Steering Column lock with the key still in switching momentarily to the old SWCM and then back to the new one, you will be able to start the car and drive etc use the Steering Wheel buttons etc etc VCDS etc etc..

the Caveat that I am currently facing appears when you stop you car.. Pull your key.. EVERYTHING ELSE, RADIO, LIGHTS ETC ETC STAY ON. Also turns out your Key Fob no longer works.

So again I Swapped the old SWCM back in. Viola My Steering Column Lock worked again, my Key fob Worked again all my Electrics turned on and off like they supposed to,
AND NOW THE STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS DON'T WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

( I was lucky i left all the Trim off and did test without fully re assembling to the switch back was easy...)

I did fully screw in the New Steering Wheel and install the Airbag as well just before you say it might be an issue with having no airbag.

Needless to Say I reverted to my Ugly old round wheel and old SWCM

Below is more in-depth start to finish

So it began last night... armed with my 10mm Spanner, T20 Torx, M12 Spline and a iPhone Front Facing Camera (and any other bits i needed to Swap)

1. I put the Key in to release the Steering Column Lock...
2. Did the Airbag Removal Feature 90 Degrees Left Pop the Spring Clip, 180 Degrees back to the Right and the same again
3. I centered the Wheel then removed Key.... I then disconnected the battery and let sit for a few minutes
4. and then Unclipped all the connectors Carefully and put the Airbag in a safe place not to kill anyone in the event it blew!
5. Removed Steering Wheel
6. Pried off Steering Wheel Trim (Top half first and then unscrewed (3 T20 torx) to remove the bottom half)
7. Removed the Little Micro Torx Screw holding the Slip ring and SWCM secure on the column
8. Uncliped the connectors off the SWCM and then Unlatched it from the Column and then removed.
9. Removed Slip Ring and replaced with New one... (which looked identical connector wise etc...
10. Installed New SWCM (3C0 953 549 AH) and plugged in all connectors
11. Installed new Steering Wheel plugged in all the connectors and airbag.
12. Reconnected Battery Put key in ... nothing.. dead as a well something that is dead.

13. Key removed... Disconnected battery swapped the SWCM back to Stock reconnected battery.... Car wakes up. starts etc.
14. With key still in. I switch the SWCM back to new one.. This time everything is alive and key starts car.
15. Log in with VCDS make all correct Coding Changes to the SWCM. Take car for drive try clear codes..
16. Try and get out and lock car notice Radio stays on OPS no longer works. Steering Column Lock doesn't happen any more. Key fob doesn't work and headlights stay on...

In VCDS
Park Steer Assist. complains about Steering COlumn lock not being available

Immobiliser complains about no key...

What is going on!?!!?!?!

17. Switch back to old SWCM Steering Wheel buttons don't work.... but everything else does!

get angry

18. Reinstall stock wheel and all other stock bits (back to square 1)

19. Go to bed very unhappy that an expensive mod has turned sour...

So whats going on guys.. What have I missed..
- is my SWCM faulty.
- is the Clock-spring wrong even thou everything plugs in correctly and no airbag faults register
- Is the SWCM incompatible

Anyone experienced I spent hours trawling thru the internet trying to find something about this retro fit... but all the people that seem to have done it Post nothing informative and just pretty showoff pictures...

Maybe I'm slightly retarded or have been searching the wrong thing.. but some help would be greatly appreciated..

Cheers!

---------- Post added at 07:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:38 AM ----------

**philsan** · 30-03-2012, 10:16 AM

Mate know your pain!
I have a 2010 Tiguan and everything I try to do as far as retrofit turns into a "bigger than BenHur' thing.Bloody Volkswagens!
I was nearly in the same place you are in,as I have sent and paid for a steering whell with paddles from 3 different sources in Europe but all have refunded my money and said stock not available.After reading your post I think i am glad I wasnt able to get the wheel.
I dont know if you have seen the article,but i have it saved on my favourites.ITs on the "myturbodiesel forum" and it explains in great detail about doing the exact job you are trying to do.IF you wish to send me your email address I will try and send back to you.IT is about 5-6 pages long though
Regards Phil

**ranton-inc** · 30-03-2012, 11:07 AM

Thanks philsan for the respons i will pm you my email...

I have contacted the supplier re the problem... He thinks it may be a faulty unit due the fact the car doesn't respond...

Man all this unit swapping brings back memories of running a chipped playstation and having to swap discs half wAy thru loading to make ntsc games work on a pal unit

Any who your bloody right about the bigger than ben hurr problems

Im not going to give up untill i get this going im adamant i will make this wheel work