2006 Montana SV6 Electronic Buttons on Stearing Wheel Faulty

DABMAN

MEMBER
2006 PONTIAC MONTANA

This is a 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6, 14000 miles, not sure of the engine size. WE have bottons on the strearing wheel that control things such as muteing the radio, changing the band, controlling the volume, and such. This used to work fine, but has recientially failed to control the desired function. For example, when the play botton is pushed, the audio mutes, and other controls seem to be switched. I tried disconnecting the battery but that diddn't work. Please help. E-mail is Dabman@rochester. Rr. Com

1 Reply

KB42

MEMBER
13 POSTS

Yup, the switches wear out. 2 options, you can try finding ones that work from a salvage, or buy replacement at the dealer. The 2 pods pry out of the wheel, and have a 4 and 5 pin plugs. Be careful if you try to take them out, the plugs are very small and very short leads, and are hard to put back.
The actual switches are nearly impossible to find, but I did find out that they are the same ones used on the front panel of the radio, so if you are handy withg a soldering tools you could possibly try to replace them, as the pods do snap apart.
I stole the ones out of the rear passenger control center to replace the ones on the wheel. Now the wheel works, but rear seat passengers cannot control the radio. However I chose to leave it that way, I would rather have control of the radio up front versus passenger control.
There is a wire going into the radio, that controls all the functions, and you can disable it by cutting the wire, which you can find if you have the service manual for it. I don't have it in front of me, so I cannot advise doing anything like that.
However if the problem causes a stuck function it might be your only option. Especially if it was volume up/down or scan. They work on resistors, if you look at the schematic in the manual.
Each resistor is specific to a function that the radio monitors.