Did any 3rd gen. 4Runners have steering mounted stereo controls? I have a standard 1998 model (cloth interior, pretty basic), and I recently picked up a new Kenwood HU that has an awesome touchscreen interface, but it's a bit of a handful to operate while driving. The position of the HU in the middle of the dash doesn't exactly help me keep my eyes on the road when I'm changing tracks, so I'd like to look into retrofitting some steering wheel mounted controls if they are available. (I'm not suggesting that this will be easy, but I'm looking at using a product like this as the hardware interface between OEM switches and the headunit. I have another idea in mind if that isn't an option, but I'd rather not go there if I don't need to.)

If anyone with a 3rd gen. 4Runner has controls like this on their steering wheel, I'd love to know what year/model they became available. A picture or two would also be great.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

 

Toyota didn't offer steering wheel audio controls until the 4th gen, in 2003.

 

Yep. Already checked into this. Dc is right once again. Great idea and the only thing i can find is that Sony makes a Steering Wheel control for there Head units. Its around 45 dollars but wont work on pioneer. Sorry. But I was thinking if there was a way to retrofit a set of controls out of that little hole on the side of the steering wheel.

 

Thanks, that confirms my suspicions.

I did a little more digging, and I think I found an acceptable solution: a universal wireless steering wheel remote. These aren't particularly pretty, e.g.:

,

but they will give me fingertip access to many more features than I could get by retrofitting OEM controls from another model year, or by using one of the Sony stalk-type remotes and cobbling together an adapter, etc.

The downside is that I will need to also buy the Kenwood wireless remote (which looks to be only a little smaller than my Comcast remote, lol) in order to program this one. Still, after having a few scary moments trying to use the touchscreen in traffic, I think this is the way I'm going go.

-Jeff

 

I've been thinking of a way to mount my (relatively compact) Pioneer remote to the steering wheel. Of course, it doesn't work too well unless it's being pointed right at the HU.

 

Yeah, I'm sort of curious about that, too. I went ahead and ordered both remotes last night, so I guess I'll find out next week (less than $100 shipped for both, so not too bad).

Qyota, Pioneer makes several steering wheel mounted remotes, so that may be another option; Kenwood only offers something with waaaaay too many buttons, not to mention a 4-position mode switch.