Steering Wheel Controller | Vehicle Troubleshooting

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If the Auto Detect feature was used at the end of the programming sequence and the light in the AXSWC interface flashes Red/Green instead of turning solid Red, the interface did not detect the vehicle.

To trace the cause, follow the steps below.

If any of the following steps have been performed, reset and reprogram the interface according to the vehicle-specific document.

Check Interface Programming

Ensure that the interface is programmed correctly according to the vehicle-specific document. Depending on the vehicle, there are generally three ways to program the interface:

• Hold
• Tap
• Auto Detect

Hold

1. Ensure the Volume Up button on the steering wheel is held down until the end of the programming sequence.

NOTE If you encounter issues press and hold the Volume Up button before resetting the interface.

Tap

1. Ensure the Volume Up button on the steering wheel is tapped at a heartbeat pace, or about once per second.

TIP If you are still unable to connect after a couple of attempts, try tapping the Volume Up button at different speeds.

Auto-Detect (Do Nothing)

1. For applications that don’t require any intervention with the Volume Up button on the steering wheel (Auto/do nothing), ensure that no buttons are pressed during the programming sequence.

Check Factory Equipment

1. Ensure the factory equipment functions properly before and after attempting to install the aftermarket equipment.
2. Reinstall the factory radio.
3. Test the steering wheel controls for functionality.

TIP Take note of which button is Volume Up. Some vehicles may have this button behind the steering wheel, and if the steering wheel is turned, it may be upside down.

Check Steering Wheel Controls

1. Ensure all of the steering wheel control buttons function and are free of stuck buttons. They should have a spring-like feel.
2. The factory radio may function with malfunctioning button(s), but the interface likely won't. The Volume Up button, which the interface uses for programming, is essential. Also, take note of the optional non-audio buttons.

NOTE Some Ford and Subaru vehicles that do not have Bluetooth repurpose the secondary steering wheel control wire. Do not connect “steering wheel control wire 2” in these applications.

Check Power and Ground

Check power and ground at the interface.

1. With the ignition cycled on, connect the Red and Black leads from a multimeter to the Solid Black and Red wires from the interface directly at the 12-pin connector. The meter should read approximately 12 volts DC.
2. It is crucial to confirm that the interface is properly grounded. Proper ground connection is a key factor in the system's proper functioning. Due to the nature of microprocessor functionality, sharing the interface ground with the factory ground is insufficient and may cause issues.

NOTE The use of a chassis ground solely by itself is highly recommended, especially in data communication vehicles (Pink wire applications).

3. Attach the solid Black wire from the interface to a sufficient chassis ground.
4. Ensure the above wire comes directly from the interface:
1. Without any extensions
2. With a ring terminal (not supplied) used
3. That the wire is correctly crimped

TIP These steps will alleviate any grounding issues preventing the interface from being programmed.

4. Ensure that the wires connecting the interface to the vehicle are correct. It is crucial to refer to the vehicle-specific document and check that the proper document is used for installation.
5. For data communication vehicles: Some vehicles have more than one document for different trims. If yours is a non-data communication vehicle, test the factory steering wheel control wires with a multimeter by applying the negative from the meter to the steering wheel control ground wire and the positive to the steering wheel control positive wire (with no load connected to the wires).
1. Have the meter on a resistance setting (OHM Ω)
2. Test each steering wheel control button one at a time. Each button should show a solid reading with little fluctuation, and there should be a noticeable difference between each button.
3. The Volume Up button is crucial to be 100% functional as this is the button used for programming. Write these values down if Tech Support will be contacted.
6. Verify that the wires connected from the interface to the vehicle are connected directly, copper to copper, (solder, crimp cap, and military splice). No tapping-style connectors or butt connectors may be used due to increased resistance leading to poor performance.
7. If a pre-wired harness is being used (and all troubleshooting steps have been attempted without the LED turning solid Red), remove the pre-wired and use the harness that shipped with the interface.
8. If the LED still does not turn solid Red at the end of the programming sequence, refer to the Manual Programming document to manually program the interface to the vehicle (non-data vehicles only).
9. For data communication vehicles: If the light still doesn’t turn solid Red at the end of programming, make sure all factory electronic modules are connected to the vehicle, i.e., climate control, upper display, push-to-start button... Reconnect the factory radio and make sure the steering wheel controls still function.
1. Cycle the key off, reinstall the aftermarket equipment, then reset and reprogram the interface.
2. If the light turns solid Red, cycle the ignition off/on, then test the steering wheel controls for functionality.
10. For Metra Euro kits with an included AXSWC, the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Red light flashes should be longer.

TIP If any of these flashes are not longer, inspect that the following wires are connected (pin-out diagram below): Pin-4, Pin-5, Pin-8, Pin-11.

Update Software

If all steps have been performed and the light still doesn’t turn solid Red at the end of the programming sequence, update the interface to the latest software via axxessinterfaces.com. After updating, program the interface to the vehicle following the vehicle specific document.

Contact Support

If the interface still doesn’t turn solid Red at the end of the programming sequence, contact Technical Support. Be prepared to perform tests in the vehicle with the technical support staff.

→ Vehicle LED Feedback (Green Light)

NOTES • Long Green light flashes represent wire(s) that are connected from the vehicle to the interface. • Short Green light flashes represent wire(s) that are not connected from the vehicle to the interface. • Note that there will always be seven Green flashes, in every application. What's important is the length of the Green flashes. An example is data communication vehicles. In these vehicles the 7th Green flash should be longer, indicating the Pink wire is connected. Some may be confused by this process because it is assumed that 7 Green flashes total means the Pink wire is connected. This assumption is false. The 7th Green flash must be longer than the prior 6 Green flashes. • In data communication vehicles which require 2 wires (Blue/Pink & Pink) connected to the interface, only the Pink wire will show up in LED feedback. • In “press and hold” vehicles which require more than 1 wire connected to the interface, only the primary wire will show up in LED feedback.

Technical Support

TIP If you encounter any difficulties during installation please carefully review the instructions and ensure that the installation was performed exactly as instructed.

Our dedicated team is here to provide you with expert assistance and guidance. Whether you're troubleshooting an installation, seeking product information, or looking for technical advice, we're committed to ensuring your experience with Metra Electronics products is seamless and satisfying.

WARNING Before contacting Metra Technical Support, ensure the vehicle is in a ready state to perform troubleshooting steps.

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On this page

• Steering Wheel Controller | Vehicle Troubleshooting
• Check Interface Programming
• Hold
• Tap
• Auto-Detect (Do Nothing)
• Check Factory Equipment
• Check Steering Wheel Controls
• Check Power and Ground
• Update Software
• Contact Support
• → Vehicle LED Feedback (Green Light)
• Technical Support
• Contact
• Hours (EST)