Unresponsive Steering Wheel Controls

[han63fiesta]

Hi all,

I've just used the search bar and had a quick skim read of the posts in the Fiesta forum and I cannot see this topic mentioned so please forgive me if it's one that has been posted about a lot; I feel like it has.

I have had a 63 plate Fiesta Zetec S since the beginning of November and in the last couple of weeks, my volume and change track steering wheel controls have been working on some journeys and not on others. Now they seem to have packed in all together! Is this just a case of loose connections or poor wiring? I'm a bit of a novice and afraid to go tinkering around. I could take it to my local Ford garage but I don't want to pay a ridiculous amount of money for something I could ask a car savvy member of the family to look at. I bought the car from a Perry's dealership and paid for a 12 month warranty but I don't think it covers electric faults, just mechanical ones.

Thank you in advance!

Han

[Lebadoo]

Hi Hannah,

Common problem it seems. A lot of people have had success with spraying a bit of electrical contact cleaner in the back of the buttons. To do this you'll need to disconnect the battery, wait 20 mins, remove some of the steering column trim pieces, remove the airbag from the centre of the steering wheel, and then remove the buttons and steering wheel trim.

Getting the airbag out was an ***** to do but once you have the knack it's pretty simple. There are two metal rods on the air bag that are sprung and need to be levered behind their respective hooks in order to release the airbag. Look it up on YouTube.

Whilst you're at it - if you don't already have cruise control then you can check whether your car is compatible with it; the installation process is no harder than what you will have just done.

[zain611]

On my mk6.5 fiesta zetec s the steering wheel control button to lower the volume is a bit odd. It works however it doesn't seem to click when you press it plus I'd have to press it a little more harder for it to work. For mine I think I just have to get another control unit. Not too sure on the mk7 steering wheel controls if they are the same as the mk6. 

[han63fiesta]

On 12/19/2018 at 1:20 AM, Lebadoo said:

Hi Hannah,

Common problem it seems. A lot of people have had success with spraying a bit of electrical contact cleaner in the back of the buttons. To do this you'll need to disconnect the battery, wait 20 mins, remove some of the steering column trim pieces, remove the airbag from the centre of the steering wheel, and then remove the buttons and steering wheel trim.

Getting the airbag out was an ***** to do but once you have the knack it's pretty simple. There are two metal rods on the air bag that are sprung and need to be levered behind their respective hooks in order to release the airbag. Look it up on YouTube.

Whilst you're at it - if you don't already have cruise control then you can check whether your car is compatible with it; the installation process is no harder than what you will have just done.

Thank you so much - bit scared of it blowing up in my face so I may just take it to my uncle instead. But thank you, these instructions will definitely help him!

[han63fiesta]

On 12/19/2018 at 9:07 AM, zain611 said:

On my mk6.5 fiesta zetec s the steering wheel control button to lower the volume is a bit odd. It works however it doesn't seem to click when you press it plus I'd have to press it a little more harder for it to work. For mine I think I just have to get another control unit. Not too sure on the mk7 steering wheel controls if they are the same as the mk6. 

I tried this and it worked for a week or two but now doesn't respond no matter how hard I press.

[Lebadoo]

You could try a factory reset of the ford sync system n the settings and see whether that has an effect?

[M6 44t car park attendant]

4 hours ago, han63fiesta said:

I tried this and it worked for a week or two but now doesn't respond no matter how hard I press.

 

3 hours ago, Lebadoo said:

You could try a factory reset of the ford sync system n the settings and see whether that has an effect?

 

I agree, first port of call is to perform factory reset.

You can either do a master reset in the cars menus, delete all bluetooth phones(if you have bluetooth) OR disconnect battery for 30mins

If that doesn't cure the fault it it's likely a mechanical failure or dirty connections

 

I had a problem recently with the voice control not working or the volume down key.

I did a master reset and deleted all phones, that seemed to work well.

[isetta]

I bought my car about 2yr 3month ago when it was 10 months old. The buttons have never worked properly. Often what happens is a button does not work, I can press the others . Usually one will work and once one works they all start working again.  It's the voice control that really annoys me, the others have equivalent controls on the radio but there is no voice control button on the radio itself.

I much preferred the controls on my mk6.5 - the switch thing sticking out below the indicator switch. 

[M6 44t car park attendant]

1 hour ago, isetta said:

I bought my car about 2yr 3month ago when it was 10 months old. The buttons have never worked properly. Often what happens is a button does not work, I can press the others . Usually one will work and once one works they all start working again.  It's the voice control that really annoys me, the others have equivalent controls on the radio but there is no voice control button on the radio itself.

I much preferred the controls on my mk6.5 - the switch thing sticking out below the indicator switch. 

Generally speaking I think it's a lack of processing power/RAM in the system, causing it to hang or miss changes in resistance on the switchgear.

A master reset is like a reformat on Windows (Sync is Microsoft based)

 

However, since upgrading my Sony DAB to MFD5 navi I've had no more issues with commands not being processed, buttons not working ECT. Not yet anyway 😬

 

Here's a pinout of the Main radio control modules "C1" connector, looks like signals from the steering wheel would likely be on PIN 14 OR PIN 15, unless they've routed it through the front audio display screen.

You could probe a multimeter between here and earth and look for changes in resistance or voltage - when pressing different keys to check if it's a mechanical failure of the switch

[craig26283]

I simply pulled the thing out of the steering wheel, took it apart, cleaned it and put it back together! 

[Zico]

I have to try and get round to taking mine out as squirting WD-40 specialist contact cleaner in from the top didn't make any difference.

21 hours ago, craig26283 said:

I simply pulled the thing out of the steering wheel, took it apart, cleaned it and put it back together! 

Did you have to take out the airbag or can you just take out the plastic surround to get to the controls?

[craig26283]

5 hours ago, Zico said:

I have to try and get round to taking mine out as squirting WD-40 specialist contact cleaner in from the top didn't make any difference.

Did you have to take out the airbag or can you just take out the plastic surround to get to the controls?

Just the plastic thing, didn't touch the air bag 🙂

 

[han63fiesta]

Thank you for all the helpful suggestions, will be giving it a go at the weekend. Other half has told me not to bother because the buttons still work on the radio but that isn't the point - if the car comes with steering wheel controls, I should be able to use them!

[Zico]

The voice activation button is the only part of the control that has stopped working for me. The other buttons are fine. I've already eliminated it being an issue with the bluetooth after doing a master reset and evening pulling the fuse out and re-pairing the phone. I can answer and hang up incoming calls with the other buttons on the steering wheel fine.

14 hours ago, han63fiesta said:

Thank you for all the helpful suggestions, will be giving it a go at the weekend. Other half has told me not to bother because the buttons still work on the radio but that isn't the point - if the car comes with steering wheel controls, I should be able to use them!

You tell him 😁.

[M6 44t car park attendant]

So my voice control button issues resurfaced, I did some digging around.

 

 

I observe changes in resistance to the connector here on the rear of the ACM labelled 'to APIM'

PINS 8 + 21 in the above pinout for voice button

Yet these changes aren't interpreted by the system and can't be observed in the FCDIM dashboard of FORScan.

 

Recalibration of the APIM ASBUILT 7D0-02-01 seemed only to disturb it temporarily.

I've been in contact with admin from FORScan who've explained that this line is an ASCII code for country. It doesn't change anything to do with syncs functionality.

It seems that these issues must either be changes in resistance on the voice control pathway are outside of calibration and are so ignored.

OR

System suffering from hangs and crashes

 

However I do find I have some faults on the RFA module for CAN communication errors

 

How did you get on with yours Han63fiesta or Zico?

[Zico]

Hi @M6 44t car park attendant.

Haven't attempted to take out the control switch yet. Might have a go this weekend when I have some time.

[M6 44t car park attendant]

34 minutes ago, Zico said:

Hi @M6 44t car park attendant.

Haven't attempted to take out the control switch yet. Might have a go this weekend when I have some time.

My buttons miraculously started working today, I changed a line in the sync 1.1 APIM ASBUILT 

From 

7D0-02-01 0445 4B00 007E

To

7D0-02-01 044E 4C00 0078

First, my emergency assistance option immediately reappeared under menu>sync applications>emergency assistance 

Then after being powered down overnight and as if by magic......voice control is working

 

However, I've been in contact with the FORScan team to ask what the 7D0-02-01 entry is for.

I was told that the second and third bits of code when split into twos ie

04 45 4B 00 00 7E

Is country of origin and has no effect on the sync modules operation

Ie

454B for UK

4E4C for NL

As for the change to 7E from 78 ..... I don't know, it wasn't answered but it works again so I'm happy for now.

 

[Zico]

Good to hear that you've got your button functioning. Seeing as I haven't altered anything on mine using FORScan, I'm hoping that it's just a dirty contact issue.

[M6 44t car park attendant]

6 minutes ago, Zico said:

Good to hear that you've got your button functioning. Seeing as I haven't altered anything on mine using FORScan, I'm hoping that it's just a dirty contact issue.

I've got a feeling it probably is a dirty contact on both counts to be honest just seems strange to start working after a reconfig.

Yours didn't stop working shortly after the v5,11 update did it? Perhaps that's the reason for the differing hex addresses 7E/78

Time will tell.......I might pull it and inspect this weekend if I get chance. Although my mates Clio has just started acting all French so I guess not 😂

If you find it fixes yours do let us know.....what you gonna use. Wd40 or nail varnish remover? Or propper stuff?

[Zico]

I updated to 5.11 ages ago and to be honest it was running fine. I had a small glitch in the beginning whereby I had to delete and re-pair the phone but it worked fine pretty much after that.

I have a can of proper WD40 specialist contact cleaner which I had already tried to squirt in from the top without success.

If I were to get the cable and software for FORScan, what would I be looking for (I'm sure it's around the forum - will probably look around tomorrow)?

[M6 44t car park attendant]

14 hours ago, Zico said:

I updated to 5.11 ages ago and to be honest it was running fine. I had a small glitch in the beginning whereby I had to delete and re-pair the phone but it worked fine pretty much after that.

I have a can of proper WD40 specialist contact cleaner which I had already tried to squirt in from the top without success.

If I were to get the cable and software for FORScan, what would I be looking for (I'm sure it's around the forum - will probably look around tomorrow)?

Yeah, I think the design is similar to that of tv remote controls in that there will be a rubber pad with the plastic buttons on top. Squirting it in from the top probably wouldn't get to the circuit board and contacts below.

 

The cable you'd be looking for would be the MODIFIED ELM327 with a HS/MS CAN switch(I went for the one with the FTDI chip). I personally prefer the USB version due to it being more reliable.

Then you'd download FORScan (it's free) -quick search on Google

Then follow the steps to register and then get an extended licence (also free)

 

Once you're in FORScan and you've connected to the vehicle, on the tabs on the left, click on the tab that looks like a square chip (like a micro-processor)

Select the APIM (ASBUILT) and press play 

Then you'll get the below screen

 

[Zico]

Thanks for the details. Only other problem is that I don't have a laptop so couldn't do anything unless I parked my car in the house 😄.

[M6 44t car park attendant]

4 hours ago, Zico said:

Thanks for the details. Only other problem is that I don't have a laptop so couldn't do anything unless I parked my car in the house 😄.

That would be a VERY long usb extension lead 😂

Seriously though, don't try that! There would be signal loss over long distances 😬

I suppose you could bring the whole pc outside with an extension but it seems excessive...

If you're ever around the north west you're welcome to mosey on over, I'll be more than happy to help out. At present there is no facility for module programming on the Android or IOS app, which is a bit of a bummer.....

That's if I can escape from the lorry, this week has been horrendous......Roll on Saturday!!!

[Treef]

When mine play up I just thump the steering wheel and they start working again, have to do it sort off on a monthly basis but it works each time.

 

[ValdemarN]

I fixed this by shaking my steering wheel up and down (slowly). I pushed it up with my knees by random and saw it worked. Tried then without “lifting” it with my knees.  No response. After a few tries doing first normal and then lifting, it now works normally. Hope people find this helpfull even tho the post is old :))