So, I installed the Pioneer AVIC-D3 a while back in my car along with the XM receiver and bluetooth and back-up camera and ipod cable. All is working great except for the steering wheel interface.

I have re-programmed this thing a ton of times but still continue to have problems. Sometimes the button for volume down will work and sometimes not. Also, sometimes the button I used for channel down works and sometimes not. Then I noticed, when it is not working, if I hit the side of my center console that the PAC unit is located, it will start working. It is almost like there is a short there or something or maybe a bad wire connection, but I have re-wired it more than once.

What do you guys who know about this unit think is going on. Anyone else have problems with it not always working? Do you guys think I just have a bad unit? All the other buttons always work. It is just these two.

Any help can be useful.

 

Just curious, did anyone ever followed-up on this? I can't get it to work on an Avic either.

For the life of me, i've double checked every connection and read the programming instructions about a million times. The little red light blinks/flashes accordingly and seems to accept the programming correctly. I check the resistors with a tester, all ohms correct, no loose connections.

I'm curious if anyone ever get defected ones before? I did noticed that the instruction says after programming i should connect it to the stereo...does it matter if i already had it connected? I'd hate to have to disconnect that plug all the way in the back of radio, such a pain just getting to it.

 

scratch that, I figured it out....stupid stupid mistake of mine

 

I had the exact same problem with mine (vol down and seek down didn't work). It turned out to be a bad connection. Check the white wire before the PAC unit with a voltmeter. While pushing each button you should receive a different reading. There is a small chance the interface itself could be faulty, but I would put money on a bad/loose connection.

How did you connect the wires? I used wire-tap connector and the one connector wasn't piercing the wires insulation....used a different connector and now it works great.

 

I soldered my connections, less chances of something breaking loose. My mistake was I connected the plug into the back of the HU that says "digital out" since it had the same 1/8" jack ...didn't realize there was a wired remote jack off one of the HU harness....i know, it's real stupid, i can't believe i missed it.

 

I will have to check my connections again one of these days when I feel like ripping my dash apart. I think I used wire-taps, so maybe just one of them is not getting A good connection. I hope that is all that it is.

 

Just an update for anyone who cares or may have this same issue. So I ripped my dash apart finally cause I had to anyways for another problem, and I hardwires and soldered the connecting wires in place and did away with the tap-ins. That was about 2 weeks ago now and no more problems at all.

Moral of the story, if you are using this unit and having trouble with getting it to work right, just solder the connections in place.

 

I had the same problem going on with mine.