[sammyd173]

I just bought a leather-wrapped steering wheel for my Maxx LS. It's an LT model, same appearance as the LS wheel but with leather and more controls. It was $50 from ebay.

Anyone do this swap? Will the connectors match up? Not too worried about the audio controls working, more interested in retaining cruise control and getting rid of the cheap feel of the plastic wheel.

Asked the dealer if this would and they did not know.

Sam

 

[sammyd173]

Dealer just called - the swap will work, cruise works, just the audio controls do not work.

 

[Answer069]

did they say what it would take to get the audio controls to work? I am curious because I have been thinking of doing the same swap.

 

[sammyd173]

Dealers don't seem to be interested in this stuff. They just want to overcharge for their repairs or do their recalls and go home.

The compatibility just wasn't there for the audio. I don't know if we need a new harness connector or if our LS Radio needs to be replaced with LT spec radio or both.

For $50 though this mod is well worth it (that's how much my wheel was on eBay). The plastic wheel feels awful by comparison. The fact that cruise continued to work was the clincher for me.

 

[Answer069]

yeah I feel the same way about the dealerships. IF you're not there for them to make money off of you then they could really care less. I had looked into switching just the controls and it seems like we would need a new harness to get all the controls to work.

 

[jimmyfloyd]

I am not that familiar with the 2005 malibu's, but I do know with the G6's, you are able to add functioning steering wheel control if the car doesn't have them, and they are able to swap from the 4 spoke steering wheel (similar to malibu?) up to the 3 spoke.

To add Radio controls it did require a trip to the dealer to have them program the option into the radio (I think it was RPO UB3) but it was doable.

Here are some links:
Adding radio controls
http://www.g6performance.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12857&highlight=radio+controls

Using 08 Malibu controls
http://www.g6performance.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6775&page=1

talk of the swap:
http://www.g6performance.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1300&highlight=4-spoke
http://www.g6performance.com/forum/showthread.php?t=835&highlight=swap+steering+wheel

Hope that helps.

 

[sammyd173]

Great info, thanks for sharing and for the update. I'll look into this again.