Steering Wheel Switches

[Don.F.Broadus at ucm.com]

Some of the GM cars use fiber optics. This is a infrared transmitter and
receiver much like a TV remote. Some how the optic fiber spins in a holder
as the wheel is turned.  2 fiber optics cables a power and ground for the
electronics in the 
Wheel . 


		-----Original Message-----
		From:	rmjones at cyberhighway.net
[SMTP:rmjones at cyberhighway.net]
		Sent:	Monday, November 16, 1998 12:47 PM
		To:	'diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu'
		Subject:	RE: Steering Wheel Switches

		Ford uses resistors for their cruise functions, with two
wires handling all functions.  I assume the radio controls operate the same
way.

		  Because my company F-250 Powerstroke did not have cruise
control,  (and no aftermarket kit was available w/o replacing the steering
column) I built a resistor bank with switches placed in a trim panel under
the light switch.  Because all powertrain functions on the P.S. are handled
by the ECM I had cruise working in about two hours with about $30 bucks
worth of parts including the wiring manual.  Worked perfectly except for
occasionally the horn would give a very short beep when turning cruise on
(the horn is also operated via resistors and ecm.)

		Mike Jones

			----------
			From: 	Joe Boucher
			Sent: 	Monday, November 16, 1998 11:01 AM
			To: 	diy_efi at esl.eng.ohio-state.edu
			Subject: 	Steering Wheel Switches

			I went to Las Vegas with the wife the last week of
October.  Went to the Sahara
			hotel where they have an interesting driving
simultation using 24, 3/4 size Indy
			cars mounted on hydraulic rams, each in it's on
booth in front of a big wide
			screen.  You guessed it, you race against the other
drivers.  For $8 it was better
			than the simulators in the arcades.  They give you a
read out after you race with
			a traction circle and other info showing how you
did.  After looking at the info,
			I was less frustrated and wanted to go back, but the
wife had another agenda.

			The transmission was semi-auto with the up and down
buttons on the steering
			wheel.  That made me think of the higher end cars in
the late '80's.  There seemed
			to be a contest to see who could mount the most
buttons on the steering wheel.  I
			think the Bonneville SEi had more than an F-16
cockpit.  I know each button didn't
			have a seperate ring in the steering column, so how
did the switch signal travel
			from the steering wheel to where ever it went?  All
my electronically limited mind
			can think of is either different resistances or
capacitances or varying frequency
			signals.

			Am I close?

			Joe Boucher
			'70 RS/SS Camaro  '81 TBI Suburban