ZT CDTi - Steering wheel control is very intermittent

Roktraktor · 18th January 2010, 19:17

Hi

Wonder if anyone can help advise on my intermittent steering wheel control?
Its an ’03 saloon model with the Kenwood head unit, and the 6 CD unit in the boot. Had a quick look through the other pages and couldn’t see any answers.

Sometimes the remote controls work on the steering wheel and sometimes they don’t. Haven’t worked out if it happens at certain times (eg extremes of temperature). The airbag warning light also goes on and off and I wonder if the 2 issues are connected - the cowel around the steering column is a bit loose and it almost came away completely the other week, so could it be some loose connections?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cheers.

Dan.

PS. well chuffed with the ZT overall - I regularly get well over 50mpg, sometimes even high 50s, but I did almost fall off my chair when I found out the price of new tyres...

Greeners · 18th January 2010, 19:24

Welcome along

The remote works via an infra red beam that lives in the eyebrow above the Kenwood unit.

the two common problems are CD boxes blocking the beam, or the sensor out of line

Kandyman · 18th January 2010, 19:26

Hi there and welcome,

i am no ICE expert but i think the Kenwood units steering controls are infra red there should be an small led just under the eyebrow above the head unit, sometimes this gets knock and needs to be moved a bit.

The air bag light 9 times out of 10 is the Yellow connector under the drivers seat has come adrift and needs to be pushed back home tightly.

Roktraktor · 18th January 2010, 20:04

Thanks to you both.
I think I can probably narrow it down to the chamois sponge thing that I have been storing in the little shelf over the top of the head unit getting in the way of the infra red. Who’d have thought it would be something so simple?
Will check the airbag thing at the weekend when I can take a look in the light.
Cheers.
Dan.

Kandyman · 18th January 2010, 20:06

No worries Dan,

Report back and let us know how you get on.

Good Luck

Roktraktor · 18th January 2010, 20:17

Hurrah!

Just nipped out with my torch, and it was indeed the chamois sponge getting in the way of the infra red beam!
Great stuff.

Cheers.

Dan.

18th January 2010, 19:17	#1
Roktraktor Newbie MG ZT CDTi Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ZT CDTi - Steering wheel control is very intermittent Hi Wonder if anyone can help advise on my intermittent steering wheel control? Its an ’03 saloon model with the Kenwood head unit, and the 6 CD unit in the boot. Had a quick look through the other pages and couldn’t see any answers. Sometimes the remote controls work on the steering wheel and sometimes they don’t. Haven’t worked out if it happens at certain times (eg extremes of temperature). The airbag warning light also goes on and off and I wonder if the 2 issues are connected - the cowel around the steering column is a bit loose and it almost came away completely the other week, so could it be some loose connections? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Cheers. Dan. PS. well chuffed with the ZT overall - I regularly get well over 50mpg, sometimes even high 50s, but I did almost fall off my chair when I found out the price of new tyres...

18th January 2010, 19:24	#2
Greeners Moderator MG-ZTT Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 19,798 Thanks: 161 Thanked 1,249 Times in 1,036 Posts	Welcome along The remote works via an infra red beam that lives in the eyebrow above the Kenwood unit. the two common problems are CD boxes blocking the beam, or the sensor out of line __________________ *David* Impecunity is the mother of ingenuity Useful how to's for common problems Car Of The Month Jan 2014 [SatNav Power Down] [Coolant Level] [SatNav Repair] [Diesel Non Starting] [Paint Codes] [Rear Light Seals] [Reversing Light Switch] [Bleeding Brakes][Sunroof Drain] [Early ZT's][Instrument Pack Diagnostics][ATC Diagnostics]

18th January 2010, 19:26	#3
Kandyman Banned ROVER 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE Limousine 2004 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Welling Posts: 10,995 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hi there and welcome, i am no ICE expert but i think the Kenwood units steering controls are infra red there should be an small led just under the eyebrow above the head unit, sometimes this gets knock and needs to be moved a bit. The air bag light 9 times out of 10 is the Yellow connector under the drivers seat has come adrift and needs to be pushed back home tightly.

18th January 2010, 20:04	#4
Roktraktor Newbie MG ZT CDTi Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks to you both. I think I can probably narrow it down to the chamois sponge thing that I have been storing in the little shelf over the top of the head unit getting in the way of the infra red. Who’d have thought it would be something so simple? Will check the airbag thing at the weekend when I can take a look in the light. Cheers. Dan.

18th January 2010, 20:06	#5
Kandyman Banned ROVER 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE Limousine 2004 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Welling Posts: 10,995 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	No worries Dan, Report back and let us know how you get on. Good Luck

18th January 2010, 20:17	#6
Roktraktor Newbie MG ZT CDTi Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hurrah! Just nipped out with my torch, and it was indeed the chamois sponge getting in the way of the infra red beam! Great stuff. Cheers. Dan.