Hey guys, thanks for your patience for those of you that have been waiting for me to post these instructions. I believe they are quite thorough, let me know if you have any questions and I'd be happy to help.
So if you have been inconvenienced many times in your 4th gen Altima sedan or coupe because of the lack of steering wheel mounted volume controls, this is where you want to be, Boystar22 and I have created several guides, with pictures to help you install your OEM volume controls, remove your radio, wire your car and have a little added convenience.
Here are the parts you'll need to order:
Steering Wheel Mounted Volume Controls (the link below says coupe, but the part is compatible with both the coupe and sedan)
SWITCH-ASCD,STEERING - ALTIMA (L32) :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com
Metra Harness 71-7552
Metra 71-7552 (met-717552) Wiring Harnesses Car Stereo Installation & Accessories Car Audio/Video Installation & Accessories Car Audio, Video, & GPS Navigation - Sonic Electronix
You'll also want some extra wires that you can run since the wires on the Metra Harness are not long enough, zip ties (for a more professional install), and some heat shrink or electrical tape.
This is going to run you about:
$133.07 - Controls
$14.94 - Harness
If Nissan Courtesy Parts calls you for your VIN number, just tell them it doesn't matter that what you ordered is the part that you want, they called me a day after ordering it asking for my VIN.
The first thing you'll want to do is install the volume controls, Boystar22 has made these directions for you:
http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/ne...me-controls-steering-wheel-2.html#post3784628
After reconnecting your battery. Turn the car on, and turn your steering wheel to either the left or right, this reveals one screw on the right or left to remove (remove both).
Now unscrew the screw at the bottom of the column which is next to the handle where you adjust your telescopic steering wheel.
Once you've removed all three screws use the telescopic handle to pull out and lower the steering wheel all the way. Simply pry the two plastic peices covering your column apart, this is simple if you hold the top of the cover where it looks like there is a handle at the top of the cover near the gauges.
Take out your gray M30 connector on the right of the column (it's in there very good, you'll want to apply a lot of pressure to the tab while pulling, the wires are locked in very tight so if you're pulling on the wires a tad, don't worry, but also don't yank!) Once you've taken out the connector you'll see the locking mechanism to unlock and lock the snap-lock on the side (just use a small flat head screw driver to unlock it (you'll know what these look like after playing with your ordered Metra harness at home), use your your wires from your extra harness you ordered and simply plug those in the correct location. You will need one on the top-right, bottom-right, and also the 2nd one on the top.
---------------------------------------
For some side-note directions, this is how the snap-lock works and acts like:
This is the Metra Harness' snap-lock engaged. Using a flat head screw driver will prop it open (you need to prop it open on both sides, and this applys to virtually all the connectors in the car.)
This is the Metra Harness' snap-lock opened after using the flat head screw driver.
Now lets look at the behind the scenes, and see how this actually works. When the harness' snap-lock is opened, it creates a clear path for the wires to be inserted and removed, just make sure you're inserting the wires correctly, as the wires are not perfect squares, but rather have a small notch on the top so you insert them correctly, which I didn't picture above. However, this is easily spotted and easy to figure out once you've played with your harness (and also seen in the pictures above and below when I'm showing the wiring diagrams).
This is the harness closed and locked into place.
Now, back to the guide...
---------------------------------------
Now remove your radio, Boystar22 also made these extremely helpful instructions:
http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/ne...me-controls-steering-wheel-2.html#post3784627
On the Metra Harness, unlock the snap-lock on both sides of the harness and add your wires. The picture below shows you exactly where the wires go.
Now just run your wires from steering wheel to the radio. I didn't follow the black wire molding the entire way, but I did for part of the way, you'll notice there is a hole to run your wires to the radio. I would recommend soldering and heatshrinking the wires for a professional job, but stripping the wires and twisting them does a good enough job, then just cover them with electrical tape. I also was very generous with zip-ties to make it look nice.
In this picture you can see where I ran the three wires through the holes.
Now just reverse directions and put your radio back in and put the cover over your column and you're done!
This was posted by krnflyboy and was very helpful to me when I was wiring:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p247/krnflyboy/audocontrolharness.jpg
Since you can SEE my wires, I'll tell you what colors went to what.
M30 #31 (ORANGE) >--YELLOW--> M43 #6 (YELLOW-BACK)
M30 #24 (PURPLE-BLACK) >--BLUE----> M43 #16 (PURPLE)
M30 #33 (BROWN-RED) >--GREEN---> M43 #15 (WHITE-BLUE)
The color in the middle in my above diagram just represents what color wire I used that attached the wires together (as they were not long enough alone).
Many thanks to ruben00 who posted chadillacs written instructions for wiring, boystar22 who helped me with almost everything from the installation of the part, to what part I needed and the assistance throughout the entire process.
For a direct link to my original thread I started in June 2009, go here (but please don't bring the thread back from the dead): http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/ne...on/289896-volume-controls-steering-wheel.html
As always I, nor do any of the people who posted guides or advice take any responsibility for your car, assets, or anything else in the event that something goes wrong with anything you do after reading our threads.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. If you're in the MA area and would like some help with the installation, just let me know.
-Derek
So if you have been inconvenienced many times in your 4th gen Altima sedan or coupe because of the lack of steering wheel mounted volume controls, this is where you want to be, Boystar22 and I have created several guides, with pictures to help you install your OEM volume controls, remove your radio, wire your car and have a little added convenience.
Here are the parts you'll need to order:
Steering Wheel Mounted Volume Controls (the link below says coupe, but the part is compatible with both the coupe and sedan)
SWITCH-ASCD,STEERING - ALTIMA (L32) :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com
Metra Harness 71-7552
Metra 71-7552 (met-717552) Wiring Harnesses Car Stereo Installation & Accessories Car Audio/Video Installation & Accessories Car Audio, Video, & GPS Navigation - Sonic Electronix
You'll also want some extra wires that you can run since the wires on the Metra Harness are not long enough, zip ties (for a more professional install), and some heat shrink or electrical tape.
This is going to run you about:
$133.07 - Controls
$14.94 - Harness
If Nissan Courtesy Parts calls you for your VIN number, just tell them it doesn't matter that what you ordered is the part that you want, they called me a day after ordering it asking for my VIN.
The first thing you'll want to do is install the volume controls, Boystar22 has made these directions for you:
http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/ne...me-controls-steering-wheel-2.html#post3784628
After reconnecting your battery. Turn the car on, and turn your steering wheel to either the left or right, this reveals one screw on the right or left to remove (remove both).
Now unscrew the screw at the bottom of the column which is next to the handle where you adjust your telescopic steering wheel.
Once you've removed all three screws use the telescopic handle to pull out and lower the steering wheel all the way. Simply pry the two plastic peices covering your column apart, this is simple if you hold the top of the cover where it looks like there is a handle at the top of the cover near the gauges.
Take out your gray M30 connector on the right of the column (it's in there very good, you'll want to apply a lot of pressure to the tab while pulling, the wires are locked in very tight so if you're pulling on the wires a tad, don't worry, but also don't yank!) Once you've taken out the connector you'll see the locking mechanism to unlock and lock the snap-lock on the side (just use a small flat head screw driver to unlock it (you'll know what these look like after playing with your ordered Metra harness at home), use your your wires from your extra harness you ordered and simply plug those in the correct location. You will need one on the top-right, bottom-right, and also the 2nd one on the top.
---------------------------------------
For some side-note directions, this is how the snap-lock works and acts like:
This is the Metra Harness' snap-lock engaged. Using a flat head screw driver will prop it open (you need to prop it open on both sides, and this applys to virtually all the connectors in the car.)
This is the Metra Harness' snap-lock opened after using the flat head screw driver.
Now lets look at the behind the scenes, and see how this actually works. When the harness' snap-lock is opened, it creates a clear path for the wires to be inserted and removed, just make sure you're inserting the wires correctly, as the wires are not perfect squares, but rather have a small notch on the top so you insert them correctly, which I didn't picture above. However, this is easily spotted and easy to figure out once you've played with your harness (and also seen in the pictures above and below when I'm showing the wiring diagrams).
This is the harness closed and locked into place.
Now, back to the guide...
---------------------------------------
Now remove your radio, Boystar22 also made these extremely helpful instructions:
http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/ne...me-controls-steering-wheel-2.html#post3784627
On the Metra Harness, unlock the snap-lock on both sides of the harness and add your wires. The picture below shows you exactly where the wires go.
Now just run your wires from steering wheel to the radio. I didn't follow the black wire molding the entire way, but I did for part of the way, you'll notice there is a hole to run your wires to the radio. I would recommend soldering and heatshrinking the wires for a professional job, but stripping the wires and twisting them does a good enough job, then just cover them with electrical tape. I also was very generous with zip-ties to make it look nice.
In this picture you can see where I ran the three wires through the holes.
Now just reverse directions and put your radio back in and put the cover over your column and you're done!
This was posted by krnflyboy and was very helpful to me when I was wiring:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p247/krnflyboy/audocontrolharness.jpg
Since you can SEE my wires, I'll tell you what colors went to what.
M30 #31 (ORANGE) >--YELLOW--> M43 #6 (YELLOW-BACK)
M30 #24 (PURPLE-BLACK) >--BLUE----> M43 #16 (PURPLE)
M30 #33 (BROWN-RED) >--GREEN---> M43 #15 (WHITE-BLUE)
The color in the middle in my above diagram just represents what color wire I used that attached the wires together (as they were not long enough alone).
Many thanks to ruben00 who posted chadillacs written instructions for wiring, boystar22 who helped me with almost everything from the installation of the part, to what part I needed and the assistance throughout the entire process.
For a direct link to my original thread I started in June 2009, go here (but please don't bring the thread back from the dead): http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/ne...on/289896-volume-controls-steering-wheel.html
As always I, nor do any of the people who posted guides or advice take any responsibility for your car, assets, or anything else in the event that something goes wrong with anything you do after reading our threads.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. If you're in the MA area and would like some help with the installation, just let me know.
-Derek