Push button after market steering wheel Starting & cruise controls

[supradupra.com]

So.... New car, time to rebuild the steering wheel control system and transponder key controller.

First up was to re-make the actual plastics for the switches to be housed in. These needed redeveloping as, I wanted to illuminate them blue to match the rest of the car - the old system was green & did not allow me to change the color.

So - the panels start life as a shaped bit of perspex which is routed & drilled out to allow the switches and wiring to be concealed inside them - the panels are made of 3 parts - rear component part, front former/lens then the print.



It's all very small and fiddly, not really much point in going into depth here as this posts just really for peoples bordom!

The front part mounts over the rear component side sealing everything up, these are then mounted to a bracket which mounts up behind the steering wheel. The tiny cables come out the rear and directly inside the steering boss to keep them concealed behind everything.

The last model featured LEDs next to the OFF, POWER & START buttons that "flip flopped" depending on what option could be selected. This time around I have used lit push buttons.

These allowed me to light up the words of each button individually instead of the LEDs. This involved having to make up a small shaped light diffuser behind each button to spread the light evenly - bit of optics there thrown in to keep me on my toes!



Cameras hate photographing these things but, you get the jest!
The little circuit board attached, mounts up inside the steering boss and houses connectors for the umbilical cable and components for the cruise buttons.

Here they are with the screens fitted.




All switches are lit here as a test, usually when in operation, only the buttons of options that can be chosen are lit, so for instance, if the ignitions on, OFF & START will light, if the cars started only OFF will light - get the idea?

Obviously this stuff don't just plug and play, a circuit is required to drive it! This is all set out as follows:



1) The transponder key dock - this fits where the ignition key was, when the key is inserted it lights up (fades coulours) and sends a signal to ...

2) The Transponder key ECU (big black box) Basically this is an immobiliser type device thats been tinkered with to allow my ECU to take control of certain things. It switches all 3 power systems , ACC, IG1 & IG2.

3) The push button ECU - this is the smaller long box, this is the heart of the actual controls, this interfaces with my alarm system remote start & power control, the car ECU and the transponder ECU.

4) The umbilical - this is the grey cable, its made using super flexible cables - same as those on a domestic telephone cord, they comprise thin copper threads wound round nylon cores insulated with PTFE coating. They are incredibly flexible and don't break with continued movement - ideal for wrapping round a steering boss and moving with the wheel.

5) the control panel assy.

So - how does it all work - erm far too dull to go into for people but, the circuit for the ECU is below - thats how it works .... all clear on that? good



Inshort, the transponder key gets read when inserted (he he, i said inserted again), this switches on the panel and the options that can be selected (Power & start) light up. It also brings on the car AV & ACC systems like key position 1.

Pressing power just brings on the ignition power.

Pressing start will automatically turn on the ignition then my ECU ask the TCCS if the engines ready then cranks it for an automated amount of time till the engine fires up - giving the TCCS control over cranking means the engine fires up in a second - tiz great!

If remote start has been triggered using the alarm - the control circuit recieves a command from the alarm so, when the transponder is inserted the system automatically switches to running and allows you to drive off without pressing a single button - simple!

The car will only crank if the safety systems say OK - so N gear, brake etc, the car will not move without the transponder docked and if attempted the power shuts off instantly and the alarm sounds.

To turn off you either press stop or - just pull the transponder out its dock - the car shuts down automatically - kind of fail safe system.

All this fits neatly up in the dash, hidden away. It uses all standard commands and also shares comands to & from the alarm ECU - this dramatically reduced the components required to make all this work and halved the cabling from my original MA70 system.



All fitted and working.



Dock is pretty much same as my old one, the stock key light has been replaced with the status indicator of the new system so, flashes and lights to tell you to insert the transponder etc - handy.

Thats it, has been keeping me busy for a week that! Lots of head scratching and investigation into how to interface with the TCCS and alarm ECUs - the joy!

[mark3]

Im bloody impressed, but one thing, GET IT TO SOME MEETS!

[supramad77]

Looks great mate, having done an aftermarket wheel with aftermarket buttons for cruise control and shifter buttons for the suprastick i know how hard this is to do and make look as good as that. Really impressed mate.

[Worf]

Impressive and looks the part!

[Finfon]

and to think i used to get confusded running cables for 2 way lighting in loft conversions haha

[Kai]

Very Nice stu - mind if i borrow that schematic for that project i've been on at you about?

[supradupra.com]

I can recall something similar Kai - by all means make use of it although, much of it is specific to the systems on my car & won't make a huge amount of sense if just built - much of it could be adapted to work with a different transponder and alarm tho I'm sure

[JSeaman]

As always looks very bright and shiny - nice work

[Kai]

Yeah, still looking to get that keypad start going...i'm obsessed!

[spinningheadboy]

Stu, your cars are on my tourist visa when I come to the UK someday.

Always nice work.

cwd

[supradupra.com]

Your welcome any time ! Hopefully I'll have just one really good one by then ... and some drive way back!

At the moment all the below chaos is because of the Supra collection ...

[Stevieboy]

Your drive is bigger than my road

[supradupra.com]

You try sweeping the bl00dy thing!!

It's not my drive anyhoo - it all belongs to the folks! New patio being laid soon tho so could be mine ... & there's always the well

We can get 12 cars on here - 2 under cover - enough room for a mini meet one day in fact

[group a supra]

twice youve impressesd me with your work today stu

[supradupra.com]

I'm sorry - I promise not to do it again!

Guess you not seen the TEMS thing yet - may get a full house!