Convert to T series style auto steering wheel controls. Can it be done?

[5.0 ED]

I'm assuming that if you put in the circuit for the up down gear buttons on a non T series that the ecu wont recognise it?

And if it doesn't is it possible to edit these changes with a flash tuner or anything else.

[MNM96]

JC will answer for sure, but someone was mucking around with this once before. From memory, it was not impossible on the Adaptive Shift cars, like XR's, but a shitefite on the others, and didn't eventuate.
Mike

[b2tf]

It requires a button with the wheels (if you can find one), the loom (and you'll lose the volume controls on the steering wheel as there isnt enough room to run both looms), and you'll need the ECU to be made capable of running it. A fair amount for work for something that is only really a bit of a novelty.

[superroo]

and if i remember a solenoid in the trans needs to be changed.
Without it the car won't hold first. S1 or S5 is the one that needs to be changed and it somewhere near $500 to get the right one.

Cheers

[JC]

All of the above responses are correct. I'm not sure about the ECU bit, but you certainly neeed at least one of the PCB boards and a couple of resistors from a T series auto donor car, and also one of the solenoids in the tranny is different between the auto Ts, and the rest of the AU auto range. A solenoid from an E series car will work (should be cheaper than, and yet do the same job as, the T series one).

RussellW posted up some pretty simple instructions on what needs to be done - I think it was in the AU wiring diagram thread, so I'll see if I can find it and post in a link.

The BA SSS option was the one being worked on by Muzza, but it proved not to be useable on an AU without a lot of additional expense (like $500 for the trans solenoid), so the project was abandoned. The alternative to installing a SSS shifter was using the buttons on the wheel, but it had the same poor results in first gear, so again, that was also abandoned. But, as above, if you get the bits you need to replicate the T series setup, you should be right (and from memory, the are no actual ECU changes - the additional circuits run as interceptors between the steering wheel controls and the ECU, and the ECU handles it all with no other changes).

[JC]

A couple of relevant posts by RussellW that may help you get this working:

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...49&postcount=4
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...40&postcount=8

[bingoTE50]

I have it on my TE50 , but to be honest , I used on a hill climb once when I was giving some stick ,and it is useless when you half way around a corner and you need to upshift , your hands are not near the buttons..The Ba-Bf set up is better...

[DJM83]

As Steve says, really it isnt worth it. I have it on my TE and i hardly use it, as he said try and shift halfway round a corner its a PITA also if you 'forget' its on and stop then take off leaving it on all of a sudden you are doing 5000rpm in 1st. I think its purely **** factor IMHO

[HOTC2R]

Originally Posted by b2tf

It requires a wheel with the buttons (if you can find one), the loom (and you'll lose the volume controls on the steering wheel as there isnt enough room to run both looms), and you'll need the ECU to be made capable of running it. A fair amount for work for something that is only really a bit of a novelty.

T-series s/wheel with buttons ARE getting rare but you just need to know where to get them.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by HOTC2R

T-series s/wheel with buttons ARE getting rare but you just need to know where to get them.

feel free to enlighten me

[bingoTE50]

I have one but comes with a car attached !!!

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by bingoTE50

I have one but comes with a car attached !!!

Was waiting for that : you left your self wide open Steve now they will think that they can buy your TE for the price of a steering wheel :

[GK]

Originally Posted by HOTC2R

T-series s/wheel with buttons ARE getting rare but you just need to know where to get them.

Originally Posted by b2tf

feel free to enlighten me

I'll bet $10 that Pete has one, hence the post! LOL!

GK

[5.0 ED]

nah i got the steering wheel. wasn't necessarilly meaning i would use it the same way as T series. With the solonoid it wouldn't be the solonoid you'd need to replace it'd be the shaft inside it that it moves, cause yep they dont lock onto first, i've done this before with a 5Litre into the XF it was more the ECU part that i wanted info on, and my car doesn't have adaptive shift. As for the auto not locking in first, i'll fix that no prob's.

[HOTC2R]

Originally Posted by b2tf

feel free to enlighten me

Can get my hands on red/blk and sky blue/blk tiptronic s/wheels. Anyone interested, shoot me a PM

[Elks]

I agree with TE50 056 & BingoTE50. In general not a mod I'd bother with and my T2 has them.

Good for gadget value and not much else. The program seems to sharpen the shifts though, great for straight lining but the corner issue is real.

Unless you get the wheel and have the buttons hooked up to a line locker and a hidden bottle of NOS. :

[Dark Horse]

Just out of curiosity, how much sharper are the shifts in ESS mode as opposed to moving around in PERF mode without ESS engaged?

[JC]

ESS is perf mode.

[Elks]

I dont know exactly, but a high rpm shift in drive in 'perf' mode gives a nice clean shift, but in ESS it will chirp tyres on the 1-2 change. This is 7 years of this so it's not a once only event.

Some of the more tech savvy T owners might know if this is real on me just going mad.

PS: i leave it in 'perf' mode permanently, as adaptive is code for always in the wrong mode.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by JC

ESS is perf mode.

No its not it is 'manual shifting but i gather you know that, i can shift alot higher (redline if i want but dont) in ESS mode the preformance mode wont go that far.

Maybe i should drive mine is PERF mode for abit as its alway in ADP.