Axxess Automobile Parts User manual

axxessinterface.com
460 Walker Street • Holly Hill, FL 32117-2699
800.221.0932
ASWC
Axxess Steering Wheel Control Interface
Installation Manual
The ASWC is a universal steering wheel control interface that can be used
on most any vehicle with steering wheel controls. Designed to be used
with today’s top aftermarket radio manufactures like Pioneer, Sony, Alpine,
Kenwood, Eclipse, JVC, and others, the ASWC is all you’ll need to retain
the OEM steering wheel controls. The ASWC has the ability to auto-detect
many vehicle makes and aftermarket radios and it will preset the steering
wheel controls to the aftermarket radio automatically so no programming is
required. If desired the ASWC can be manually programmed so the user
can make the steering wheel controls function they way they want them
to, only limited by the functions of the aftermarket radio. The ASWC also
has a non-volatile memory which means the ASWC will remember the
programming even if the ASWC is disconnected from the vehicle.
The ASWC is also updatable using the Axxess website (www.axxessinter-
face.com) and the USB-CAB update cable. If there is an update made to
the ASWC there is no need to send inventory back, or ask for the latest
version, you can update it yourself and save time and money.
US Pat. No. 8014920

What’s included in the package?
A) ASWC Interface
B) 12 pin harness with male 3.5mm
connector
C) Female 3.5mm connector with Brown and
Brown/White wires
A
B
C
1

What you need to know before you begin:
1) Make sure you know the correct year, make, and model of your vehicle.
2) Make sure the radio you are installing is compatible with a steering
wheel control interface (Check in owners manual).
3) Go to the Axxess website (www.axxessinterface.com) for a detailed
information sheet on what color(s) the steering wheel control wires will
be in your vehicle, the location, what wire(s) to use on the ASWC, and
what, if any, programming is required. Print or write the information
down so you have it in the vehicle during the install.
Note: Though we have done extensive research and testing verifying
the steering wheel control wire colors of the vehicle we list are correct, it
is still your responsibility to verify the steering wheel control wires with a
multimeter. If you nd a discrepancy please notify our Tech Department at
1-800-253-TECH.
2

A brief overview of the ASWC interface and wire harness:
On the top of the ASWC interface there are three points of interest:
1) The Programming led – this will  ash rapidly when in auto detect mode,
 ashes slowly in manual programming mode.
2) The Reset button – Hold down button more then 2 seconds but less then
10 seconds to start auto detect mode; hold down longer then 10 seconds
to start manual programming mode.
3) The slide cover for the USB update port – open this up to reveal the USB
update port. Using the USB-CAB update cable and the Axxess website
you can make sure you always have the latest, updated inventory.
USB PORT COVER PROGRAMMING LED
RESET BUTTON
3

Below are the wire colors of the ASWC. Please go to the Axxess website
(www.axxessinterface.com) for detailed information on your specic vehicle
and what color wire(s) to use on the ASWC.
Pin 1 – Pink
Pin 2 – White/Green
Pin 3 – Orange/Green
Pin 4 – Green/Orange
Pin 5 – Gray/Red
Pin 6 – Black
Pin 7 – Blue/Pink
Pin 8 – Black/Green
Pin 9 – Red (Tip of 3.5mm connector)
Pin 10 – Whie (Ring of 3.5mm connector)
Pin 11 – Gray/Blue
Pin 12 – Red
PIN
1
PIN
2
PIN
3
PIN
4
PIN
5
PIN
6
PIN
12
PIN
11
PIN
10
PIN
9
PIN
8
PIN
7
4

The Installation
Once you have collected the information or printed out the information
sheet on your particular vehicle from the Axxess website (www.axxessinter-
face.com) you’re ready to install the ASWC.
So here we go:
1) Connect the Black wire of the ASWC (pin 6) to ground. You may use the
same grounding point as the aftermarket radio.
2) Connect the Red wire of the ASWC (pin 12) to a 12 volt accessory wire,
one that turns on and off with the ignition key.
3) Locate the correct SWC wire(s) in the vehicles radio or secondary
harness as described in the vehicle information sheet found in the
Axxess website. Connect the correct wire color(s) from the ASWC to the
vehicles steering wheel control wire(s) in the vehicle.
We recommend that the wires are soldered for the best and most secure
connection. T-Taps are not recommended due to the higher chance of an
intermitted connection.
4) If you are using an Eclipse or Kenwood radio, plug the female 3.5mm
connector with the Brown and Brown/White wires into the male 3.5mm
connector of the ASWC harness.
* For Kenwood/JVC’s with Blue/Yellow Wire radios:
Connect the Kenwood/JVC SWC wire (normally Blue/Yellow) to the Brown
wire of the ASWC. Isolate and tape the Brown/White wire, it will not be used.
* For Eclipse radios:
Connect the Eclipse SWC wires (Normally Brown and Brown/Black) to the
Brown and Brown/White wires of the ASWC. Brown goes to Brown and
5

Brown/White goes to Brown/Black.
5) For all other radios, plug in the male 3.5mm connector of the ASWC into
the back of the aftermarket radio, designated for an external SWC
control interface. Please refer to the aftermarket radios manual if you
are in doubt where the 3.5mm connector of the ASWC goes.
Once all connections have been made, plug in the aftermarket radio if not
done already.
Programming the ASWC
The ASWC can be programmed in two ways; it can do it by itself in Auto
Detect Mode or it can be manually programmed. We will start with the Auto
Detect Mode rst:
Auto Detect Mode:
The ASWC has the ability to auto detect certain vehicles and to know what
aftermarket radio it is connected to. The vehicle info sheet from the Axxess
website (www.axxessinterface.com) will show if your vehicle would be auto
detected and what action, if any, is required by you for this process to take
place.
For the Auto Detect feature to work there are 3 possible actions, however
only one action will be required by you depending on your vehicle:
1) Turn the ignition on and no other action is required.
2) Turn the ignition on, press and hold down the Volume Up button on the
steering wheel.
Or
3) Turn the ignition on, press and release the Volume Up button repeatedly
on the steering wheel.
6

Like we said before, only one of these actions will need to be done depend-
ing on your vehicle for the auto detect feature to work. Please refer to the
vehicle info sheet in the Axxess website.
These are the steps for the Auto Detect Mode:
1) Complete connections to the vehicle and the aftermarket radio.
* If this is the rst time the ASWC is being installed in a vehicle:
2) Turn the ignition on; the led will start ashing rapidly which means the
ASWC is looking for the vehicle and the radio.
3) Perform action required for your particular vehicle as noted in the vehicle
info sheet.
4) After a couple of seconds the led should stop ashing and not light up for
2 seconds.
At this point do not push any buttons.
5) After the 2 seconds there will be a series of 7 ashes, some short and
some long. Make a note of which ashes were long for this may be
needed later.
6) The led will pause for another 2 seconds then ash up to 10 times. Again
make a note of how many ashes.
7) This is the end of the auto detection stage. If the ASWC detected the
vehicle and the radio successfully the led will light up solid red.
8) Make sure the steering wheel control buttons function correctly in the
vehicle and enjoy your radio.
So what if the led does not light up solid red? Check out troubleshooting
section below.
7

* If the ASWC was installed in a vehicle before:
2) Turn the ignition on, the led will ash slowly.
3) Hold down the reset button for more then 2 seconds but less then 10
seconds, the led will start ashing rapidly.
4) Perform action required for your particular vehicle as noted in the vehicle
info sheet.
5) After a couple of seconds the led should stop ashing and not light up for
2 seconds.
At this point do not push any buttons.
6) After the 2 seconds there will be a series of 7 ashes, some short and
some long.
7) The led will pause another 2 seconds then a series of 10 ashes.
8) This is the end of the auto detection stage. If the ASWC detected the
vehicle and the radio successfully the led will light up solid red.
9) Make sure the steering wheel control buttons function correctly in the
vehicle and enjoy your radio.
So what if the led does not light up solid red or the steering wheel controls
is not working correctly with the aftermarket radio?
Check out troubleshooting section right below.
8

Troubleshooting the Auto Detect Mode
So you tried the auto detect feature and at the end the led did not stay
on solid red, it started ashing. That means the ASWC did not detect the
vehicle. Follow these couple steps to determine what happened:
First some basic steps:
1) Verify that you have 12 volt accessory and a good ground to the ASWC.
2) Verify with the vehicle information sheet on the Axxess website that you
connected the correct steering wheel control wires in the vehicle to the
correct wire(s) on the ASWC.
3) Verify that the 3.5mm connector is connected to your radio securely and
in the correct location.
4) If using the female 3.5mm connector on an Eclipse or Kenwood radio,
verify that the radio’s SWC wire is connected to the correct wire on the
ASWC.
Once all the information above has been veried and correct, refer back to
the 2 sets of led ashes during the auto detect sequence. Here is what the
ashes stand for:
LED Feedback
The 1st series of led ashes represent the wire(s) that are connected to the
vehicle from the ASWC.
Short ashes represent the steering wheel control wire(s) that are not con-
nected to the vehicle from the ASWC.
Long ashes represent the wire(s) that are connected to the vehicle.
9

1st led ash is pin #2 (White/Green) on the ASWC
2nd led ash is pin #3 (Orange/Green) on the ASWC
3rd led ash is pin #4 (Green/Orange) on the ASWC
4th led ash is pin #5 (Gray/Red) on the ASWC
5th led ash is pin #8 (Black/Green) on the ASWC
6th led ash is pin #11 (Gray/Blue) on the ASWC
7th led ash is pin #1 (Pink) on the ASWC
If during the auto detect sequence there was no long led ash, just short
ones, the ASWC was not connected to the correct wire in the vehicle or
the incorrect wire was used on the ASWC. Double check connections and
the vehicle information sheet to verify that you have the correct wires con-
nected.
The 2nd set of led ashes represents what brand radio the ASWC believes
it is connected to. Each ash is for a different radio manufacturer.
1st led ash is for Eclipse
2nd led ash is for Kenwood
3rd led ash is for Clarion
4th led ash is for Sony and Dual
5th led ash is for JVC
6th led ash is for Pioneer and Jensen
7th led ash is for Alpine*
8th led ash is for Visteon
9th led ash is for Valor
10th led ash is for Clarion 5V
* Note: If the ASWC ashes 7 times and you do not have an Alpine radio
connected to it that means that the ASWC did not see any radio connected.
Verify the 3.5mm connector is connected to the SWC input on the radio.
10

Manual Programming/SWC Button Reassignment:
If your vehicle is not listed for auto detection by the ASWC on the Axxess
website most vehicles can still be manually programmed to the ASWC by
following these steps:
* Note: Not every radio will have all the possible swc commands on the
steering wheel. Aftermarket radios that do not have Bluetooth will not rec-
ognize the PTT (Push To Talk) or On Hook / Off Hook commands, however
those buttons can be manually programmed to do other commands. Please
refer to the radios owners’ manual or wireless remote for specic com-
mands the radio will recognize.
1) Complete connections to the vehicle and the aftermarket radio, making
sure the 3.5mm connector is connected.
* If this is the rst time the ASWC is being installed in a vehicle:
2) Turn the ignition on; the led will start ashing rapidly.
3) After 10 seconds the ASWC will go into the LED feedback mode. After
the series of led ashes the led will stay in a slow constant ash state.
Or
* If the ASWC has been in a vehicle before:
2) Press and hold the reset button down for more then 10 seconds.
3) After the 10 seconds the led will begin a slow constant ash.
4) At this point press and hold the Volume Up button on the steering wheel
for 7 seconds until the led goes solid red. Now release the Volume Up
button and the led goes off. Volume Up has now been programmed.
11

12
5) Now press and hold the Volume Down button until the led goes solid red.
Release the Volume Down button and the led goes off. Volume Down
has now been programmed.
6) At this point press and hold the next button on the steering wheel that
corresponds with the programming list (see below). The chart below
shows in what order the steering wheel control buttons need to be
programmed in.
If the next function on the list is not on the steering wheel press and hold
the Volume Up button for 1 second till the led comes on then release the
button. This tells the ASWC that the function is not available and moves on
to the next function.
1. Volume Up
2. Volume Down
3. Seek Up/Next
4. Seek Down/Prev
5. Source/Mode
6. Mute
7. Preset Up
8. Preset Down
9. Power
10. Band
11. Play/Enter
12. PTT (Push To Talk)
13. On Hook
14. Off Hook
15. Fan Up
16. Fan Down
17. Temp Up
18. Temp Down
* Note: Remember not all radios will have all these commands. Please
refer to the radios’ owners manual for specic commands recognized by
the radio.

13
7) You can end this half of the programming in 2 ways:
1) After the last button is programmed on your steering wheel (you do not
have to go through the whole list), hold down the Volume Up button for at
least 10 seconds. The led will go into the slow constant blink mode.
Or
2) After the 18th button is programmed or skipped the led will go back to
the slow constant blink mode.
* If at any time you get lost or mess up hold down the reset button on the
ASWC for more then 10 seconds. This will restart the manual program-
ming. Go back to step #4 and start again.
At this point you will now be in the Radio Identication mode.
8) Press and hold the Volume Down button for 5 seconds till the led starts
to ash quickly.
9) Release the Volume Down button.
10) After 4 seconds of the led ashing quickly the led will go out for 2
seconds.
11) Then the led will ash, up to 10 times, depending on what radio the
ASWC thinks it’s connected to.
Here are the led blinks and which radio they represent:
1st led ash is for Eclipse
2nd led ash is for Kenwood
3rd led ash is for Clarion
4th led ash is for Sony and Dual
5th led ash is for JVC
6th led ash is for Pioneer and Jensen

14
7th led ash is for Alpine*
8th led ash is for Visteon
9th led ash is for Valor
10th led ash is for Clarion 5V
* Note: If the ASWC ashes 7 times and you do not have an Alpine radio
connected to it that means that the ASWC did not see any radio connected.
Verify the 3.5mm connector is connected to the SWC input on the radio.
12) Make sure the number of ashes match what radio you have installed.
13) If the led ashes match the radio then hold down the Volume Down
button until the led goes solid red.
14) Programming for the vehicle and the radio is now complete. Test out
the steering wheel control functions to make sure it works correctly.
If the led ashes do not match the radio you have connected, you must
manually program the ASWC to tell it what radio it is connected to.
1) To manually program the aftermarket radio, press and hold the Volume
Up button on the steering wheel control until the led goes solid red, then
release Volume Up.
2) At this point Eclipse is programmed.
If you are using an Eclipse radio go to step 3.
If you are using a different radio go to step 4.
3) Press and hold Volume Down for 5 seconds. The led will ash once then
go solid red indicating the programming has nished. Go enjoy your
radio.
4) If you have a different radio then Eclipse, press the Volume Up button
again till the led goes solid red, then release Volume Up. You have now
programmed Kenwood.

15
5) Here is the chart to show how many presses of the Volume Up button is
needed for which radio you are trying to program:
1st led ash is for Eclipse
2nd led ash is for Kenwood**
3rd led ash is for Clarion
4th led ash is for Sony and Dual
5th led ash is for JVC
6th led ash is for Pioneer and Jensen
7th led ash is for Alpine*
8th led ash is for Visteon
9th led ash is for Valor
10th led ash is for Clarion 5V
* Note: If the ASWC ashes 7 times and you do not have an Alpine radio
connected to it that means that the ASWC did not see any radio connected.
Verify the 3.5mm connector is connected to the SWC input on the radio.
** Note: The following four models, DNX9960, DNX7160, DDX896 and
DDX418, need a 10k to 12k ohm resistor between the Blue/Yellow of the
Kenwood and the Brown wire of the female 3.5 during programming.
After programming remove the resistor and reconnect the Blue/Yellow
and brown wire.
6) Once the radio manufacturer has been selected hold Volume Down for
at least 5 seconds. The led will ash the number of times which radio
was selected then the led will remain on to indicate the ASCW has
nished programming.
7) Go enjoy your radio.
Remapping the SWC Buttons
Let’s say you have the ASWC programmed to your vehicle and your radio
and you want to change the button assignment for the steering wheel
controls. For instance you would like Seek Up to be Mute.
This process is the same as manually programming the ASWC (please
refer to the Manual Programming section) with a couple of notes:
•The ASWC must have detected the vehicle and radio it is attached to
before you can remap any buttons.
•You can only start the remapping of the steering wheel controls process

16
within the rst 20 seconds of turning the ignition key on. If you wait longer
then the 20 seconds you will have to turn the ignition off then back on
again.
•Within the rst 20 seconds if any button other then Volume Up or Volume
Down is pushed, the remapping process will stop.
•If during the remapping process no button is pushed for 30 seconds the
remapping process is aborted and the original settings are reset.
So let’s begin the remapping process:
1) Ideally having the ASWC visible is recommended since you can see the
led ashes to conrm button recognition.
2) Turning off the radio is recommended.
3) Within the rst 20 seconds of turning the ignition on, press and hold
down the Volume Up button for at least 25 seconds.
4) The led will light up solid red. Release Volume Up and the led will go out.
Volume Up has now been programmed.
5) Follow the list below in order however pushing the steering wheel control
button you want for the function below. If you want to skip a command
press the Volume Up on the steering wheel, this will tell the ASWC to
skip the command and go to the next one.
1. Volume Up
2. Volume Down
3. Seek Up/Next
4. Seek Down/Prev
5. Source/Mode
6. Mute
7. Preset Up
8. Preset Down
9. Power

17
10. Band
11. Play/Enter
12. PTT (Push To Talk)
13. On Hook
14. Off Hook
15. Fan Up
16. Fan Down
17. Temp Up
18. Temp Down
* Note: Remember not all radios will have all these commands. Please
refer to the radios’ owners manual for specic commands recognized by
the radio.
For instance the next command to be mapped is the Volume Down com-
mand. Let’s say you want the Mode button on your steering wheel to be the
Volume Down command. Hold down the Mode button till the led lights up
solid red, and then release it. Now your Mode button on the steering wheel
is Volume Down.
6) After the last button is programmed on your steering wheel (you do not
have to go through the whole list), hold down the Volume Up button for
at least 10 seconds then the led will go out.
Or
After the 18th button is programmed or skipped the led will go out and the
remapping is completed.
If for any reason after remapping the steering wheel controls you want to
go back to the original steering wheel control settings, follow these steps:
1) Within the rst 20 seconds of turning the ignition on. Press and hold
down the original Volume Down button (not the Volume Down button you
just remapped) for at least 25 seconds.

18
2) The led will turn on then release the Volume Down button and the led will
turn off.
3) The original steering wheel control settings will be restored.

axxessinterface.com
460 Walker Street • Holly Hill, FL 32117-2699
800.221.0932
ASWC - US Pat. No. 8014920
ASWC-INST10
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