I have a 2003 XJR. The steering wheel radio controls work intermitently and are getting worse. Any ideas?


Jeff

 

Is it one button, like vol up or is it all the buttons, is it intermittent?

it could be mucky contacts in the switches, or a break in one of the wires, it needs further investigation. I'd remove the airbag and get a look at the wiring and switchpack.

To remove the airbag, first disconnect the battery and leave the car for 20 mins.
turn the wheel and undo the torx bolt, then turn the wheel the other way and undo the bolt this side, they're captured so won't fall out. Once the airbag is free, disconnect the wiring to it and set it aside.
You'll be able to look at the wiring and switchpack at this point. If no breaks in the wires, remove the switch by pulling/sliding it up towards you, and clean it with electrical contact cleaner. You might have to take it to bits to get at the contacts.
I doubt the fault will be at the stereo end, but after the cleaning checking treatment, this is were I'd go next.
If you can't do this work yourself, have a decent autoshop follow this route.

 

These controls use only two wires, and control the stereo by closing one of three switches, grounding across one of three resistors in series - so when any one of the three switches is pushed, one of three different resistances is presented to the head unit...

SO, if only one switch is intermittent, then it is likely the switch that is failing. If all three are intermittent, then it's a loose connection somewhere along the path of the two wires - anywhere from the switch unit itself all the way to the head unit. I'd check the connectors first, as they are the most likely failure point.