Installed the Pac SWI-X circuit the other day, and I seem to be having a couple small problems.

For one, the passenger's side seatbelt light comes on with all the other lights when I turn on the car, turns off with the other lights, but comes back on immediately and stays lit. There was an event at our dealership this morning, so I asked the MAs there, and they said they think it's a simple lose connection under the seat, but that they'd never heard of it before. :/ Dunno if it's related to the Pac SWI-X install.

For sure related to the install, whenever I start the car, my radio starts back up in the mode it was turned on in, and then will turn itself off, back on, back off, and back on... Almost like the Pac SWI-X is cycling through commands. Anyone else have this or these problems? Any known solutions?

 

Ok. The PAC-SWI X unit is definitely sending signals during start-up. I have the up/down left/right buttons programmed, and also the England-Bluetooth buttons programmed. The "R/T" button changes the radio to CD mode, and if already in CD mode, will turn the radio off. And the "phone" button changes the radio to tuner or normal radio, or if already in that mode, turns it off.

So when I start the vehicle, if the CD player was on when I stopped it, it turns on, then turns off, then turns back on, as if the R/T button kept getting pushed. If I cover the PAC-SWI X IR Emitter, then this doesnt happen.

No one else has problems with the Swi-x and/or R/T button? I may try reprogramming and not using R/T, but it would suck to lose a button, and is a lot of work to get to the PAC SWI unit.

 

After some consideration, I've begun wondering if the red light was actual a passenger seatbelt light. I thought it was, because when I stopped by Tate Mini two weeks ago, they said 'oh yeah, its probably a loose connection', not 'There's no passenger seatbelt light'.

So the Manual says:

Quote:

Red: check as soon as possible

Quote:

Airbags

There is a malfunction in the airbag system. Have the system checked as soon as possible.

More information on page 73

Page 73:

Quote:

Airbag system operational

The warning lamp in the display elements shows the status of the entire airbag system and the seat belt tensioners starting from ignition key position 1. The warning lamp goes out after several seconds.

Airbag system malfunctioning The warning lamp does not come on starting from ignition key position 1

The warning lamp stays lit

The warning lamp lights up while driving.

In the event of a malfunction, have the airbag system checked immediately.

Otherwise, there is a risk that the system will not function as intended in response to a severe impact occurring within the system's normal triggering range.

I used a vampire tap to tap the MFSW wire... Maybe I should have done a bare splice? I'm fairly certain none of the other wires were damaged, and the vampire tap isolates the circuit pretty well.

I guess I'll have to uninstall the SWI-X unit and see what happens.

 

Arg. Post got deleted, hit back, and it was gone. I hate that. Anyhow, what was a long story short:

SWI-X problem fixed. Had to reprogram again, but holding down the steering wheel buttons for 2-3 seconds per program. This solution came from PAC.

Checked all connectors and harnesses in car for airbag problem. Though it came on at the same time as the PAC SWI-X install, after doing a search here for 'airbag light' and all the threads that popped up, I think they're not related. Off to the dealer with me.

EDIT:
Correction, SWI-X not quite fixed. Problem came back. Reprogrammed the R/T button, and anything assigned to that button, activates a few times right after turning the car on. So if I assign mute to it, the radio comes on, then mutes, then un-mutes, then mutes... Bleh. But I've unprogrammed that button, and everything works fine.

 

You can't just tap into the wire for the SWI-X. You have to cut the wire completely, then connect the steering wheel side to the SWI-X unit. If you merely tap into the wire, it will not behave correctly.

 

Thanks for the information. You just saved me some headaches and needless trips back to my installer. I'm planning on having one of these units installed and was thinking about asking to have the phone buttons integrated as you did. I think I'll re-think that now.
-G

 

At first I tapped it, because I didn't want to cut it unless I *had* to. Then I re-read the instructions and saw that I had to, so I did, and then the SWI-X unit worked.

The airbag problem is fixed as well. I took my Mini to the Towson, MD dealership, and they were not thrilled with the cut wire, but they said the harness also has airbag wiring on it, and any change on the resistance of that harness could fault the airbag system. They installed a new harness and reset the system, and the airbag light is gone.

So for anyone else doing the install, be very careful with regard to removing the harness to access the cable.