Customer Ratings & Reviews

pac swi-rc

Worked great on my 03 z-71. No issues so far. Took about 20 mins start to finish installing and programing.

Great product,value,quality

For sure you company is the best , I will recommend you every time some need any of your products

Great Product

Bought this for a steering control for audio set that I bought. Now I have full control of all steering column audio functions.I am putting 3 for durability since I have owned it for less than 30 days and really don't know yet.

Great Product

The instructions are very clear and programming is simple ... This model works perfectly with my setup

Easy to keep your steering wheel controls

If you want to use your steering wheel controls with an aftermarket radio you need one of these units from Pac-Audio. I called them during the install and the customer service was AMAZING.

Excellent Product

Great product, very easy to install. Yes support is great!

Work real good!

Wired it up but took a while to get it working.

Perfect option for aftermarket head unit

I can't believe how easy this steering wheel control module is easy to install and set up. Took me all but 10 minutes to get the wires connected and the unit programmed. Very easy instructions and very detailed wire connections. Installed on a 09 Subaru Forester w/ an AVIC-x850bt. Love it. A great product by PAC

Good Product, Challenging Instructions

I just installed this with a Sony XAV-62BT in my 07 Toyota Highlander. It took me several tries to get the programming right, but once I did it worked great. The instructions leave a bit to be desired, both in terms of the physical installation and in how to program the device. I thought I had it right, but found that only one button (volume up) worked right. Other buttons didn't work as intended. Eventually I re-read the instructions and examples and figured out my error. Once I did that it worked flawlessly.

PAC SWI PSv1

I do not recommend this unless you like cutting and sodering on your stock existing wires which is never recommended, safe and voids your manufacturers warranty. I purchased this and was told this is what was needed and easy to install. Incorrect. Waste of money and now sits on my shelf... buy the easy to use plug harness, no cutting or sodering required.

Good service and product

Unit works fine and was a good price. Install takes a bit of time to program the functions.

Troublesome

When this product was installed in my 2010 Subaru Legacy GT and Pioneer AVIC 3D, it was working alright at first. After a few weeks, the volume-up button on my steering wheel became a little finicky. I found I had to hit the mute button on the wheel, and then the volume up would work again.

I had the wiring inspected by three different technicians from different shops. There were no issues. I even had the unit re-wired on one occasion.

In the end, I did a warranty exchange with Sonic Electronix, and they were amazing in helping me with the RMA and exchanging for an Axxess ASWC unit.

Great value

This single device works perfectly with my clarion head unit.

Great Machine

Love it - you can leave it in the up position if you like, so when you start the vehicle you don't have to wait fifteen seconds before you're in "backup camera viewing" mode (by which time you've already backed out of your parking spot).
GPS has topographic outlook -magnificent.
BUT
SCREEN WOBBLES when touching - it makes typing in a pickup truck VERY difficult.

USB has an issue - it asks for a name for the device and a Windows Compact Edition error window comes up when I plug my Android (Galaxy S3) in. Problem is - you touch the field asking you to type something in and nothing happens. You're expecting a QWERTY keyboard to pop up. Nothing.


Bootup time is a bit slow.
GPS will sometimes try to route you to the last route you went to - in spite of being cancelled.

WISH IT HAD A VOLUME KNOB.
WISH IT HAD A TUNING KNOB.
Because of the wobbly-touch screen (it moves back and forth like a millimeter every time you touch it) - Tuning is HARD. There's a "SLIDE" rule or something UP AND DOWN. No matter WHAT you think - you'll do it wrong. If you're on "97.5" and above you is 100 and below you is 90 - which way do you slide it? And do you slide the NUMBER (i.e. touch it) or the "ruler" next to it? Say - to get to the next channel? Answer? NEITHER. you press and hold - for a LONNNNNNNG time a HARD BUTTON on the unit until you hear a "BEEP" and it goes to the next channel. A SUCKY thing is that you can't (unlike almost all radios) set the screen or your steering-wheel button to have "next" mean "Next Channel", or "seek / scan" - "Up" on steering wheel = your next preset. Drive 30 minutes outside of your area and that's useless.

Gripes aside - TUNER PULLS IN CHANNELS including A.M. Many radios are horrible at this - not this one.

GPS is simply magnificent. QWERTY - suggestions -all good. The wobbly touch screen is annoying. Also - you have to CONFIRM YOUR ROUTE THREE TIMES!? "Select Route - 'check!'". "Yes - I want to go that way.". "YES!!! GO!" I.e. THIS CAN LITERALLY KILL YOU.

Backup cam comes on fast.

Works well with steering buttons.

Satisfied.

Generally Impressed

The PAC SWI-RC does exactly what it advertises: interfaces a vehicle's existing steering wheel controls to an aftermarket stereo system. Since installing it, I haven't really had any problems, only a few minor concerns that I believe are probably inherent to the current state of the industry.

Installing the unit into my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) wasn't very straightforward, and required a significant amount of research, and consultation with a person I know who'd installed one in his own Jeep. This isn't the case with most vehicles, which have very well-detailed instructions included with the unit, however finding the information I needed (which ultimately came from PAC themselves) could have been much easier. This isn't really a failing of the product, but of the manufacturer's website.

Once installed, however, the controls work great. I can very easily and reliably use any of the buttons on my steering wheel to invoke their respective commands, and not once have I had an issue with the product not working. I'm generally impressed with the device.

My only issues, at this point, are that I couldn't program the controls to mimic the factory ones (where the buttons on the left of the steering wheel control track up and down, and the right control volume) and that sometimes pressing buttons one after the other prevents the commands from working. These aren't the fault of the device, however, but the lack of a set standard for how steering wheel controls work. In my Jeep, one wire carries the signal, and depending on voltage, the factory radio interprets what command is being sent. While it's probably possible to make something that can easily mimic this function, it's unlikely to be cost-effective to do so, so I can't really complain.

Pros:
Reliable, easy to use once installed
Good value for money
Most vehicles have detailed instructions that are easy to access (many are included in the box)

Cons:
Difficult to install in some vehicles, and programming is a roundabout experience
Servicing the unit can be difficult, depending on where it's placed during installation
Finding installation instructions for uncommon or older vehicles can be difficult at best

Not worth it in my vehicle.......

I had a car audio shop install this for me and they had issues with it. It was installed it in a Buick Lesabre 2001. The only control that works 95% of the time is the volume up and down. all of the other buttons on the steering wheel either do nothing or not what they were supposed to do. I could hit the next track and it starts the song over again. Hit the mute button and it does the source. Not worth it for me, I wind up using the radio buttones instead.

Great great great!!!

I thought this project would be hard but its pretty easy. Works great with my Pioneer deck.

Great interface but make sure you get the other interface for it to work with some chrysler vehicles

Great interface as always with all the PAC equipment but you have to make sure you get the second interface so that it works correctly with some Chrysler vehicles. In my case it took three interfaces to make my Pioneer AVH-P4300DVD work in my dodge nitro but once I got it all installed and programed it works like a dream. Two thumbs up to PAC and the SONIC crew

Very good, fantastic

I drive in a Land Rover Freelander II-LR2 in America, and using this product to control an Avic F900BT, and it is working perfectly.

Great product,value,quality

For sure your company is the best , I will recommend you every time some need any of your products

Installation could have been smoother

I had some difficulty getting the unit to work until I realized that I need to hook up a wire to a plug that wasn't being used. Once I figured that out it works great.

Works decent

I had problems with the mode button changing the input on my receiver out of the blue but the volume and song skip work great so I just deactivated the mode button, I may have got a defected one who knows I never tried to send it back because it just seamed to be more work to take it out then it was even with for one button.

Great product

I used this product on my truck F-150 with my Panasonic radio and it works fantastic.

Neat little unit that works (almost perfectly) well.

Installed in an '06 Mazda 3 and paired with a Pioneer DEH-4300UB deck. The only odd issue I've encountered is that it'll sporadically mute the stereo. It happens pretty infrequently, however, and all the steering wheel controls otherwise function normally and as expected

In my experience the installation was fairly simple (then again, I didn't have to cut any wires on the unit or add any of those tiny resistors). I decided to connect the necessary wires to the harness I received with the Pioneer deck instead of splicing into my car's factory wiring. Easier and less destructive.

Programming the unit was also fairly straightforward in my opinion. You press and hold the buttons on the steering wheel for a few seconds > release > watch the LED on the unit blink for programming confirmation > repeat until all functions are programed. Just follow the programing sequence in the order outlined in the instructions and you're golden. If you mess up, start over. You'll have it down by your third try (IF you even need to make that many attempts).

OVERALL, I like it and I still recommend it even with it's odd little muting glitch. Had to ding it one star because of that, though.

As for "Look/Design": I gave it five stars for it's stealthy, seamless integration into my car's interior ;-)

As for durability: it's held up quite nicely in the extreme weather changes we experience here in upstate NY (below freezing winters, unbearably hot summer days).

works great

Works great...initial setup steps could have clearer, but has worked without fail once setup

good value

Product was shipped when promised and works great. I wish I had ordered it first instead of buying another product which requires solder. Very easy to install and required no programming.

Unsatisfactory

My experience with this product wasn't so good. Probably worked better for others. Too complicated to use. A lot of tedious steps in the programming process. If you have the patience for it then great. Another thing I noticed, in my case (installing it in my 07 Ford Expedition) a lot of options in my steering wheel commands would've been unused because the PAC SWI-PSv1 doesn't offer temperature control commands. After noticing that I went with the Axxess ASWC (that's a total plug-n-play item)

Good result!

Worked first time (after I followed the instructions). Very adaptable unit to suit most cars; no delay after pushing steering wheel buttons.

Works as advertised.

No value

It didn't fit my car - SCION XD 2009. Just no compatibility.
On the web site, when I was ordering it, I saw this model in the list of supported cars. However when I received the product, it had another list, where there was no SCION XD 2009.

I'm really dissapointed.

could not program

I was not able to program it to a 06 1500 sierra.

works great

Ease too program and install.I have it installed in my 08 Tahoe and haven't had any problems

Must have for factory steering wheel buttons

User friendly and allows you to keep the factory steering wheel controls. Half hour to install.

works so-so

This unit is installed on a Honda Odyssey (2006) and connected to a Pioneer AVIC Z110BT. Two issues keep me from rating it higher:
1. The Mode button on the steering column originally worked and would change the AV mode of the AVIC Z110 (radio -> CD --> iPOD, etc). However, it stopped working and the installer couldn't get it to work. so now I have to switch AV mode via the AVIC, which is more dangerous and less convenient.
2. When in radio mode on the AVIC, The track/channel up/down buttons on the steering column don't put the radio to the next preset. Instead, they just increment the frequency one notch. This may be a deficiency in the AVIC. If so, the manufacturer needs to partner with Pioneer and get it fixed.

sweet interface

works as promised with only minor difficulty in installation and setup..

moeshun's review

it's worth the money, and you'll love it, easy to use

Happy with this brand

I have a Saturn Vue 2008, and the PAC audio adapter and Steering Wheel controls worked very well to install this and my other radio. For my particular car, however, I was not able to retain factory XM radio functionality. The PAC provides 2 audio RCA plugs (L/R) for the XM, but I am unable to change the stations, so it just stays on the preview station for XM.

I recommend buying the PAC Steering Wheel adapter if you are using the PAC factory adapter and not mixing with Axxess since this product has the exact plug to use with a PAC adapter so you don’t have to splice additional wires (or worry about the included resistors). I tried the PAC adapter with two radios, two different steering wheel adapters, and both worked well for their part.

I’m back on the market for a different radio because I wasn’t impressed with features of currently available models of head units, so I had to return the head unit specific steering wheel adapter. But I’m definitely keeping the PAC radio adapter for whatever I decide to use, and will buy whatever PAC steering wheel adapter is necessary for that particular head unit.

GREAT

Installed on 2003 Silverado fully loaded. Everything worked as supposed to. Installation was a breeze. Don't hack up your factory wiring harness, spend the money and purchase this product.

Very Pleased

It works well, and installation was as easy as could be expected. It comes with long lead wires.

Here is my setup:
2001 Impala
Metra GMOS-04 - converter necessary for GM Car
PAC SWI-PSv1 - Steering wheel controls
iPod Classic
XM SkiFi3 radio used through Aux port
Alpine MRP-F300 amp
Kenwood KFC-X1710 front speakers
Kenwood KFC-X692 rear speakers
Bluetooth with Sprint Mogul phone & Motorolla RAZR phone

Great on 2008 Subaru Impreza

I installed this in my 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i with my new Pioneer Double-Din deck, and it works great. Only had to splice in 2 wires, and zip tie the rest. Also was very easy to program. There is a small lag time between when you push the steering wheel buttons and the actual operation, but nothing drastic. Great product.

great product

Easy to install as long as you follow directions closely

great price. good value

I was looking for inexpensive speakers that sounded good. I found them.

Works great

Does exactly what it's supposed to. Works perfect. I recommend this to anyone who has an aftermarket head unit and wants to use their steering wheel controls again.

Great product!

I purchased this product because I bought a new deck for my 2005 Nissan Altima. The car had radio controls on the steering wheel and best buy wanted $200 to install it. So I purchased one through Sonic and installed it with my brother. It took almost 2 hours but was definitely worth it. This product works great and I would recommend it to anyone that wants to be able to use their steering wheel controls.

Works great

I bought this so I could use my steering wheel controls with my new pioneer head unit and it controls everything I need it to. Very easy to read instructions and simple to program.

great product

If your steering wheel controls don't work because of a stereo upgrade, don't hesitate get this product! I just installed this in my 2010 corrolla S. I ordered the old version but they sent me the new version for the same price. I dont know why. For those of you confused with new / old version, they are the same except for one thing: the new one is for those steering wheels with blue tooth buttons ( answer, hang up, mute). so if you dont have blue tooth controls on your steering wheel, save money and get the old version ( even If its a new car).
Installation would have been difficult but: I TOOK MY TIME. And I went to PAC's website and printed out directions specific to MY CAR.
After install my steering wheel was fully functional again.

PS. be careful with the ohm resistors, I twisted the wire nut too hard and I broke mine. I called Radio Shack and they had them.

Works perfect

Easy to install and setup. Maps all the functions on a 2012 Outlander.

Will not work with any Nissan or Infiniti

You need to figure out how to wire 3 out of 8 cheap resistors that are not labeled and somehow jam them into your factory harness and keep them from falling out. Once you have achieved this, it doesn't work like it should and won't program. A vehicle specific clip would be worth every penny, but none is offered.

Great equipment

It took me a little time to configure this but is worth it, all my wheal controls works perfectly.

Pretty good

I'm overall happy with the psv1. There IS an issue I'm not sure is with the product or with the installation itself. The up/down steering control will sometimes activate the Bluetooth commands if I press for more than a few seconds at a time. May just be installation error. Overall works like a champ.

Great Product

Installed it about 4 months and has been working great. Haven't had any issue with it and was easy to install as long as you follow the instructions.

Great Product! Bad Instructions

Product works awesome! Previously had the Pac adapter that was wireless which worked intermittently. I wanted something that was hard wired and so far this is working awesome. Only down side were the instructions. They were incorrect for my Jeep liberty and I received very little input from PAC's tech support. They tried to say that the voltage was too low without knowing anything about it and didn't listen to what I had to say. Ended up trying several different programs and a program for a different Jeep worked(99-04 Grand Cherokee). Sent them an email explaining how the instructions were wrong and all they said back was I needed to call tech for support. Pretty much useless. Either way, if you can figure out how to program it, its a great product!

Well done

Got this item to keep the steering controls in my suv hooked it up and was ready to roll again. nice quality and buy. thanks sonic

Great Product!

Everything works just fine on my excursion, I managed to set up all the buttons to operate just what I want on a Pioneer Avic F40BT edition. When installing take a good look at the color of the cables! There are two almost the same colored.

Very good product

This product worked great. Just follow the instructions. Very simple. It worked the first time.

Must Buy!!!!

Would highly recommend this product if you want to keep your factory controls. Easy to install and program, overall great product that does what it says.

2007 Chevrolet Suburban

lags

Item works great most of the times, but lags like crazyyy at times.

great product-great service

Had problem while installing, called customer service and quickly found problem was with one of my connections not their product. Service rep was extremely helpful.

Worked as advertised

I used this adapter on my 2002 BMW X5 after installing a used Pioneer AVIC Z2. It worked as advertised, and now I can use all the steering wheel buttons to control the radio.

The version I had claimed to have expanded features to allow for ancillary controls, but these did not seem to work in my combination of vehicle, control, and radio. However, the volume, mute, track select, and source select programmed fine (and that was all the buttons I had anyway) so it worked out very well.

The programming instructions were very clear, but you must follow them carefully. Patience pays.

Great unit

Works perfectly with my Mitsubishi Lancer steering wheel controls and Pioneer deck.

Don't Always Believe It

I am a professional installer and have installed numerous PAC SWC units. For this reason I trusted the SWI-PS to be the solution to my own systems SWC's.

I installed the SWI-PS into a 99 Monte Carlo LS in conjunction with the Sony XAV7W. The SWI-PS worked as an interface for the SWC's functions with no operational difficulty.

Here's the problem. PAC and Sony both claimed that these units were compatible with each other but upon installing the SWC interface, the Sony XAV7W would lose the back-light on both the front display as well as the primary 7" display any time the car's Ignition was turned off and then on again for an undetermined amount of time.

If you have a Sony XAV7W, I cannot recommend the SWI-PS as a solution to the SWC interfacing. Don't always believe the manufacturers when they claim the unit being offered is compatible with the device it's being connected to. PAC claims there are no known problems with their SWC interfaces to this particular Sony model. Now they know.

EXCELLENT.

I still don't know the difference with the original version, anyway, it works great with the AVH-P5050DVD (AVH-P5000DVD). I replaced a PAC-SWIX with this item and it works so well, programming was easy, buttons respond really fast. And I think the improvements with this version are usefull with the CD-BTB200 bluetooth module, where you can see your phone status, accept or reject a call... I think... maybe I'll never know... but you can do these tings...

can't do them wit the previous version???

Excellent price

This product is great, for the low price it has. It works perfectly in a Lincoln Mark LT that I installed with a pioneer touchscreen stereo.
I would definitely recommend this product if you don't want to loose your steering controls.

Not so easy

I would not recommend this product. It was not an easy installation. I have installed this in a 2006 Ford Explorer. The resistor needed to be added in line. Wires from the PAC need to be spliced into the factory connection. It would periodically raise the volume.

I do not care for this product, I have spoken to someone who installed the competitors, it was much easier.

great accessory

My wife wanted a different radio in her car but didn't wanna lose her steering wheel controls and we saw this item. Hands down this is a must have!!!! Does and controls every function you want controlled and controls them flawlessly, great product!!

Perfect!

Very easy to install on an 03 mini cooper with Sony deck. Would highly recomend for any application that you don't want to loose steering wheel controls.

Good product

Overall good product. Took a while to program/install. Does what it's supposed to do. Only con is that it's a little slow, there is a noticeable delay from when you press the button and when the device responds, but it's not too bad. Also for some reason every once and a while when I hit my turn signal the device will switch the source on the receiver, but that's probably an error on my part. Its worth it.

Works great.

Sure enough I'm able to use the controls on wheel, used it on 07 Yukon Denali.

A little complex but works great

I am fairly mechanical/technical but this item is fairly complex to install. But if you follow the directions very closely, it really does work. And once it is installed correctly, it works great. It took me about 3 hours to install.

Flaky

Installing was easy for me, but the problem I have is no stability. When I turn the car on, I don't know what button is going to operate what. (The volume button may operate the temperature setting or the channel button may operate the fan).

Terrible Design

I installed this adapter per the instructions and just could not get it to program for my steering wheel buttons. The installation and programming instructions for this device are poorly written. I wasted hours trying to get this thing to work. The quality and design is pretty awful.

Great

i love this product. it worked great for me. you should get one

Works great. No issues.

I have had this installed for several months now. Works flawlessly! Controls my iPod too, which I like. Installation can be tricky, I had to get into the steering column to find the signal wire. Thankfully PAC has an extensive list of makes and models of vehicles and how to properly wire in the unit.

Great item!

This is a great item & a low price. It installed easily and works great. Thanks!

Great value

Easy to follow online instructions and easy to install and easy to use

Great product

I changed stereo in my 2008 Harley Davidson Electra Glide and wanted to use factory controls. Easy setup and install, programming was simple and straightforward.

Useful Product, does exactly what it says

Needed for a customer with a dodge caravan and a pioneer headunit.

fairly easy to install, works well

First time for me using steering wheel controls and the adapter has performed flawlessly for me. So nice to not have to reach for the stereo all the time

Very nice product and excellent service from sonic

Product is working very nice and i love it on my Toyota sienna / pioneer DVD system

excellent price, super fast shipping.

a must for chevy fans!!!

Works great glad i bought this product!

Worth the money

A great way to integrate an after market stereo to the factory control buttons. Just make sure whoever installs it knows how to set it up.

PAC SWI-RC

Great product easy to install simple as 1-2-3 other than the wiring part but that's even simple. I used it on a Chrysler Pacifica and it worked very well.

It JustWorks

Purchased this to adapt a Kenwood head unit to work with the steering wheel controls in an '01 VW. Reason for purchasing THIS model: only one I could find that was listed as working with the earlier (non-CAN-BUS) VWs. And, work it does. Once I figured out a fine detail with its programming routine (hint: once you run out of factory buttons to press, STOP!), it does JustWork.
And, the interface box itself is quite small - makes it easy to find a place to stash it.

By Christopher on November 20, 2016 Verified purchase

just perfection

I love the way i usas able to program it and connect it to my car, at first it feels overwhelming but just read through the whole manual and data sheets and the process becomes as easy as a puzzle for 5year olds the perfect project for DIYers. And it supports tons of cars and a variety of stereos

Best steering wheel control

Tried and true. This unit works perfectly every time if you follow the directions. Highly recommend.

By Steven on April 15, 2020 Verified purchase

Works great and not too hard to install

I would definitely recommend this product to use if you put an aftermarket radio into your vehicle. Install only took about 20 minutes programming it took about another 5 minutes it really isn't that hard to do is just a few steps that you have to take. the hardest part about it was actually finding the main bus wire to hook into which I found was under my steering column, but a simple YouTube video help me find it pretty fast