The controls on my steering wheel don't light up!
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
Joined
·
7,035 Posts
As far as I have ever seen there are no lamps in the steering wheel buttons.timh said:I took delivery of my new 9-5 and I have noticed that the steering wheel controls don't illuminate with the rest of the panel when the head lights are on. Is there something I need to activate or should is this a fault?
Joined
·
1,817 Posts
This is true, however I think this was SAAB's excuse for not spending the extra money to make them illuminate personally.SaabScott said:The idea behind having the controls on the wheel is so that you can keep your eyes on the road.
Therefore ... no lights are needed. :cheesy:
This is also true; while I don't need them to be illuminated for operation I wish they were. I don't need a cooled glovebox but it's nice to have. I even contemplated taking the buttons apart, hollowing them out a a bit and installing some small LED's in there. Probably more trouble than it's worth...Kermit said:
Joined
·
4,845 Posts
...I don't think they've ever had lights in 'em, so I don't think it was a cost cutting thing... Honestly, how expensive would lights be to do. Add maybe $10 to the car tops?
Joined
·
4,845 Posts
Remember, even the models that GM had no say in the design had steering wheel buttons that didn't light up. I really can't see how it would be a saving money issue.
Joined
·
1,817 Posts
..fair enough...it just chaps me that cars almost 1/2 the price of mine when new have illuminated steering wheel controls for the radio, cruise, and sometimes even the phone. Doesn't the 9-3SS have steering wheels buttons that light up? I can't remember..SectorNine50 said:
Joined
·
4,845 Posts
I agree, it's a distraction issue IMO. Saab is the company that put Night Panel in their car, I think they figure the reason the buttons are on the steering wheel is so you don't have to look down.j006 said:
i dont think it is a safety thing - i think its saving money. i had some hire cars in the last month and all had lights in the steering wheel and all other switches. (like steering wheel controls, mirror, roof, interior light etc)
If this is not illuminated for safety the the illumination could be easily switched off by the nightpanel feature...
If this is not illuminated for safety the the illumination could be easily switched off by the nightpanel feature...
Joined
·
4,845 Posts
Why would putting at tops 4 lights behind switches be cost saving... Honestly...gghh said:
$10 dollars per car, tops. That's it. And you know they would just charge us $10 more. Woo... Quite a savings...
Not that it really matters, just seems a little weak to be cost saving considering now that GM owns Saab, the steering wheel has lights. (On 9-3SS, I think someone said...) I just think they thought it was unnecessary and defied the point of steering controls.
If they really wanted to cost save they wouldn't put real wood in the dash (You'll notice they stopped once GM started production). Just seems like a weak argument to me.
But GM starts to remove lights from the car - like the ones in the rear passenger doors and the lights in trunkdoor in cars MY04 and up - doesnt save that much money but they are doing it.
Othert cars are even able to close the windows by remote and so on... Even in low price GM cars.
Othert cars are even able to close the windows by remote and so on... Even in low price GM cars.
Joined
·
4,845 Posts
My car doesn't have lights in the trunkdoor or the rear passenger doors... and it's a 2000... Am I misunderstanding?gghh said:
Yeah the reason those cars do the window remote thinger is because they have the Bosch ECU, Audi uses Bosch also.
Do they still have the fridge glove box?
I mean the small lights in the trunk door of the estate version - this small lights which light the floor when the door is open - new cars dont have them anymore.
In the bottom of your rear passenger doors must be small lights in a 2000 car - my 2002 Aero has them and i think they are there from 98-2003.
For the window close feature - its not an ecu thing. Its the missing sensors for protection when closing the windows by remote, so i think its cost cutting. Saab could do this with the dice ecu but for some (cost) reason they didnt. Saves some wiring, the sensors and some development work for dice ecu.
The glovebox cooling is still there.... maybe its cutted in the final edition...
Same is true for seatheaters - Saab had them for decades as standard now they are an option :evil:
In the bottom of your rear passenger doors must be small lights in a 2000 car - my 2002 Aero has them and i think they are there from 98-2003.
For the window close feature - its not an ecu thing. Its the missing sensors for protection when closing the windows by remote, so i think its cost cutting. Saab could do this with the dice ecu but for some (cost) reason they didnt. Saves some wiring, the sensors and some development work for dice ecu.
The glovebox cooling is still there.... maybe its cutted in the final edition...
Same is true for seatheaters - Saab had them for decades as standard now they are an option :evil:
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
Join the discussion
Join now to ask and comment!