Steering wheel swap and paddle shifter swap FAQ (for multifunction steering wheel MFSW on mk5 Jetta TDI)
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Introduction

This article shows how to swap your steering wheel on a mk5 Jetta.  There were 2 different mk5 Jetta TDI: the pumpe duse (PD, model year 2005.5-2006) and common rail (CRD, model year 2009 and newer).  The PD mk5 did not always have the multifunction steering wheel (MFSW, buttons to control radio volume, cycle display modes such as mpg, miles left, trip miles traveled) and highline controller.  All CRD Jettas did have the highline controller but only the sedan had the MFSW.  The sportwagen station wagon used a steering column mounted stalk to cycle fuel economy display, etc.  Note that this is for the US only, Canadian highline trim (SEL in US) had a MFSW on the sportwagen.

Also note that there were early and late style MFSW, the early style had two phone buttons on the left side, the newer style (for 2009 TDI) has a phone and star button on the left side.  

If you have a loyal or demo edition 2009 TDI, you have the TDI badge on the steering wheel and the MFSW.  This is what your steering wheel should look like:

 

If you have a non demo/loyal edition 2009 TDI sedan or an earlier TDI w/MFSW, this is what your steering wheel should look like.  It has a blank silver badge on the wheel instead of the TDI badge.  Any wheel should be straight plug-play.  If you have a 2009 station wagon, you have no buttons on the steering wheel, you have to do a little magic with a vag-com to make it work.  Also pictured below is the newer RNS510 navigation.  For FAQ on the RNS 510 GPS head unit, see 1000q: RNS 510 FAQ.  If you have an earlier PD Jetta, you can retrofit either into your car.  Dual zone climatronic is shown below, this was only available on PD Jettas and not on CRD Jettas in the US.  

Some options for new wheels are the DTM style wheel from the GTI/GLI/R32 or Eos.  All come in non MFSW, MFSW, and MFSW with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

The GTI/GLI/R32 use a DTM style steering wheel (bolstered sides with DTM style flat bottom), make sure you get one with the multifunction buttons.  The procedure is plug-play on the common rail jetta sedan, all wiring and the highline control module are already there.  Pictured below is the multifunction display that is on all 2009 TDI (DSG model shown).  

Below left is the sport multifunction steering wheel from a GTI.  Below right is a MFSW from an Eos sport.  This adds steering wheel mounted paddle shifters behind the multifunction buttons (obviously for DSG transmission only), is slightly differently shaped, has no perforated leather sides, and is round instead of flat bottomed.  The right paddle is upshift and the left paddle is downshift.  The difference between the Eos sport DSG and R32 DSG wheel is the shape, bolsters, and perforated sides.
  

Here is a wheel from an Edition 30 GTI (Euro only), the Pirelli wheel is the same but has yellow stitching.

Part numbers (click links to compare current prices)
Note - must use 3 spoke steering wheel, the 4 spoke steering wheel is not airbag compatible
Note- Links have both tiptronic and non tiptronic wheels, always double check with the vendor that it has paddle shifters (if you have DSG) and MFSW capability.
Note - auto recycler yards or vwvortex classifieds should also have used parts.  Recommended VW specific auto recycler: L&T Enterprizes, 6220 Airport Rd., Allentown, PA, 610-264-9191 or 800-228-3895.  Busy but knowledgeable on VWs.

1st vw parts also sells new steering wheels but it's not possible to direct link to the part due to their website. 

Round Eos sport wheel with paddle shifter: VW# "Iq0 419 091 svft" - tiptronic wheel from tmtuning (should have paddle shifters but call to double check)
GTI wheel with paddle shifter: VW# "Ik0 419 091 ddtdl" from ECStuning , from tmtuning
GTI wheel without paddle shifter: VW# "1k0 419 091 bc tdl"
GTI Pirelli wheel from tmtuning (has yellow stitching)
GTI Edition 30 wheel from tmtuning or oempl (has red stitching, was only avail in Europe)
R32 wheel from ECStuning , from tmtuning

Control modules that don't work with MFSW: 1k0 953 549 with suffix [ah, br, or af]
Control modules that should work (no guarantees) with MFSW: 1K0 953 549 L
Control modules that should work (no guarantees) with MFSW and DSG: 1k0 953 549 with suffix [ac, aj, or bk]

single purple airbag connector VW# 1k0 971 584 c

Steering wheel buttons:
Older MFSW (two phone symbols on left button) left buttons: 1k0 959 537 c rej, right buttons: 1k0 959 538 a rej
Newer MFSW button part number (with one phone and star on left button): not sure of the part number, either use your old ones or buy a new wheel that comes with buttons.  If you know the part number, please post it in the myturbodiesel forums.

You can also add aftermarket larger paddles.  For sale at http://www.tidstyling.com/shop/step_submain.php?b_code=B20080711115619.

Procedure

WARNING:  You have to make sure the car ignition is off and disconnect the negative side of the car battery before doing any work.  Let the car sit for a while before trying to remove the steering wheel.  You have to remove the airbag and a faulty airbag or accidental deployment could result in injury or damage to property.  Also step on the brakes a few times after disconnecting the battery to discharge any stored electricity just in case and always wear a static electricity grounding strap.  Even a static electricity charge can set off the airbag.  See the TOS Agreement for the full legal disclaimer. 

This article is not for swapping a 4 spoke steering wheel from the Passat onto the Jetta or vice versa.  There are a few more parts and steps that I'm not clear on and there's no mk5 Passat TDI in North America anyways.  The 3 spoke airbag is not compatible with the 4 spoke airbag.

Basic outline below, more details in external links

1.  Unhook the air bag from the steering wheel.  There are two tabs and an electrical plug that hold the sides in place.

2. Use a 12mm triple square (specific to many VW/Audi, not a torx), to remove the center bolt from the steering wheel.  The bolt can be retightened 5 times only.

3.  If you have a CRD sedan, the new wheel should be plug-play.  If you have a PD Jetta without the highline display or MFSW, you need a new steering wheel control module, see step 3a and http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Cruise_Control_Retrofitting_(1K) for more details.

3a. If you have a CRD sportwagen, someone reported that it wasn't plug-play.  He had to replace the steering wheel control module under the steering column and a plug for the airbag.  The old control module he had was 1k0 953 549 br instead of the new control module 1k0 953 549 bk.  The purple single connector for the airbag was 1k0 971 584 c.  A single torx screw holds the control module, just remove and replace.  The steering column mounted control stalk for the MFD still works like stock in addition to the MFSW.

4.  Reconnect the battery and use a current hex-can (the more expensive version of vag-com that works on can-bus cars) to realign the steering wheel.  Remember, the steering wheel is steer by wire.  

Control Module Coding

The following is the label file for 16 Steering Wheel.

* 0?xxxxx: Vehicle Type
o 0 = Normal
o 1 = Special Purpose (e.g., Taxi)
* 0x?xxxx: Transmission
o 0 = Manual Transmission
o 1 = Automatic Transmission
* 0xx?xxx: Steering Wheel
o 0 = Steering Wheel without Multifunction
o 1 = 3-Spoke Steering Wheel without Multifunction
o 2 = 3/4-Spoke Steering Wheel with Multifunction without Cruise Control
o 3 = 3/4-Spoke Steering Wheel with Multifunction with Cruise Control
* 0xxx?xx: Additional Equipment
o +1 = Tiptronic (Shift Paddles)
* 0xxxx?x: Board Computer / Cruise Control System (CCS)
o 0 = w/o Board Computer and w/o Cruise Control System (CCS)
o 1 = with Board Computer and w/o Cruise Control System (CCS)
o 2 = w/o Board Computer and with Cruise Control System (CCS)
o 4 = with Board Computer and with Cruise Control System (CCS)
* 0xxxxx?: Rear Wiper
o 1 = Rear Wiper not installed
o 2 = Rear Wiper installed

The original soft code on my car was as follows:

00xxxxx = normal vehicle type
0x1xxxx = automatic transmission
0xx0xxx = steering wheel w/o multifunction
0xxx0xx = no shift paddles
0xxxx2x = w/o MFD and w/ cruise control
0xxxxx1 = no rear wiper

0010021 = old soft code

The revised code was as follows:

00xxxxx = normal vehicle type
0x1xxxx = automatic transmission
0xx2xxx = 3-spoke steering wheel w/ multifunction
0xxx0xx = no shift paddles
0xxxx2x = w/o MFD and w/ cruise control
0xxxxx1 = no rear wiper

0012021 = new soft code (note that 0013021 might also work)

5.  You need to also reset the steering assist levels.  Select "44" for the control module ("Steering Assist"). Choose "10 Adaptation" and then read channel "1". It may depend on car, but the settings should range from 0 (hardest steering) to 5 (highest assist).  Here are more details on that procedure.   http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/VW_Golf_%281K%29_Steering_Assist#Adaptation

6.  Whenever you disconnect the battery, you have to reset window adaptation.  Roll down each window all the way and then roll up each window. This will re-activate auto window up.  If you are having problems, see here: http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/00932

External links

Here are some links which show how to swap your steering wheel.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/VW_Golf_%281K%29_Steering_Assist#Adaptation reset steering wheel resistance

http://forums.jettamkv.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=121 steering wheel swap procedure w/pics.  Also how to replace the control module.  You don't need to split the module, just unscrew it.

 

Do you know something that should be added to this article?  Post your comments in the myturbodiesel.com forums