Keeping Factory Cruise Control and Steering Controls When You Upgrade Your Wheel
This page explains what happens to factory cruise control, audio, phone and horn functions when a steering wheel is upgraded, why losing those functions is both an inconvenience and a compliance issue, and how PVS Automotive steering wheel kits retain factory functions through a wireless control module while leaving the factory clockspring and airbag system untouched. It also explains the "Without Factory Steering Wheel Controls" kit variants, who they suit, and the role of a cruise control retention module on certain platforms.
What the Factory Controls Do and Why They Matter
Modern Toyota LandCruiser and Prado steering wheels carry buttons that operate cruise control, audio, phone and voice functions, and in many cases display and trip computer controls. The horn is also operated through the wheel. These functions are not cosmetic. They are part of how the driver operates the vehicle, and at least one of them carries a direct compliance obligation.
When a steering wheel is changed without the correct integration, some or all of these functions stop working. The driver loses convenience features they have paid for, and in the worst case loses the horn. Under ADR 94/00 (Horn System Integrity), the horn must remain reliable and functional. A wheel change that leaves the horn inoperative or intermittent puts the vehicle outside its original compliance condition and will be picked up at a roadworthy inspection.
Cruise control is a convenience function rather than a mandated safety device, but losing it is still a real cost. On long-distance touring vehicles, which is the majority of the LandCruiser and Prado fleet, cruise control is one of the most used features in the cabin. A wheel upgrade that disables it is rarely acceptable to the owner.
Why Controls Fail After a Cheap Wheel Change
The reason controls fail after many aftermarket wheel changes comes down to how the signals are carried. On a factory vehicle, the steering wheel control buttons and the airbag both connect through the clockspring, the rotary connector that maintains electrical continuity as the wheel turns. A generic kit that replaces the wheel either has to re-wire those controls through a replacement clockspring or it simply abandons them.
Both outcomes create problems:
- A replacement clockspring with a mismatched pinout can leave cruise, audio or horn intermittent or dead, and frequently triggers a permanent SRS fault on the airbag circuit.
- A kit that abandons the controls leaves the buttons non-functional and, depending on the design, can leave the horn relying on an improvised connection that may not satisfy ADR 94/00.
For the full technical explanation of the clockspring, its role in the airbag circuit, and the compliance consequences of replacing it, see Clocksprings and Airbag System Compliance.
How PVS Retains Factory Functions
PVS Automotive steering wheel kits are matched to the specific vehicle and designed to be plug and play. The standard kits retain the factory steering wheel controls. They achieve this without touching the factory clockspring.
Instead of routing the control buttons through a replacement clockspring, the PVS wireless control module reads the button presses on the new wheel and transmits them to the vehicle, reproducing the original cruise, audio and phone functions. Because the controls no longer depend on the clockspring, the factory clockspring is retained in full. The airbag circuit, the horn circuit and the rest of the factory supplemental restraint system (SRS) wiring stay factory-original.
This matters for compliance. The factory airbag was assessed under ADR 69/00 (Full Frontal Impact Occupant Protection) when the vehicle was built, with ADR 10 covering occupant protection more generally. Leaving the clockspring and SRS wiring untouched means the airbag circuit stays inside the condition it was originally assessed in. The horn remains driven through its factory path, supporting ADR 94/00 compliance. Independent engineering assessment documentation is available on request to support certification and insurance disclosure in any state.
The "Without Factory Steering Wheel Controls" Variants
Some PVS kits are offered in a "Without Factory Steering Wheel Controls" variant. This is not a lesser product. It is a different specification for a different build, and choosing the right one matters.
The without-controls variant suits two situations:
- Vehicles that never had steering wheel controls. Base and earlier-build LandCruiser and Prado variants were sold with a plain wheel and no button controls. There is nothing to retain, so the without-controls kit is the correct match.
- Builds that are deliberately keeping a plain wheel. Some owners do not want or need cruise and audio buttons on the wheel, or are running an aftermarket head unit and control setup. The without-controls variant gives them the upgraded wheel without the control integration they do not need.
The standard kits, by contrast, are for vehicles that came with factory steering wheel controls and want to keep them. If your vehicle has cruise, audio or phone buttons on the wheel now and you want them after the upgrade, the standard kit with controls retained is the one to choose.
What does not change between the two variants is the airbag and clockspring position. Both the standard and the without-controls kits retain the factory clockspring and leave the factory airbag and SRS wiring untouched. The without-controls variant simply omits the wireless control module integration because there are no factory controls to reproduce.
Examples of without-controls variants include the 200 Series Steering Wheel Upgrade Kit 2008 to 2015 (Without Factory Steering Wheel Controls) and the 150 Prado Steering Wheel Upgrade Kit 2009 to 2015 (Without Factory Steering Wheel Controls). If you are unsure whether your vehicle had factory controls, contact our team with your build details before ordering.
When a Cruise Control Retention Module Is Needed
On certain platforms the cruise control system is wired differently to the audio and phone controls, and the cruise function needs its own retention path when the wheel is changed. For these vehicles a dedicated cruise control retention module carries the cruise signals so the factory cruise control continues to operate after the upgrade.
The 105 Series 3 Wire Cruise Control Retention Module is an example of this part. It is a platform-specific module for the relevant LandCruiser wiring configuration, allowing the factory cruise control to be retained through the wheel change. Where a vehicle needs this module, it works alongside the wheel kit rather than replacing any part of the airbag or clockspring system.
Not every vehicle needs a separate cruise retention module. On many platforms the cruise function is handled within the standard kit's wireless control integration. Whether your vehicle needs a dedicated module depends on the specific platform and wiring, so confirm the correct combination for your variant before ordering.
Standard Kit vs Without-Controls Variant
The table below compares what each kit type retains. Both retain the factory clockspring and airbag system. The difference is the control integration.
| Function | Standard kit (controls retained) | Without Factory Steering Wheel Controls variant |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise control | Retained via wireless module, or via cruise retention module on platforms that require one | Not reproduced (suited to vehicles without factory cruise on the wheel) |
| Audio and phone controls | Retained via wireless control module | Not reproduced (no factory controls to retain) |
| Horn | Factory horn circuit retained, supports ADR 94/00 | Factory horn circuit retained, supports ADR 94/00 |
| Factory clockspring | Retained, untouched | Retained, untouched |
| Factory airbag and SRS wiring | Factory-original, assessed under ADR 69/00 | Factory-original, assessed under ADR 69/00 |
| Best suited to | Vehicles with factory wheel controls that want to keep them | Vehicles that never had controls, or builds keeping a plain wheel |
The Compliance Picture
Retaining factory functions is partly about convenience and partly about staying inside the vehicle's original compliance condition. The compliance points that bear on a wheel change are:
- Horn function (ADR 94/00). The horn must remain reliable and functional. A wheel change that disables or compromises the horn fails this requirement and will be flagged at inspection.
- Airbag and SRS integrity (ADR 69/00, ADR 10). The airbag was assessed when the vehicle was built. Keeping the factory clockspring and SRS wiring untouched keeps the airbag circuit inside the condition it was originally assessed in. A non-genuine clockspring replacement does the opposite.
- Steering system performance (ADR 90/00) and forward field of view (ADR 93/00). The replacement wheel must not affect steering response or column integrity, and must not obstruct the driver's forward sightline.
Fitting an upgraded steering wheel to a vehicle originally assessed under ADR 69/00 is a modification that may require certification depending on your state. Certification is administered through state schemes including NSW VSCCS, Victoria VASS, and the Queensland Approved Person Scheme administered by TMR. For SA, WA, TAS, NT and ACT, refer to the relevant state or territory scheme. PVS can provide independent engineering assessment documentation to support your engineer's certification process.
Always confirm the requirements that apply to your build with a licensed automotive engineer and disclose the modification to your insurer. For the full standard-by-standard treatment of steering wheel compliance, see ADR Steering Wheels. For the airbag and clockspring detail, see Clocksprings and Airbag System Compliance. You can also find an engineer through Find an Automotive Engineer and review scheme detail at State and Territory Certification Requirements.
Choosing the Right Kit for Your Build
To choose correctly, work through these questions before ordering:
- Does your vehicle currently have control buttons on the steering wheel? If yes, and you want to keep them, choose the standard kit with controls retained. If your vehicle never had them, the without-controls variant is the match.
- Do you want to keep cruise control? Confirm whether your platform retains cruise through the standard kit's wireless module or whether it needs a dedicated cruise control retention module.
- Is your variant and build year supported? Clockspring, airbag and control compatibility are confirmed per variant. If your specific build is not listed, contact our team before ordering.
- Will the vehicle need certification in your state? If so, request the independent engineering assessment documentation to provide to your engineer and your insurer.
In every case the factory clockspring and airbag system are retained. The choice between the standard and without-controls kits is about which factory functions you are reproducing on the new wheel, not about the safety system, which stays factory-original either way.
Last updated: June 2026