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Retrofitting Paddle Shifters to a Phaeton

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PanEuropean

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Paddle Shifter

I noticed a Phaeton that had the "Paddle Shifter" option installed. Personally, I don't think it adds much to the look of the car - the paddles are quite large - but anyway, here is a photo. Functionally, these two paddles do exactly the same thing as what happens when you move the transmission selector to the passenger side gate and use the Tiptronic method of shifting.
It is interesting to note that this particular vehicle has the 'extended leather' option - hence the leather dashboard and binnicle - and ****ar wood trim. It is a European production vehicle, and was ordered through Volkswagen Individual. Paddle shifters are listed as a € 830,- option in the German options catalog.
PanEuropean
Paddle Shifter
Image
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (TregOH)

That is correct, it does. It also has the extended leather option (notice the leather covering on the top of the dashboard), and wood trim in "dark ****ar" from the VW Individual catalog. It is also equipped with a switch for turning on and off the rear fog lamp - this is standard on every Phaeton except for those shipped to North America. North American cars have some kind of button to lock the trunk when the valet key is in use - this is about as useful as a third handle on a chamberpot. On a Golf, the valet key simply doesn't work in the trunk and glove compartment - which is exactly how the valet key works on European Phaetons.
PanEuropean


Modified by PanEuropean at 3:34 AM 10-25-2004
 
Discussion starter · #6 · (Edited)
Re: Paddle Shifter (vwguild)

Correct, that is how it works in North America. But in Europe, there is a rear foglight switch there, in place of that 'valet' button - and there is no other switch elsewhere for disabling the interior trunk release. Which leads me to suspect that the European Phaeton valet key works the same way as the European Golf valet key - when the Immobilizer reads the key, it does not enable the trunk release button.
I am pretty sure that VW added that valet button on the right of the lightswitch to the North American cars just so they would not have a blank cover there.
Michael
Rear Foglight Switch - European Phaetons
Image
 
#7 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (PanEuropean)

Pretty sure these can easily be added to a Phaeton based on my study of the same paddles in the Touareg. The parts would probably be around $300. Only two issues that haven't been clarified is whether two wires exist from the steering wheel control module to the transmission control module, and whether there is coding needed to activate the paddles.
If the wiring is in place and no coding is needed, then the installation would require removal of the steering wheel and trim behind it.


Modified by PanEuropean at 11:06 PM 3-22-2005
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Re: (NiveK)

Hi Kevin:
Welcome back.
The paddle shifters do the same thing as the TipTronic function does - by this, I mean moving the shift lever over to the right hand gate and operating it manually there - so, I think you would probably get much faster response than the transmission normally provides when the shift lever is left in the 'D' position. I think VW optimizes the shifting in the 'D' position for comfort, this might explain your observation about slow shifting.
Michael
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (spockcat)

Quote, originally posted by spockcat »
...two issues that haven't been clarified is whether two wires exist from the steering wheel control module to the transmission control module, and whether there is coding needed to activate the paddles.

Hi Jim:
Perhaps the attached wiring diagram might give you the answer. It is the wiring diagram for a 6 speed automatic transmission, which is the one fitted to the V8 Phaeton.
The details of the paddle shifter wiring are shown in the lower left corner of page 4/3. E438 and E439 represent the electrical switches activated by the paddle shifter arms. J527, the existing steering column electrical system control module, interprets these signals, and feeds them by analog DC direct to the J217 transmission control module.
My guess is that a little bit of wiring would need to be added - that which is shown on tracks 16 to 18 inclusive of the attached diagram - and the J527 module (address 16) may need to be recoded to indicate the presence of the paddle shifter switches. I doubt that the J217 transmission module (address 02) would need to be recoded, but that is just a guess.
Michael
 
#12 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (PanEuropean)

Quote, originally posted by PanEuropean »
Hi Jim:
Perhaps the attached wiring diagram might give you the answer. It is the wiring diagram for a 6 speed automatic transmission, which is the one fitted to the V8 Phaeton.
The details of the paddle shifter wiring are shown in the lower left corner of page 4/3. E438 and E439 represent the electrical switches activated by the paddle shifter arms. J527, the existing steering column electrical system control module, interprets these signals, and feeds them by analog DC direct to the J217 transmission control module.
My guess is that a little bit of wiring would need to be added - that which is shown on tracks 16 to 18 inclusive of the attached diagram - and the J527 module (address 16) may need to be recoded to indicate the presence of the paddle shifter switches. I doubt that the J217 transmission module (address 02) would need to be recoded, but that is just a guess.
Michael

The wiring diagram is very similar to the Touareg as shown below. We haven't confirmed that we have the required wires in place yet either. I do note that Phaeton wiring goes through two connectors whereas the Touareg wiring goes direct.
Image



Modified by PanEuropean at 11:22 PM 2-15-2005
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (spockcat)

Hi again Jim:
Interesting. That kind of suggests that whatever you folks discover makes this modification work on a Touareg will also apply equally to a Phaeton.
I've seen the paddle shifters installed on both the Phaeton and the Touareg - personally, I don't think they compliment the interior appearance of either vehicle. On the Phaeton especially, they kind of stick out like a couple of coathangers on either side of the steering wheel. But, I'm not really one to appreciate the functionality of this feature - I've never used the existing TipTronic function or the S mode on my Phaeton. I figure 'why bother' - if I leave it in D, the car does the work for me.
Michael
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (cxg231)

Quote, originally posted by cxg231 »
...I hope you guys don't mind a golf owner hanging out in the Phaeton forum - I love the car, and I find the posts here more engaging than the typical MkIV forum fodder. Nothing against them, but I only take so many "should I buy this set of rims" posts...

Hi Chris: Hey, we're glad you're here, and hope you enjoy the forum. Just in case you start to miss those "should I buy this set of rims" posts, uh, we've got a few of them also:
Aftermarket Wheels
....Larger wheels and tires! (Another aftermarket wheels discussion)
....Does anyone have aftermarket wheels? (Still another discussion of the same topic)
....Phaeton with 20 inch Antera Wheels
Phaeton Wheel Photos
Michael
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (cxg231)

Quote, originally posted by cxg231 »
...I believe that the valet key is laser-cut to a slightly different pattern which allows the ignition to turn-over, but does not allow the glove box or truck lock to open...

Chris:
You are correct, for both the Golf and the North American Phaetons. I had a very close look at the normal key and valet key for my Phaeton, and there is a difference between the two. The difference is not on the wide part of the key (the part with the wiggly path in it), you have to look at the side of the key blade (the narrow edge) to find it. The valet key has a much fatter edge to it than the normal key - or, to express the same thing differently, the normal key has about half of the width ground away on the narrow edge.
I'm still convinced that the 'valet button' on the Phaeton is just a 'gilding the lily' exercise to come up with something other than a blank plate in the spot where the European Phaetons have the rear foglight button. I am pretty sure that the European Phaetons also have some kind of provision made to disable the use of the trunk release button when you give the valet key to someone. How exactly this is done I don't know, but my guess is that it is transparent to the driver, and doesn't require the driver to push a button to activate the feature. Maybe one of our European forum members can contribute the answer.
Michael
 
#16 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (PanEuropean)

Quote, originally posted by PanEuropean »

The difference is not on the wide part of the key (the part with the wiggly path in it), you have to look at the side of the key blade (the narrow edge) to find it. The valet key has a much fatter edge to it than the normal key - or, to express the same thing differently, the normal key has about half of the width ground away on the narrow edge.
Michael

Thanks - I was wondering where the difference in the keys was exactly. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (cxg231)

Here are some links to interesting discussions in the Touareg and VAG-COM forums about a retrofit installation of paddle shifters to a Touareg.
1) Paddle shifters anyone? (the installation in the Touareg)
2) Coding for paddle shift on Touareg or Phaeton (discussion about whether control module recoding is required)
Michael
 
#18 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (PanEuropean)

Quote, originally posted by PanEuropean »
Chris:
You are correct, for both the Golf and the North American Phaetons. I had a very close look at the normal key and valet key for my Phaeton, and there is a difference between the two. The difference is not on the wide part of the key (the part with the wiggly path in it), you have to look at the side of the key blade (the narrow edge) to find it. The valet key has a much fatter edge to it than the normal key - or, to express the same thing differently, the normal key has about half of the width ground away on the narrow edge.
I'm still convinced that the 'valet button' on the Phaeton is just a 'gilding the lily' exercise to come up with something other than a blank plate in the spot where the European Phaetons have the rear foglight button. I am pretty sure that the European Phaetons also have some kind of provision made to disable the use of the trunk release button when you give the valet key to someone. How exactly this is done I don't know, but my guess is that it is transparent to the driver, and doesn't require the driver to push a button to activate the feature. Maybe one of our European forum members can contribute the answer.
Michael

The Immobilizer system is integrated into three parts of the vehicle and it only has one task. It is integrated into the engine control module, ignition switch and the instrument cluster. The Immobilizer is designed to prevent the engine from running should one use a key that is not coded to the vehicle. It does this through a shut down of the vehicle fuel supply or ignition system (varies depending on Immobilizer version). It does not contribute to the perimiter anti-theft alarm systems function and has no control over the locking/unlocking of the luggage compartment.
 
#19 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (PanEuropean)

Quote, originally posted by PanEuropean »
Here are some links to interesting discussions in the Touareg and VAG-COM forums about a retrofit installation of paddle shifters to a Touareg.
1) Paddle shifters anyone? (the installation in the Touareg)
2) Coding for paddle shift on Touareg or Phaeton (discussion about whether control module recoding is required)
Michael

And I got it working last night with the help of Theresias and his codes. This is actually a pretty nice option. It is much easier to use than the tiptronic on the console. Somebody now has to do this in their Phaeton.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
Re: Paddle Shifter (spockcat)

Quote, originally posted by spockcat »
...Somebody now has to do this in their Phaeton..

Well - it's probably not going to be me. Heck, I've never used the existing Tiptronic function, or the Sport mode for that matter. I find that Park, Reverse and Drive are the only operational modes I need to get the job done.
But, if anyone else out there wants to do this, I would be happy to help you by being an information resource, and I am pretty sure that Jim (Spockcat) would be willing to help too.
Michael
 
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