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SGW bypass installation

19085 Views 63 Replies 20 Participants Last post by  markoware, 
PsychiatryDoc
So this is my first post on the forum but I have read a lot of posts specifically regarding the SGW bypass installation. I have yet to find a post specifically describing the process and the tools needed. I just finished the install and am typing this with cut up fingers and slightly (very) buzzed from the alcohol which is needed during the install to maintain your sanity.

Initial thoughts: I was somewhat hesitant to do the install given the horror stories that I read, but overall the job wasn't too bad. I did the install on my new to me 2020 stelvio TI. total time for job was around 3.5 hours.

Tools needed before you start:
1. T25 socket
2. T30 socket
3. X2 set of wiring harness extensions (SGW-BYPASS- Extension-FCA cars (Alfa, Fiat, JEEP, RAM Dodge))
4. SGW bypass (SGW-BYPASS-FCA cars (Alfa, Fiat, JEEP, RAM Dodge))

This is all the tools that are absolutely needed for the install. Some optional tools which are helpful is a pair of fingerless gloves, zip ties, an extendable mirror, and plenty of dexterity in your left hand. I also recommend an adult beverage and cigar of your choice as frequent breaks are helpful to ease frustration

I should have taken pictures however hindsight is 20/20. I will try to describe the process as best as possible.

Step By Step Process:
1. use a T25 to remove a single screw in the top of the sunglass compartment located to the left of the steering column. There are two retaining clips holding the compartment in which can be popped off using a flat head screw driver as leverage.
2. once the sunglass compartment is removed the next step is to remove the lower shroud beneath the steering column. There are 6 T25 screws that need to be removed as well as 1 plastic rivet which is retaining a foam piece. when you lower this plastic piece it will be attached by the ODB reader which is easy to pop loose as well as 2 LED foot lights. Be careful with the LED light clips as they are easy to break. (this was the only casualty in my install).
3. After this piece is removed you will then have access to 2 T30 screws which are holding the radio unit in place. These are easily removed from underneath access. After removal of the 2 screws the radio unit was able to be lowered into the footwell without disconnecting any wires attached to the radio.
4. Now the fun begins
5. Use a flashlight to locate the SGW unit (you actually can't see the unit, you are only able to see the bracket which the unit it attached to). it is located at the 12 o'clock position directly above the steering column. There are 3 bolts on the bracket, and I was able to locate it by following the wiring harness from the ODB reader.
6. I was able to use my left hand (via access through the sunglass compartment) to disconnect the 12 pin and 8 pin connectors. (this took the longest during my install). I had to put tension on the wires as well as depress the clip while only using my left hand in order to get the clips out. (All of this was done via feel only. I was unable to visualize any of this step due to the small space you are working in).
7. once the clips were disconnected I cut the zip tie holding the wiring harness in order to bring the wires closer to the sunglass compartment. at this time you can use one set of your extenders to clip into the factory harness.
8. next is to use the other set of extenders to clip into the SGW unit. This part also caused some frustration. Essentially done with my left arm via feeling for the connectors only. You are unable to visualize anything. I found it easier to clip in the 12 pin connector first as it is located on the right side of the SGW unit. then connect the 8 pin connector via the same method.
9. Rejoice! as you are basically done. Connect the two wiring looms together and reassemble everything. Radio unit, then foot well trim, then sunglass compartment.
10. now whenever the SGW bypass is needed all that has to be done is the sunglass compartment has to be removed via a single T25 screw.

Hopefully someone finds this helpful. The fingerless gloves are helpful but I still managed to scrape my wrist and arm up pretty good. Sorry for any typos or incorrect grammar.

Good Luck,
Psych Doc.
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R
Thanks for the Great Write up.
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genyosai
9
Without having seen this, I actually installed the SGW bypass in my 2021 Stelvio today in order to install a set of paddle shifters. My process was basically the same as @PsychiatryDoc with some exception:

I didn't remove the sunglass compartment nor the radio unit. I also didn't use the extension cable kit, for when I was done doing the proxi-alignment to activate the paddles, I plugged the SGW back in since I found not-as-hard access.

1. I did remove the lower shroud as well as the knee airbag module (disconnect the battery using the quick-disconnect).
2. I also removed the lower steering column shroud for a good visual of the SGW connectors, and since I needed to in order to install the paddle shifter assembly.

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Same perspective, zoomed in on the SGW connectors:

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3. With the lower shroud removed, and looking at the connectors via the perspective I show above, I was able to shine my flashlight through this perspective while reaching (with my right hand) up the right side of the steering column and over (left) to the connectors.

From there I used my index fingers to press down on the release clips while using my middle finger to pull on the connector (pull towards the firewall).

It's best to remove the connector on the left (Plug1 in my photos). If you release plug2 first (the shortest part of the harness) it makes it more difficult to release plug1 using this method), as you somehow lose leverage to pull the connector.

Anyway, hope this further helps @PsychiatryDoc's write-up.


And if anyone is installing paddles, here are more photos:


Before (no paddles):


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Installing the paddles:


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No way I could've accessed the screws properly with the steering wheel on:


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Much easier with the wheel off. The center nut is a 24mm. When putting the wheel back on, torque the nut to 33-40ftlbs:


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After installation and everything working:


114341
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PsychiatryDoc
Those are phenomenal pictures of the SGW @genyosai ! Good to know there are multiple ways to get at that little bugger.

I went with the extensions as I plan on doing the euro compulsion tune (already did V2 intake and centerline stradale exhaust) and doing my maintenance work at a local garage. I live a long way from the closest alfa dealership.

By the way love the lusso interior. Yours looks incredible 👍
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genyosai
PsychiatryDoc said:
Those are phenomenal pictures of the SGW @genyosai ! Good to know there are multiple ways to get at that little bugger.

I went with the extensions as I plan on doing the euro compulsion tune (already did V2 intake and centerline stradale exhaust) and doing my maintenance work at a local garage. I live a long way from the closest alfa dealership.

By the way love the lusso interior. Yours looks incredible 👍
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Tell me about it. Literally took me an hour to finally find a way to get to it. Once I found the way it was simple.

To be honest I almost gave up because at first I couldn't even find it. Then once I found it every way I reached was impossible to get to.

My wife made me step back, have a bite to eat and to drink something, take a rest, then when I went back to it i immediately found the easy route. In other words I had gotten so frustrated that I couldn't see things clearly anymore... And it was 101⁰F out in the garage yesterday which wasn't helping 😂

Thanks for the compliment. The exterior is Verde Visconti with Yellow Calipers.

We love this thing, and I love it even more now that the paddles are installed!

23067
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gbracer08
I call it the Bloody finger install. Wear bicycle gloves when using your hands in there, and definitely put in 2 sets of extensions, its than accessible via the sunglass box.
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genyosai
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gbracer08 said:
I call it the Bloody finger install. Wear bicycle gloves when using your hands in there, and definitely put in 2 sets of extensions, its than accessible via the sunglass box.
Click to expand...

Not too, too bad 😁

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PsychiatryDoc
Yeah not bad! I ended up with my whole left arm up to my elbow cut up way worse than that. I'm just thankful it's a 1 and done job.
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genyosai
PsychiatryDoc said:
Yeah not bad! I ended up with my whole left arm up to my elbow cut up way worse than that. I'm just thankful it's a 1 and done job.
Click to expand...
After considering your write up again, I'm ordering two sets of extension cables from @Alfissimo_International today so I can go BACK into the car and extend everything to the sunglasses compartment.

Tell me... once you remove the single screw in the top of the sunglasses compartment, does the unit just "snap" out? Or are there other hidden screws somewhere underneath the lower shroud?

I did try removing it this weekend when trying to figure a way to get to the SGW but had so much difficulty pulling it out after removing the screw that I assumed there was something else holding, so stopped trying as to not mess up and break something.
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PsychiatryDoc
genyosai said:
After considering your write up again, I'm ordering two sets of extension cables from @Alfissimo_International today so I can go BACK into the car and extend everything to the sunglasses compartment.

Tell me... once you remove the single screw in the top of the sunglasses compartment, does the unit just "snap" out? Or are there other hidden screws somewhere underneath the lower shroud?

I did try removing it this weekend when trying to figure a way to get to the SGW but had so much difficulty pulling it out after removing the screw that I assumed there was something else holding, so stopped trying as to not mess up and break something.
Click to expand...
Once you get that single T25 out I took a thin flathead screwdriver and shimmied it between the trim piece and the compartment. Located on either side of the sunglass compartment about halfway down are two metal retaining clips. It took more force than I was initially comfortable with to pop them out as I really thought I was going to break the plastic.

The way it is built it doesn't look like they will come loose and should be able to be removed multiple times without any risk of breaking.
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genyosai
PsychiatryDoc said:
Once you get that single T25 out I took a thin flathead screwdriver and shimmied it between the trim piece and the compartment. Located on either side of the sunglass compartment about halfway down are two metal retaining clips. It took more force than I was initially comfortable with to pop them out as I really thought I was going to break the plastic.

The way it is built it doesn't look like they will come loose and should be able to be removed multiple times without any risk of breaking.
Click to expand...

Ah. Ok... Now I know.

So next weekend (can't this weekend because I have a track even in my Giulia QV), I'll use your method of access the SGW so I can pull the extensions towards the sunglasses compartment.

Thanks!
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tibimakai
I would use a plastic trim removal tool, instead of metal screwdriver. Screwdriver could leave permanent marks. Or wrap with tape that screwdriver.
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genyosai
tibimakai said:
I would use a plastic trim removal tool, instead of metal screwdriver. Screwdriver could leave permanent marks. Or wrap with tape that screwdriver.
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Yep. I planned to wrap with tape or a small microfiber.
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tibimakai
Harbor Freight sells a whole kit for a few bucks.
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gbracer08
Use plastic trim removal tools, one slip and the screwdriver can mess things up. The tray pulls out, its in there pretty good with the 2 metal clips on each side. Do not pull by the door. Use the trim tools.
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B
This has got to be the worst project i've ever done on a car. I spent about 3 hours on it tonight with most of it on trying to remove the wires connected to the SGW. There's hardly any room to get a grip especially with large hands. And you can't use two hands because the space is so tiny.

Gonna try again tomorrow but this is really pissing me off lol.
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genyosai
blckassn said:
This has got to be the worst project i've ever done on a car. I spent about 3 hours on it tonight with most of it on trying to remove the wires connected to the SGW. There's hardly any room to get a grip especially with large hands. And you can't use two hands because the space is so tiny.

Gonna try again tomorrow but this is really pissing me off lol.
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Not fun at all. I, too, got extremely frustrated. Had to take a break. When I got back to it, I did it in a snap without issue.
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B
The metal down there is no joke. I finally got everything connected, just waiting on the correct obd2 reader so i can use MES. Here's my casualty of war.

23194
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tibimakai
Wow. AR really does not wants us to mess with that.
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genyosai
blckassn said:
The metal down there is no joke. I finally got everything connected, just waiting on the correct obd2 reader so i can use MES. Here's my casualty of war.

View attachment 23194
Click to expand...
Dang! I didn't come out that bad!!

www.stelvioforum.com

SGW bypass installation

So this is my first post on the forum but I have read a lot of posts specifically regarding the SGW bypass installation. I have yet to find a post specifically describing the process and the tools needed. I just finished the install and am typing this with cut up fingers and slightly (very)...
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