Porsche Macan steering wheel heater 95B 958 970 991 997 982 9YO
The steering wheel heater in a Porsche is one of the brand’s most “hidden” features. Across almost all modern models—including the Macan (95B), Cayenne (958/9Y0), Panamera (970), and 911 (991/997/982)—the physical button is not on the dashboard or the face of the wheel, but tucked away where you can’t see it while driving.
1. The Hidden Button Location
On 3-spoke Porsche steering wheels from roughly 2010 to 2026, the heating button is located behind the bottom vertical spoke (the 6 o’clock position).
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How to find it: Reach your fingers behind the center-bottom spoke of the wheel. You will feel a small, recessed circular button.
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Confirmation: When pressed, a notification will appear in the instrument cluster (usually the right-hand digital display) stating: “Steering wheel heating ON” or “OFF”.
2. Compatibility & Retrofitting
If your car didn’t come with heating from the factory, you cannot simply swap the wheel. The system requires a “Heating Chain” of components:
| Component | Purpose | Requirement |
| Heated Rim | The physical wheel | Must have internal heating elements (Alcantara wheels often lack this). |
| Clock Spring | Electrical bridge | Must be the “High-Line” version with extra pins for power. |
| Control Module | Brain | Needs to support the heating signal (P/N usually ends in .14 or .02). |
| Software Code | Activation | A VIN-specific enabling code entered via Porsche PIWIS III. |
Tech Note: If you are retrofitting a 991.2/718 style wheel into an older 991.1/958.1, you will likely need a GPS STMV1 adapter to bridge the communication protocol for the heating and multi-function buttons to work.
3. Model-Specific Nuances
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997.2 / 987.2: These were some of the first to use this hidden button. Unlike newer models, they often do not require an activation code—just the correct hardware and a simple “coding: present” toggle in the computer.
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9Y0 (Cayenne) / 95B.3 (Macan III): On some newer GT Sport wheels, the button remains in the same spot, but the haptic feedback is crisper.
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Alcantara / Race-Tex Wheels: Be careful—Porsche rarely offers heating on Alcantara wheels because the heat can degrade the adhesive that holds the suede-like material to the rim. Most heated wheels are Smooth Leather.
4. Troubleshooting “Heater Not Working”
If you press the button and nothing happens:
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Check Ambient Temp: Most Porsche systems will not engage the heater if the cabin temperature is already above a certain threshold (typically $20^\circ\text{C}$ / $68^\circ\text{F}$).
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Battery Management: If your battery is low, the car’s “Load Management” system will automatically disable high-draw comfort features like the steering wheel heater to save power for the engine.
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Clock Spring Failure: If your horn or steering wheel buttons also act sporadically, the Clock Spring (Contact Ring) is likely failing, severing the connection to the heating element.
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