TULIOLIN Project – LIN Interface for FIAT Steering Wheels using ESP32
Project Overview
TULIOLIN is an ESP32-based hardware interface designed to unlock and interpret the LIN bus communication used in FIAT steering wheels.
The device allows the original steering wheel controls to be integrated with:
- Android head units (via KEY1 and KEY2 inputs)
- RealDash digital dashboards
- Android devices
- Windows systems
The main goal of this project is to maintain full functionality of the OEM steering wheel when installing aftermarket multimedia systems or custom digital dashboards.
How It Works
Many FIAT steering wheels communicate button commands using the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) protocol.
TULIOLIN performs the following tasks:
- Reads and interprets LIN bus messages from the steering wheel
- Converts button data into:
- Resistive KEY1 / KEY2 output for Android head units
- Serial or Bluetooth communication
- Sends processed data to:
- Android multimedia systems
- RealDash
- Tablets
- Windows-based dashboards
Hardware Architecture
- ESP32 microcontroller
- LIN transceiver
- KEY1 / KEY2 analog output stage
- USB / Serial communication
- Optional Bluetooth interface
Current Compatibility
Tested on FIAT models using LIN-based steering wheel controls, including:
- Toro
- Argo
- Pulse
- Cronos
- Mobi
Compatibility may vary depending on steering wheel version and BCM configuration.
RealDash Integration
TULIOLIN can communicate with RealDash by sending steering wheel data via serial or Bluetooth.
Possible applications include:
- Multimedia control from steering wheel
- Custom dashboard interaction
- Integration with Android or Windows-based digital clusters
Project Goals
- Preserve OEM steering wheel functionality
- Provide stable and programmable solution
- Enable integration with aftermarket systems
- Expand compatibility across FIAT platforms