1996 4.0L - Can I delete factory cruise control?

[fireant]

My cruise control buttons are crumbling. I have never used the cruise control, and I don't foresee myself ever needing it. I'd like to just get rid of it altogether.

I've seen some online tutorials on removing the switches from the steering wheel in order to replace them, but I'd like to confirm that everything else (horn, etc) will work normally if I were to delete the switches.

As for the parts under the hood... It appears I could undo the cable from the throttle, unplug the harness from the controller, and then remove the controller unit from it's mount. I'd put some tape over the old bare plug to keep it clean.

Any problems with doing this? Thanks for reading.

 

[RonD]

I would leave the other parts as is, but you can remove the pods and it won't effect horn or airbag.

Leave the other parts in case next owners wants cruise, and you won't have wires hanging or vacuum hoses plugged up

 

[fireant]

I would leave the other parts as is, but you can remove the pods and it won't effect horn or airbag.

Leave the other parts in case next owners wants cruise, and you won't have wires hanging or vacuum hoses plugged up

Thanks. I dont plan on selling it ever... love the truck too much, but I'll keep all the parts for CC just in case. There's no vac hoses in the system on mine... just a box with an electrical harness and the cable leading to the throttle. I dont want to leave the cable on the throttle.

 

[fireant]

Quick update, I took the control pods off the wheel and now the horn no longer works. Oh well.

 

[fireant]

I've concluded that the wiring in the control pods are integral to the horn working. There's most likely a way to get the horn working without the pods, but for now I've cosmetically remedied the problem by putting some layers of electrical tape over the crumbly buttons.

 

[RonD]

No overlap in wiring on the cruise buttons and horn

1996 cruise wiring in PDF
Cruise and horn share 12v and ground, but should be independent