Install cruise control

[jawon]

Just bought this truck and love it, but I'm coveting cruise control since I spend a fair amount of time on the highway. My questions are...

1. Is it even possible to do?
2. About how much would it cost if I brought it into a mechanic?
3. Where do I get one and are there certain models to look for?
4. I have not worked on cars much, but I follow instructions well (!), so is this something that a novice could do?

 

[4b316]

best way to do it is to go to a salvage yard and find the same kind of truck as yours and just get the complete outfit.Not really that big of deal,I don't think you have to change ECM,s,maybe someone will know that for sure

 

[Ranger SVO]

Rostra makes an excellent cruise control that will work fine in the Ranger. The part number you want is either the 250-1223 or the 250-1316. I have installed well over 50 of these in Rangers, they work great. You will also need a control switch, you have a few options there.

You can get the parts you need from here
http://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/

If you have any problems you can call and talk to Michael, tell him Bill recommended him. I have installed well over 150 cruise controls last year and the two or three time I ran into a problem, he had an answer.

I can install the Ranger cruise in about 2-hours (but I've got 12-years of practice) and if you can follow directions it can be done in a day with no problem.

Wiring is easy, one constant 12-volt, one switched 12-volt, one to the brake light switch (light green wire and the constant 12-volt will be the Light green/red). The VSS (speed sensor wire) should be tied to the computer (pin 58 of the 104 pin connector will have a Gray/black wire in that position). Your truck may be wired for a factory cruise. In that case the Gray/black wire can also be located in a plug thats right next to the blower fan.

This is an easy install.

best way to do it is to go to a salvage yard and find the same kind of truck as yours and just get the complete outfit.Not really that big of deal,I don't think you have to change ECM,s,maybe someone will know that for sure

Not typically a good idea. We dont know the condition of the parts. Even if yours is wired for factory cruise, the clock spring is not there, the steering wheel will need to be replaced and the column wireing is not there (part of the clock spring). I have done factory cruise, my labor rate doubles and I do not install used parts.

 

[Dave R]

Another option is to ask at your local Ford dealer's parts counter. They sell a retro fit cruise control (dealer install) kit, though I don't know if they go back as far as the '97 model year. I bought one a few years ago for my wife's '03. The kit was complete, fairly easy to install and looks completely stock, though the instructions could have used a bit of work. I think I paid under $200 for it.

 

[Rocky Ranger]

Plan D

Welcome to TRS!
Here is a link to the cruise control I installed in my '95 with a 2.3.
Two things you need to know are: solder the wire connections under the hood, and you will need a vacuum resevior, (I got mine from Pick n Pull out of a Chevy S-10 [Sorry Henry Ford]), and check valve in the vacuum line. I learned both of these from my install. Other wise you will be chasing electrical gremlins, and the CC wont hold on a long hill. Once I did these two items the CC has worked flawlessly since 2000. If you decide to go this route, I can post some pix of it, as it is all in the open under my hood.
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=AUD&MfrPartNumber=CCS100

 

[jarz21]

Just out of curiosity, will these aftermarket options work on a '92 Ranger also? I saw an '88 at the junkyard that had factory cruise and it got me wondering if it would be worth it to pull the steering wheel and CC parts to add to my '92, but then I got to thinking how often I downshift on steep hills on the highway. So I guess I'm not too convinced that I want to spend that money on cruise control when I could use it to repair my truck's AC instead...

 

[Mark_88]

My 88 2.0 had cruise control when I first got it...could never understand why someone would do that but it was there...maybe it had more power when it was new, but when I bought it there was rarely a time when it ran right until I pulled out all the extra stuff...

I can see wanting CC in a truck if you do plenty of hwy driving like I did though...hope you find something affordable and it works out for you...

 

[Ranger SVO]

Just out of curiosity, will these aftermarket options work on a '92 Ranger also? I saw an '88 at the junkyard that had factory cruise and it got me wondering if it would be worth it to pull the steering wheel and CC parts to add to my '92, but then I got to thinking how often I downshift on steep hills on the highway. So I guess I'm not too convinced that I want to spend that money on cruise control when I could use it to repair my truck's AC instead...

Peronally I would fix the AC first. And yes it will work on a 92 Ranger. The only real difference is how the linkage would be hooked up and the location of the VSS wire. Its harder to find on your truck. There is a wire harness that comes up from the trans, engine compartment, driver side clipped to the inner fender well. It will have a gray/black wire in it, its the speed sensor wire that the cruise would need. (yes I've done early 90's Rangers too). Hooking up the linkage would be a little bit of a challenge on those trucks.

But seriously Fix the AC first.

 

[jarz21]

Peronally I would fix the AC first. And yes it will work on a 92 Ranger. The only real difference is how the linkage would be hooked up and the location of the VSS wire. Its harder to find on your truck. There is a wire harness that comes up from the trans, engine compartment, driver side clipped to the inner fender well. It will have a gray/black wire in it, its the speed sensor wire that the cruise would need. (yes I've done early 90's Rangers too). Hooking up the linkage would be a little bit of a challenge on those trucks.

But seriously Fix the AC first.

Yeah, that sounds like enough incentive to not bother right now. I'm not going to jack the thread by going into details, but my AC should work after changing the o-rings and switching to R134a.

 

[locovaca]

I'm going to try to swap in an OEM cruise on my 93. My parts list from having read other forums and resources:

* 1. Cable harness underneath the dashboard (mine doesn't have cruise wires)
* 2. Cruise Amplifier box under dash
3. Steering Wheel switches
4. Engine Bay Wiring Harness
5. Servo unit + Vacuum tubing
6. Brake/Clutch pedal sensors (?)

I already have the starred items (got a dash off of someone else for the instrument cluster and pulled the rest). I'm not sure if I'll need anything else- probably some misc electrical connectors in the steering wheel and maybe in the engine bay- but I plan on heading out to the yard tomorrow to see what I can scavenge.

My sources:
http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180169&highlight=cruise
http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/medium/0900823d800bf4ce.gif
http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0b/f4/cd/0900823d800bf4cd/repairInfoPages.htm

 

[jarz21]

As I mentioned before, I rarely find times when I would even be able to use cruise control if I had it. Of course, the PA interstates that I drive on are generally very hilly and require frequent downshifts to maintain speed going up steep hills.

Now I'm just thinking aloud here, but what if you concocted some sort of hand throttle/ mechanical cruise control? Yes, I realize there are clear safety risks involved in this, and so I will probably never pursue it. I do know, though, that early Datsun 240Zs had a hand throttle that increased idle speed during warmup (and may have also doubled as speed control), so it's not completely unheard of. Perhaps two cables (one attached to the gas pedal, another to the brake to disengage whatever catch the hand throttle cable has) would work. Sure saves the work of tearing up the dash and replacing/ adding all kinds of parts.

Or forget the entire cable thing AND adding factory cruise and just wear one of those locking leg braces!

 

[locovaca]

Well, my main reason is that my family lives in Iowa, I live in NC, and that's 1000 miles of travel one way. Some of it hilly, but once you hit western Kentucky you're driving within the same 100 feet of elevation for 400 miles. So shifting isn't a gigantic concern for me for almost half the trip.

And tearing apart the dash isn't a negative for me; I'm always up for a challenge

 

[sstoli123]

Does it matter if its a stick or not?

 

[locovaca]

No. There's a clutch switch which disengages the cruise control, just like the brake switch. Unlike an auto you can't downshift a gear with cruise on a stick (which I prefer, as I find auto trannies tend to drop down too quick for instant gratification) to pick up speed while going up a grade.

 

[locovaca]

So, here's where I'm at now:

1. Installed new steering column with a clockspring that had the Cruise Connections (upgraded to tilt steering while I was at it)
2. Put in the amplifier and dashboard wiring harness from a 94 ranger that had cruise.
3. Went to a yard and pulled a Servo from what I believe was a 92 Ranger.

So, it's not working... yet. I think my problem is with the Servo. It came from a 2.9L engine and the cable is obviously too long for my 2.3, which may not be much of a problem but it's worth noting. However, I think I don't have the vacuum lines hooked up right.

There are two external connections on the servo... one hooked up right next to a tee, and one that's hanging out by itself. I have a vacuum line going from the engine (pretty sure it's right, on my truck it's a six outlet connector that had 3 lines plugged off) into the standalone inlet, and the other I just stuck the plug that was on the engine connector on it. I don't think thats right. Autozone (http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/medium/0900823d800bf4ce.gif , since Hayne's doesn't say crap about Cruise Control) says that it should be a vacuum dump line that runs what looks to be into the firewall, but I see no connection in my firewall anywhere near it (it says right next to the throttle cable). So, my possible failure points here are:

1. Right servo (were they engine dependent? My # is E97A-9C735-AA)?
2. Vacuum lines hooked up correctly?
3. The Vacuum line I stole from the other Ranger running from the engine to the inlet has what looks like a check valve on it... is that right?
4. Once I know the Servo is hooked up right I'll head back and start testing the switches (although I have two sets, so I'd think one would work), amplifier, etc.

If anyone has cruise on a 2.3 and could take a few snaps I'd be most appreciative!