Steering wheel radio controls??

[dogboy]

Ok, in my '93 Ranger, I have the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel, but ever since my auto-manual tranny swap, the cruise control does not work. Now, for my radio, it came with a little remote control, which I do not use.

Put 2 and 2 together, and you get steering-wheel-radio-controls. There's 5 buttons on the wheel, so that would be 2 for volume, 2 for the tuner, and one for somethign else (I'm not sure what the other function I use most is).

My thought would be that I mount the remote under the dash somewhere easy to get to for the batteries etc, and then run the wires from the cruise buttons (where ever they may be) into the buttons on the remote for the volume, and then it would control the radio via the remote.

Do you guys think it will work, or would they not be the right type of buttons, or what? They seems liek it would be the right type of button. I'm pretty good with electrical stuff too, so that isn't really an issue.

 

[oldjohnny]

Could work, it would be neat too. Only one way to find out

Also, you could probably use the extra button to switch from AM to FM or to switch between AUX, CD, and Radio.

Definitely, keep us updated if you go on with the project.

 

[dirtsquirt]

I would make sure your remote will work the radio from the location you have in mind, Not sure about yours but mine is infered, needs to be line of sight. So it only works when it can see the stereo.

 

[dogboy]

Ah yeah, I''l check that out. I wasn't thinking of that!

I'll try and do some kind of a write up as I go when I start this thing. It might be into June or July though when I do it because of everything I have going on right now (senior year).

 

[fastpakr]

The infrared question is a good one. I suspect that you're pretty much out of luck because of it. Why not invest the time into getting the cruise control to work?

 

[flyingbrick]

I have seen a remote molded into a center console, but nothing like what your thinking, your best bet might be to find out if you can get a wired remote for your head unit and then adapt it.

 

[dogboy]

The infrared question is a good one. I suspect that you're pretty much out of luck because of it. Why not invest the time into getting the cruise control to work?

I would fix the cruise control, but I've only used it maybe twice in the 2 years Ive been driving the truck. I drive 25-30 miles round trip each day, about 10 of that being in town stopping every block or so, and the other 15-20 is highway, but there are a couple stop lights along it, and NOBODY can keep to the 55mph speed limit so you are always speeding up and slowing down anyway. Cruise control I found was more of a pain than it was helpful. And I only drive on the freeway a couple times a month at best.

And, I think I'd have to get the correct computer, because an auto computer can't control the cruise with an auto tranny (or that is my theory anyway).
And I am having a HELL of a time finding a '93 4.0L 5spd computer with the correct code/ number.

 

[fastpakr]

The cruise system is separate from the engine management system. I'm not sure what the cutoff wiring is for the cruise system on a 5 speed, but I'm sure there are wiring diagrams floating around for it.