Can You Add Cruise Control To A Car That Doesn't Have It

If you lot're an automobile enthusiast, you probably take pleasure in the response from stomping the gas pedal. But c'monday folks, nosotros can also acknowledge that a long highway trip is more pleasant with prowl control. Prepare a constant speed, lift your foot, and let the motorcar glide down the pike.

Merely what if your vehicle didn't come with prowl control? No worries. There are enough of aftermarket kits to add cruise control to your ride. If yous have some basic skills, this DIY upgrade tin can happen in an hour or ii.

Store now for cruise control kits

eBay Motors offers hundreds of aftermarket cruise control kits and related parts. But before you make a buy, answer these questions:

Is the aftermarket cruise control kit compatible with your car?
Are your brake lights working properly?
Are you lot comfy working on your car's electrical wiring and throttle settings?

An installation kit should be designed specifically for your vehicle and include all the necessary gear.

An eBay search could plough up a usable original New Quondam Stock (NOS) kit from the carmaker.

If you answered yeah (or you're willing to learn), and so cruise control might be coming soon to your vehicle. And if yous think this is beyond your skill ready, nearly auto shops can install a kit for y'all.

Lookout man the installation of a Rostra prowl control organization in a Hyundai Accent:

Tips for Installing Aftermarket Prowl Control

Here's a quick overview of the primary components. Kits will provide detailed instructions. Outset things first: safety! Earlier starting to piece of work on your motorcar's electrical organization, disconnect the battery.

Wiring harness: Most kits come with a wiring harness, complete with colored wires. Instructions will guide you to wire the hot and cold sides of your brake switch. Other wires connect to the ignition "run" contact and footing. A significant step is to splice into a Vehicle Speed Bespeak (VSS) wire. Nearly cars of the past 20 years have a VSS. If not, at that place are adapter kits to create a signal generator or use a selection-up roll to create a like signal.

Kits often integrate with a drive-by-wire system.

Kits often integrate with a drive-by-wire organization.

Throttle cable: Attach the cable provided in the kit to the existing throttle plate of your car's engine. About kits also take sufficient adapters and linkages to fit a diverseness of throttles. Verify that the cablevision is not binding on annihilation under the hood. Aftermarket cruise control kits can also arrange newer engines that drive by wire—and don't take an old-school cable to command engine RPMs.

Actuator: The actuator is a mechanical box that controls your automobile'due south cruising function. It is mounted in the engine compartment and has connectors for the wiring harness and throttle cable. It besides has several DIP (dual inline package) switches. Moving specific DIP switches up or down allows the cruise command unit to communicate with essential vehicle functions. The settings include the number of engine cylinders, the blazon of speed sensor, and its output. To save the new settings, power off the actuator and and so restore power.

A dash-mounted controller activates cruise control.

A cruise control switch integrates with the turn point lever.

Driver switch: Many prowl control systems offering a switch on your turn signal stem that looks like a mill installation. Others provide buttons on a dash-mounted plate. Nosotros recommend the plough point switch, which has a cleaner look and helps go along your eyes on the route.

Testing Required

Kits are designed for specifically vehicles and provide all the necessary gear.

After completing all the steps stipulated in the kit instructions:

Re-connect the bombardment.
Check to verify that your brake lights notwithstanding function correctly.
Start the engine, get out it in Park, and mildly depress the gas pedal.
Make sure that information technology returns to a slow idle setting.

A dash-mounted controller activates cruise control.

A dash-mounted controller activates cruise command.

If the brake lights and idle are working equally expected, it'southward time to take the car to a deserted parking lot. Next, accelerate to a moderate speed, set the prowl control, and encounter if the speed is maintained with your foot off the gas pedal. Finally, touch the brake pedal and verify that the prowl command disengages.

If everything is working, your automobile should be ready for further testing on the highway. It'south a skillful idea to take several short, local highway trips to verify a successful installation earlier heading off on a long interstate journey.

While aftermarket cruise control is available to easily-on DIYers, that's not all the same mainstream for then-called adaptive cruise control. But automated road sensing and even lane-keeping is probably not far off. For instance, an aftermarket cocky-driving kit from Comma.ai is usually available on eBay.

Marking C. Bach has oil in his veins and remembers feeler gauges and brake springs. He has a love for all things that move, especially old-school muscle cars. Bach writes for a variety of outlets, including Chevy Classics and FuelCurve.com, and maintains Route66pubco.com.