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Add-on Cruise Control? #: 535

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Posted: Sat Jan 27th, 2018 11:23 pm

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RiggerWings
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I'm interested in buying a Rostra cruise control system for my '11. Before I purchase, I have a few questions.
1. Is there any other systems you guys would recommend? 2. Does anyone have the Rostra system and does it work well?3. Does anyone have pics of how they mounted the actuator under the hood (4.0?) and the "switch" on the interior?
The one I'm looking at comes with the turn signal style switch for the left side of the steering wheel. The only place where I'll be able to see it through the wheel and not be in the way of the actual turn signal lever its at about 4 or 5'oclock position. I'm worried my leg will hit it and either always mess up the cruise control, or just break it all together. Any suggestions or pics would be awesome, thank you!
http://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/1988-2011-ford-ranger-rostra-complete-cruise-control-kit/

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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2018 12:20 am

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Rostra makes a lot of products that many dealerships across the nation accept as/for "dealer installed acceptable" products. everything from TV to cruise control as you know.

Although I've done a few TV's and DVD players from them, they make a decent product. I've not personally done any of their cruise control systems but I have done a fair share of the Audiovox setups with great results, I would have to say as long as it was installed properly and the settings were correct, you should have minimal headaches and enjoy either product well.

There were several links to F150 to Tacoma's and Transit vans. I'd watch a few and see what you think about the installation aspects and then knowing what your getting into, come up with a plan on what you want to do. Personally, I'd prefer a flat switch type that I could mount on the dash for on/off engagement myself.

If you get a kit, post some pics, I'd like to see whats inside the box and do one in this truck.

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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2018 08:35 am

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mhoward
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John, have you checked under the hood to see if your truck is pre-wired? Mine was not, but I went OEM anyway. Made a harness, installed it... looks like factory.

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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2018 11:31 am

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RiggerWings
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Thanks guys, and yes I have checked to see if I was pre-wired. My original plan was to go factory as well. I don't want to tear apart my dash or tear apart a donor truck's dash to get what I need. It seems the Rostra kit is the best deal all around since it has everything I need. It's $225, but waaayyy cheaper than going OEM.

I've seen that a few guys on other Ranger forums had Rostra, but none had pics of anything.

I've seen the switch you mentioned, Understm8ed, with the push buttons. There's not really a flat place on the dash to mount that to either. Plus, the kit I'm looking at comes with the stick type. I may be able to call them and see if they can swap for the push button though.

Here's that button. It says it requires a separate relay, I wonder if the other kit already comes with said relay. Hmm.

http://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/250-3592-universal-cruise-control-switch-dash-mount-with-engage-light/

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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2018 11:47 am

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mhoward
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John, didn't have to tear the dash apart. Whole thing cost me about $25 at the salvage yard.

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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2018 02:01 pm

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Oh wow. I wish I had a salvage yard around here for just such things.

So you didn't have to pull out the old wiring harness and install the "new" one? Or did you just run the plug a few new wires?

I'd love to do that but I don't have the ability to source the parts, other than online. And while I'm pretty handy, I'd hate to tape into my wiring and mess something up. I already looked into another steering wheel with OEM switches, Rostra told me their system wouldn't be able to be used with the factory switches. Probably due to relays and all. I'd need a lot to add OEM cruise control. Steering wheel, wiring harnesses, brake master cylinder, relays, actuator, cables, and whatever various other wiring and parts.

This Rostra system seems pretty straight forward. Run a power and ground wire, a brake switch/sensor, the on/off switch, and then mounting the actuator/cable under the hood. I know it's probably not that simple but doesn't seem too difficult.

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Posted: Sun Jan 28th, 2018 07:07 pm

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I stripped the under-hood harness of its 10-pin plug from the servo. Made this into a stand-alone harness to take into the cab. Once inside, I tapped into the necessary wires under the dash (solder and shrink sleeved). Replaced the clock spring to support the cruise pods and that was pretty much it. Over-simplified, but that was it. Of course, it required research and wiring diagrams to get the job done. Took a weekend.

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Posted: Mon Jan 29th, 2018 07:21 pm

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Sounds easy enough. So you just ran the necessary wires from the under hood plug to the under dash plug?

Seems like there would be more to it. Like the master cylinder switch to kill the cruise control once you step on the brake. Also, a computer wire that taps into the tach or the tach portion of ECM. Even the wires that go to the gauge that light up to say "cruise" once the system is activated.

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Posted: Mon Jan 29th, 2018 07:51 pm

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Oddly, my truck already had the master cylinder switch (forgot about that).

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Posted: Sun Apr 8th, 2018 04:04 pm

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Well I know it's been a while but I just got back to thinking about the cruise control and went ahead and ordered it.

The price went up a little but I got a free shipping discount code which is almost the exact amount of the price increase.

Hopefully the install is straight forward. I couldn't find much online about install details so hopefully it goes well.

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Posted: Sun Apr 15th, 2018 11:40 am

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The cruise control arrived and I installed it yesterday. The instructions leave a little for you to figure out yourself, but nothing too horrible.

Install took me all day, mainly due to searching for which wires I wanted to tap into and all.

I went to test drive it and I couldn't get it out of park. The parking solenoid was engaged which typically clicks when you step on the brake and moves a little lever allowing you to select your gear.

I thought I botched up some wiring so removed the wires that I tapped into the brake system with. Still no luck. I lowered the steering column and removed the solenoid. I tested with the brake wire plug by jumping some leads from it, it's good. I figured maybe the brake switch was toast so I bought a new one and installed it this morning...still no solenoid action.

I hooked everything back up this morning and completely removed the parking solenoid.

I drove at 40, 45 and 50mph and the cruise control workds great. I'm just upset that I had to removed the parking solenoid, now I can throw it into gear without stepping on the brake first. Kinda unsafe if I'm in a parking lot idling and happen to bump the shifter.

I'm going to call Rostra tomorrow and see if there's something I did wrong (though their system works perfect) or if it's a common issue. Oh, I checked all of the fuses. Not just the ones for the brake system because I wasn't sure what that solenoid was attached to. I checked ALL of them. No issues.

My traction control light blinked on the other day and now it's on permanently. I guess I need to check all of my wheel sensors.

For those of you looking for a cruise control system, Rostra makes a good product. It's a chore to put it in but worth it.

Here's the lower cover beneath the steering wheel. Mounting options are limited for the switch, but I adjusted it so that my knee wouldn't hit it and break it.

The cruise control actuator. Its mounted on the rear passenger side of the engine compartment. I had to cut the metal mounting bracket it came with to make it work. That thing is solid, I couldn't really bend it.

The manual said I'd need 3 of the little ball links, but I had to re-do it with 6, otherwise the cruise control was holding the throttle open.

Getting wires through the firewall. From the inside...

From the engine bay...(I removed the fuse box to gain access, then reinstalled it)

Switch from the inside

For reference, I bought a kit specifically listed for the Ranger. It was part number 250-1223. It came with the left mount column switch, part number 250-3742.

Last edited on Sun Apr 15th, 2018 11:43 am by RiggerWings

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Posted: Sun Apr 29th, 2018 03:36 pm

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UPDATE: Cruise control is working great, but it grabs a little aggressively. I think I need to add a few more "links" in the ball chain, that should cure the rev-up when it engages. At least I hope.

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Posted: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 09:15 pm

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Yet another update:

As stated above, I added a few links to the ball chain and now it engages softly and un-noticeably. It holds it's speed, and down shifts as it should when it can't hold the speed up a hill. Works great when towing my jet ski on the highway. I'm satisfied, definitely improved my highway fuel economy!

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Posted: Wed Aug 29th, 2018 10:55 am

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RiggerWings
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The system is still working well. I'm happy with it! Only complaint is when I hit the brakes or turn it off, it "slams" the gas pedal up. Its due to the spring on the actual throttle body. Its no big deal, but my only complaint.

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Posted: Wed Aug 29th, 2018 11:12 am

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Whatever you do, don't take the spring off the throttle body LOL :)

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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2018 02:10 pm

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Hahahah, no sir, would never even think of doing that!

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