Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Help! Relocating Cruise Control (Read 1006 times) previous topic - next topic

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

I have an 86 Turbocoupe with factory cruise but I've got an aftermarket steering wheel. What I'd like to do is wire up the Octane/Antenna switch panel from an 87/88 TC for Cruise. Anybody know what wires running through the column are for cruise or is this even possible?

Electrical gurus please chime in!!!

Thanks in advance :)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #1 –
You can do it, but you need to use cruise switches because the cruise buttons have internal resistors, they're not simple "on/off" switches. Here's a photo of the setup I had back when I had an aftermarket wheel:
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #2 –
Just found a post where jcassity scanned in a bunch of great info on cruise control. It looks like there should be a 3 wire plug above the steering column that has the wires I need... and judging by the wire diagram, this shouldn't be too hard to pull off. Fingers crossed!

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;286944
You can do it, but you need to use cruise switches because the cruise buttons have internal resistors, they're not simple "on/off" switches. :


Very cool! How did you anchor the switches? Do you have any pics with the panel off? That's freakin awesome!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;286944
You can do it, but you need to use cruise switches because the cruise buttons have internal resistors, they're not simple "on/off" switches. Here's a photo of the setup I had back when I had an aftermarket wheel:

IRRC, the shop manual has the resistances listed. So you could use a 3rd party switch and manually add in resistors.

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #4 –
Grant makes switches to add on there aftermarket wheels so it is more than possible. You might even like the way there stuff looks but custom is always better.

Stuckman
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #5 –
In salavge yards you can also find the dealer installed cruise control turn signal stalk. It's squared off like 1983-84 models. Typically you can find them in old Ford Tempos and a few other lower trim model Fox bodied cars.

If you take off the steering column shroud, look for the brushes at the 2 o'clock position behind the steering wheel which has three contacts. The wires run off the back of this and down to the cruise control module under the left side of the dash. IIRC, it was a blue wire and black wire. The cruise switches pulls ungrounded voltage off a 3rd wire attached to the brush contacts which serves as the horn function. When that wire is grounded, it sounds the horn.

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Dogcharmer;286945
Very cool! How did you anchor the switches? Do you have any pics with the panel off? That's freakin awesome!

The switches were ancd by dremel-ing out the holes in the panel, sticking the switches in from the front, and two-part-epoxying them in place from behind. You can see how I did it in the photos below. The irregular cutting (the gaps you see under the switches) was necessary to clear the switch bodies, which have protrusions in those areas.

When I did this I had to tap into the three wires in the column, but I had to cut one of them to prevent the horn blowing every time I pressed a cruise button. In my case it was likely the aftermarket wheel's slip rings causing it - the wheel's adapter only had two slip rings, and one was wide enough for two, so it likely shorted the two circuits together.

By the way, I no longer have this panel installed in the car, as I went back to a stock TC wheel. If anyone wants to buy this I'd let it go for $20 shipped...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #7 –
I'll buy it from ya, PM me your addy and I'll send you a money order or whatever your prefered method of payment is.

Thanks,
Scott
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)
 

Help! Relocating Cruise Control

Reply #8 –
I have a very nice Momo steering wheel I was thinking of installing. I think I'll be putting the switches in the ashtray lid on the console.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis