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3rd gen cruise control install

26K views 61 replies 20 participants last post by  pextor 
#1 ·
I figured I would snap some pics as I added cruise control to my green car. It's a pretty easy swap, took about 30 minutes.

Here are the parts you will need:



On a 3g, look for this black plug. If you have this plug, you can easily add cruise control:



So I might as well start under the hood. Here is the throttle linkage before:



After:



Module installed:



Brake safety switch location:



Installed the switch... took me FOREVER, but I found the plug tucked WAY up under the dash:





Steering wheel before:





Steering wheel after:





I took it out for a test drive, and the cruise works GREAT! Nice little addition to the green car. A big thanks to Pextor for passing this info on to me. He figured it out from all of the 3rd gens he has owned.
 
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#3 ·
you can still install cruise, but you will need to do a LOT of extra wiring, to make it work. I believe someone did it on here, and posted up pics at one point.
 
#5 ·
Using the above pictures, I am going to try to install cruise on a non-cruise-harness car. Charles and I went up to Harry's today and I got a leather-wrapped ZX2 wheel, the cruise computer/actuator/cable, the brake switch, and some wire harness ends. I have some basic wiring diagrams so with this, I may be able to get the job done without too much hassle. I think that hardest part is going to be fishing the wires around the rear of the dash and through the firewall. I think I should be able to make my splices pretty easily. Oh, one side note to ANYONE changing steering wheels, don't waste your time with a steering wheel puller. I snapped 4 bolts before Charles came up with an easier way. Just back the 15mm bolt holding the wheel on out about half way. Have an assistant sit in the driver's seat and pull on the wheel toward themselves. Then hit the 15mm bolt with moderate force and the wheel will pop off the end of the steering shaft. Remove the 15mm bolt. Then undo the wiring clips on the metal bracket in the steering wheel and pull the wheel away from the clockspring and steering shaft. Works like a champ.
 
#6 ·
Question, could you swap in an entire steering column from a Cruise-enabled car (pref WITH tilt too!) and make this even easier (if you don't have the wiring already on the car, that is.) I've read around here swapping out the steering column is simple enough.

Thoughts?
 
#7 ·
Question, could you swap in an entire steering column from a Cruise-enabled car (pref WITH tilt too!) and make this even easier (if you don't have the wiring already on the car, that is.) I've read around here swapping out the steering column is simple enough.

Thoughts?
 
#8 ·
You CAN swap in an entire column, but it is more complex as you have to disconnect and move a lot more wiring harnesses and bolts. Removing just the steering wheel is simple and quick. The wiring harness in the steering wheel never changes. ALL cars have the cruise harness wires in the harness that comes out of the clockspring and heads down towards the main harness. It is where it connects into the main harness that is the issue, not the wiring in the steering column.
 
#12 ·
I ran the wires through where the computer harness comes through. It's down near the A/C drier on the engine side and just above the carpet near the center console on the passenger compartment side. Just cut a slit in the boot and push the wires through.
 
#13 ·
Cruise

1997 auto, 4dr.

Im trying to add cruise to another escort:

So I do not have the junction box on the right of the engine. But I do have both wires running as seen in this image. (sample image from tutorial)



Can someone explain why this may be? My last escort only had the top wire to the throttle. My (new) 97 has both.

Thank you!
 
#14 ·
I think you're mistaking the cruise control cable shown in the above picture for your transmission kickdown cable. Look at your second cable again closely. It probably won't look like the one in the picture and if you follow it, it will go into the transmission and not to a small box along the passenger side inner fender. 97's were the only year that the 3rd gen Escorts/Tracers had the kickdown cable. After that, kickdown was electronic.
 
#17 ·
Dave94LX, a good how to on the cruise. I always wondered what that plug on the passenger side fender was for. I put an after market cruise on my 93 but I have no need for one on my 2000SE, it only is driven on low speed short runs to town and back.
 
#18 ·
thanks man. Yeah, I only really added it to mine so that I could do the "how to". That and my stock wheel didn't have leather wrapping. It's something that I hardly use, but still a nice option.
 
#19 ·
You act like you know a lot about Escorts.... Do you really? Like, how many gallons of gas does mine hold? And where's my muffler bearing located?














Seriously, when do you want Ryan and I to come by?
 
#20 ·
hahaha... yours holds 1 gallon less than mine! And your muffler bearing is just below your blinker fluid reservoir!

The wife is taking me out Saturday for V-day, but I'll be around Sunday. Sound good?
 
#24 ·
Just wanted to thank dave94lx and for the link to the pictures of install of scort with out factory harness. I have 98 scort with aftermarket cruise installed that did'nt work. With the pictures of install I was able to get cruise working. So thank you very much will make driving to work so much more relaxing.
 
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