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Topic: Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition (Read 1309 times) previous topic - next topic

Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition

I didn't know what forum or area to post this so I figured I start here.  Now that I have the wheel I want in my car (03 Mountaineer with about 17 buttons :D ) I need to get a cruise to match.  I considered aftermarket but than thought, why not OEM Ford? 

Can anyone think of any issues with getting the electronic cruise/cable/wiring from an 03 Mountaineer (to match the 03 buttons on my wheel) and wiring it in?  I already have the electronic cut-out switch on the Mach 1 pedals.  I'd just have to make it work on the TB.  Thoughts?  Thanks!!
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition

Reply #1 –
i did have an answer but it was polluted with assumptions.

so.......... to answer more clearly, please list all the parts that make up a mountaineer cruise system.

compare that to the oem systems we deal with and then we can move forward.

Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition

Reply #2 –
Wouldn't it be easier to use the stock T-bird cruise and the Mountaineer buttons?  Is there an advantage to using the Mountaineer system?
2000 Jaguar XK8 Convertible - 4.0L DOHC V8 (AJ27)
2018 Ford Explorer - 3.5L DOHC V6 (Duratec 35)
1999 Mercury Grand Marquis - 4.6L SOHC V8 (Modular)
1987 Mercury Cougar LS - 5.0L V8 (Windsor) [SOLD in 2009]

Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition

Reply #3 –
The '03 Mounty system should have had adaptive cruise control, and also the one-tap up/down feature, for 1mph increments. The only problem that I see is that there was no separate cruise control amplifier; it was all done through the EEC-V module. That made diagnosing a cruise control problem so much easier, way easier than we'll ever have it. Still, I don't see a practical way of adapting that to an older car. I'm sure the basic functions could be spliced in somehow though.

Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition

Reply #4 –
There are a few advantages and reasons for wanting to use the newer system:

1.  Newer, more reliable system (assuming; they must have switched for some reasons, this possibly being one of them)

2.  The + and - buttons allow the cruise to function on a 1 mph basis allowing for fine adjustments in cruise speed, which is very nice for CA driving where no one uses cruise and I need to go with the flow without constantly turning the cruise on and off.

3.  On our cars, the cruise buttons are wired in a series; each button has a different resistor.  For example:

- button 1 closes a circuit

- button 2 goes through button 1 and it's own resistor, creating a new signal

- button 3 goes through button 1's resistor, through buttons 2's resistor and finally it's own resistor creating a third signal.  The cruise amp then decodes these 'signals' to know what button you pushed (this is what allows all the cruise and horn buttons to work off 3 slip rings). 

The newer systems use a similar setup, but I'm assuming that (since I know they changed resistors in wiper circuits between cars and years) they did the same with the cruise buttons.  Also, since this steering wheel also has the HVAC and audio control buttons, I can only assume it's even more different than our setup.

Mainly, my thought is, it would be easier to install and wire a newer system than it would be to try and get the newer buttons to communicate properly with the older cruise system.
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition

Reply #5 –
Quote from: booksix;214415
There are a few advantages and reasons for wanting to use the newer system…

Good to know.  I know very little about the Cruise control system, so it's always nice to learn more.
2000 Jaguar XK8 Convertible - 4.0L DOHC V8 (AJ27)
2018 Ford Explorer - 3.5L DOHC V6 (Duratec 35)
1999 Mercury Grand Marquis - 4.6L SOHC V8 (Modular)
1987 Mercury Cougar LS - 5.0L V8 (Windsor) [SOLD in 2009]

Cruise Control from a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition

Reply #6 –
Yeah, I actually discovered all this info when making a modified TC wheel with two sets of cruise buttons (modified to be independent switches for controlling the carputer more easily).

Also, I guess I should state it could really be a Moutaineer/Explorer/Expedition cruise system.
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats