Cruise Control kit, where can I get one?

[Fritz1]

I've got a year 2000 Ranger 3.0 with 5-speed manual tranny. Anyway, as I drive along on these highways around here, I'm having it tough to keep from speeding and/or annoying the cars behind by slowing down. I need a cruise control. This pickup, is a pleasure to drive, but I can't keep the speed in the correct zone. There is no hint on the dash that it ever had a cruise control, yet the Haynes manual I have suggests there is one. The cruise device should be mounted on right fender, not there. There should be a 2nd cable on the throttle, there isn't. But of course, it suggests I take it to a dealership, (assholes). Why should I buy their service book if they're going to tell me to take it to a dealership? Maybe I should ask for a refund? The book does mention a speed sensor mounted on the differential, but it also mentions a gear-driven thing on the transmission. I don't see why a cruise control would need two speed inputs? I remember decades ago putting magnets on the drive-shaft. I haven't found a kit yet for that.
Anyway, I'm hoping someone can point me to a kit that will utilize my existing wire-harness and supply the needed hardware. Maybe someone on this forum has done this before?
I'm supposing I'll need to put a switch on the clutch-pedal and a switch on the brake-pedal to disable the speed-control during shifting and braking.

 

[franklin2]

I would go aftermarket like this one. https://www.rostra.com/universal-aftermarket-cruise-control-by-rostra.php

 

[ekrampitzjr]

If your truck ever had had cruise, the control buttons would have been on the steering wheel beside the air bag.

 

[Fritz1]

Thanks for the replies. Concerning Rostra 250-1223, I found an install description where the installer used pin#58 from the "PCM"? I'll have to assume he meant Powertrain Control Module? Is that VSS(vehical speed sensor) installed on my truck?
I'm also wondering about the many suppliers who make replacement controls that mount on the steering wheel just like factory supplied switches. Will they interface with the Rostra universal cruise control?

 

[franklin2]

Here's a diagram attached. Yes, #58 is the speed sensor.

 

[franklin2]

Here's the diagrams for the original Ford cruise control.

 

[franklin2]

It looks like the original system is like the older cruise systems Ford made. They used a resistance system, the brain of the cruise in the servo detects the different voltages sent over a wire from the switches through the resistors, and knows what function you have selected. I doubt the aftermarket system used this method.

 

[Fritz1]

Thanks for the drawings. There seems to be nothing similar in my Haynes worthless manual. Maybe a Chilton's manual will be more informative. I have motor manuals from the sixties that were like 4" thick and had every detail you could want.

 

[Fritz1]

Is the VSS installed on my truck? Does it have another purpose than just cruise control? I haven't found a picture of it so I don't know what to look for.

 

[superj]

If you find cruise from a sinilar year ranger or explorer in the junkyard, i believe you can put that on

 

[Fritz1]

That's a great idea, thanks

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I added it to mine, it was pretty straightforward.

However with mine (circa 1985) there was just a wire that went to the PCM to tell it the system was on. Otherwise it was pretty standalone and the actual control of the throttle is vacuum operated.

Newer ones are all electronic and I foresee a lot of potential snags with with it.

 

[superj]

I think there is insyrucrions in the tech area for adding cruise from a junkyard truck to ones own truck

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Thanks for the drawings. There seems to be nothing similar in my Haynes worthless manual. Maybe a Chilton's manual will be more informative. I have motor manuals from the sixties that were like 4" thick and had every detail you could want.

Chilton and Haynes are the same company today. I've seen this myself, so be warned: the Chilton manual for a vehicle could be just the Haynes manual repackaged with the same text and pictures.

 

[franklin2]

Is the VSS installed on my truck? Does it have another purpose than just cruise control? I haven't found a picture of it so I don't know what to look for.

The vss goes many different places depending on the year and the options. In 2000, you most likely have a ABS and the vss goes to that. It also goes to the engine computer. And your later truck most likely does not have a speedo cable. So the vss also goes to the speedometer in the cluster.