Installing an after market cruise control system on your car is simpler than you may think. It's a fairly inexpensive project that can usually be completed in less than an hour.
You'll find a number of after market cruise control devices at various auto part dealers including: JC Whitney, Insight, and from your car's manufacturer. You should expect to pay from $100 - $300 for an after market cruise control installation kit. Most vehicles are sold ready for cruise control installation and require only two steps. Follow the instructions on the product and refer to your vehicle's instruction manual, but this will prepare you for the job and maybe clarify some of the steps.
After shopping around for the correct after market cruise control kit for you make and model of vehicle, follow these step-by-step instructions for driving ease:
Your first step will be to disconnect the battery cable on your vehicle. You'll want to let it sit for about ten minutes giving the airbag time to disengage. Next, inside your vehicle, turn the key to the first position in the ignition - the accessory power position. This will also unlock the steering wheel, allowing you to turn it. Now you'll want to turn the steering wheel until one of the screws securing the air bag is pointing towards the floor of your vehicle.
After unscrewing the bolts holding your airbag you should be able to lift it away from the steering wheel at least 6 inches or as far as the connecting cable allows. Be careful, as there are many delicate connectors and wires located within the steering wheel. Now you can remove the cable connector from the back of the air bag system. Be very careful with the airbag device, although it is disengaged it is still explosive.
Inside the stern wheel you should find a white connector for the cruise control switches near the horn mechanism. See your vehicle manual if you need help finding it. There will also be mounting hardware that you may have to cut in order to install your new cruise control switches.
After you've connected the appropriate wires, it's time to mount the switches inside the steering wheel. The brackets and mounting screws are very important, so don't skip this part. Once you've properly installed the switches, you're ready to remount the airbag device on your steering wheel.
Reattach the cable into the airbag plug. Now line up the airbag device with the steering wheel, aligning the screws. They should fit easily into their slanted position. Now you're ready to tighten the bolts. Be sure it's secure as a flying airbag could cause a catastrophic accident. All that's left is fitting the master switch into the proper plug on your steering column, mount, and you're finished.
Now you'll be driving in ease and style, able to let those miles fly by on the highway without wearing out your leg muscles. Beware of using cruise control on wet roads though, as its mechanism makes hydroplaning easier.
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Wednesday, November 10th, 2010 AT 6:03 PM
