4.3 Toyota Cruise Control Retro-Fit

[abraxas]

'Morning all.

Thought I'd share my experience of installing a Cruise Control on a RAV with you lot, in case someone finds it useful or entertaining.

Disclaimer : I am not an automotive engineer. Everything you read below is an account of my personal experiences and should not be treated as “a recipe” to do anything. If you are not entirely sure that you are safe in whatever you’re doing, you should simply not do it. No responsibility is given or implied for any of your own actions or any damage that may result from them.

That out of the way :) ... I was doing some reading on the forum and on the net and I came to the conclusion that Cruise Control on a RAV4 is all done in software; And, more importantly, allready built-in! [Well, in my one anyway (‘07 XTR D4D 2.2)]. What was missing was a little control stalk that is mounted on the steering wheel. Someone then gave me a pointer to an auction on a well-known auction site where I found the very device for a princely sum of about 25 pounds. It was shipped from Thailand and arrived about a week later.

Following is the procedure I used:

First, I disconnected the Battery [i thought that this is very important!]

In order to get to the areas I needed to get to, I needed to lift the driver’s airbag (it is a part of the steering wheel cover assembly (horn)). Airbags should always be treated with respect. My thinking was that if there is no power to trigger them they should be reasonably safe.

Lift Airbag assembly out of the way

I undid the two Torx screws at the underside of the steering wheel using a ratchet and and an extension bar. (There are only two holes on the cowling, they are hard to miss). I then carefully lifted the airbag. I chose not to disconnect the airbag (to avoid upsetting anything) but “secured” it on top of the cowling with a couple of rubber bands.

Note: The connectior that is circled in red is the one that CC stalk connects to

Cut a hole for the CC-stalk

I got a rough idea of the hole that I needed to make from another forum user’s photo of a factory fitted Cruise Control (thanks DavRav). I marked it with a felt-tip and got to work with a scalpel (I could have used a “box-cutter” / “Stanley” knife too). I used a small file and a tiny blowtorch to tidy up the edges.

Install control stalk

I slid the stalk through the hole I made and fastened it to the frame with a couple of screws.

I then connected the stalk to [the only connector that would fit] on the steering wheel.

Re-install airbag assembly

I finally [very carefully] put things back where they were in the first place and re-did the two retaining torx-screws.

Re-connect Battery

I found that step quite useful... as I was planning to start the car n'that... :)

Test

I [carefully] tested on a deserted stretch of road.

Push the button - "CRUISE" dashboard light came on in it's green splendour :) All cruise control functions worked fine....

Job's a good'un!

[Davrav]

Top job Vlad

How much was the cruise as an option .........................

EDIT

Is this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-Land-CRUISER-RAV-4-FJ-CRUISE-CONTROL-3-PCS-/180827110985?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a1a22be49

the same seller?

If so, stalks still available.

[Big Kev]

Top job Vlad

How much was the cruise as an option .........................

...."euro" very clever guy, Vladmin.

[abraxas]

Cheers guys! :)

Dave, I don't think it was that one (but it is much along the same lines.) IIRC, My one cost about 25 quid all-in. Admittedly, it was a wee while ago, I added the CC about 6 months ago. [ I know, I am lazy :) call it "extended testing period"! )

Another forum member got one recently, so maybe they'll pitch in... :)

[anchorman]

Did it come with the wire?

(I'll pin this ASAP).

[shcm]

I thought you'd been quiet Mr V, so that's what you've been up to.

Nice job

[Gods_gift]

I'm due to try this next weekend. I got my stalk delivered in 10 days and cost me $27 USD inc shipping to the UK from fleabay. Will report back with my results. I'd just like to say publicly thank you so much to Abraxas for his help and support on this!

[anchorman]

Have you got the eBay link?

[abraxas]

Hi guys.

Thanks ! :)

Did it come with the wire?

It came with the wire and the connectors attached to the stalk Don.

I'm due to try this next weekend. I got my stalk delivered in 10 days and cost me $27 USD inc shipping to the UK from fleabay. Will report back with my results. I'd just like to say publicly thank you so much to Abraxas for his help and support on this!

No worries S. You are very welcome. Good luck with the install next weekend.

Have you got the ebay link?

I can't find _the_ link i used to buy my one, but i found a few a fair bit cheaper than above on eBay.com. ( the US eBay site). It gets shipped from Thailand anyway.

For some reason, i can't see the button to insert link on my tablet :( i'll try pasting And edit when I'm on my desktop.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOYOTA-CAMRY-YARIS-COROLLA-07-08-09-10-CRUISE-CONTROL-/170782593861?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c36f9345&vxp=mtr#ht_5165wt_728

Edit: That is the seller I got my one from. It was a few dollars cheaper then. I paid 20 (+12 shipping).

[Davrav]

I can't find _the_ link i used to buy my one, but i found a few a fair bit cheaper than above on ebay.com. ( the US ebay site). It gets shipped from Thailand anyway.

For some reason, i can't see the button to insert link on my tablet :( i'll try pasting And edit when I'm on my desktop.

http://www.ebay.com/...r#ht_5165wt_728

Edit: That is the seller I got my one from. It was a few dollars cheaper then. I paid 20 (+12 shipping).

Yup, same seller as in my link above - 'Japanese Airbag'

They have three listed at different prices for different vehicles but they all look the same

[Gods_gift]

If it helps mine was listed as "BRAND NEW OEM TOYOTA CAMRY 2008 2009 CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH" $26.99

[Gods_gift]

Oh and was seller kbank477 came from Thailand.

[anchorman]

OK here it is;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-CAMRY-YARIS-COROLLA-07-08-09-10-CRUISE-CONTROL-/170782593861?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c36f9345

[Gods_gift]

OK here it is;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-CAMRY-YARIS-COROLLA-07-08-09-10-CRUISE-CONTROL-/170782593861?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27c36f9345

Thats the one.

[pcdabbler]

Thanks Guys, just ordered one.

[webleymk3]

I wanted to do this on my xt4 but was told it wasn't possible... Goes to show.

Great job mate.

[Gods_gift]

Right I couldn't wait until the weekend I fitted it last night to my 4.3 56 plate 2.2 Diesel manual and it worked. Complete result, tested it down to Leeds and back today worked faultlessly. Wonder what else is as easy as this on the Rav to get working?

[abraxas]

Nice one! Really happy that it all worked for you.

[Tony Barnsley]

Got mine on order . . . Can't believe that it really is this simple . . . I don't even pick the car up until Tuesday though . . . Just off to look at some other simple mods I can do :D

[pcdabbler]

Got mine in six days from Thailand, standard delivery. Just fitted it. Initially, didn't think it worked, until I watched a YouTube video on how to use it ! But it does indeed work. Looking for some edging trim now to make the hole I hacked out for the stalk look pretty That's on an 07 reg XTR. Plug and play.

[Gods_gift]

Mine is a 56 plate XT4 I should add. Takes a while to get used to it. The manual has an idiots guide so it was a case of RTFM for me.

[Tony Barnsley]

Lift Airbag assembly out of the way

I undid the two Torx screws at the underside of the steering wheel using a ratchet and and an extension bar. (There are only two holes on the cowling, they are hard to miss).

Ok Well I've failed at the first hurdle, just where are these holes. . . .There are two on either side of the cowl, which do have T27 screw heads inside . . .But connecting these up to a Screwdriver I discovered that they are impossible to shift Could be that I need a big hairy ubikd Scot to undo them for me :D . . .Turning the steering wheel has revealed two square holes that I could insert a Torx bit on an extension into . . .but I didn't encounter any torx screws inside, and had a tricky moment when I lost the bit inside the cowling .

I'm going outside now to connect the torx bit to a ratchet driver, and see if I can move those two stubborn nuts . . . I may be some time.

[Hoovie]

have fun :) I always tape the bits to the driver shaft now when working on the RAV as there are so many 'caverns of doom' to loose them in - I still need to find a socket, extension and a sidelight Iost in the engine bay 3 weeks ago!

[Tony Barnsley]

Finally found my ratchet driver and screwdriver bit converter thingy. Cruise control fitted and working, couldn't believe it was that easy.

Awesome!!

[Hoovie]

Question for you, Tony, and also Simon .... Does your Retro-fit Cruise Control install automatically disengage when you depress the clutch? Curious to know if the clutch switch is fitted by default or if the CC knows by other ways when clutch is in?