Cruise Control Retrofit

[White Russian]

Me too. Never used the cruise control on the Surf, I'd rather be active in my driving.

3rd gen owners like it, it gives them more attention to focus on doing their hair in the rear view mirror (which if you need, Albannach has a plethora of)

hair or rear view mirrors

[Fey!]

Cable throttle.

Thanks.

[kpautos]

proper cruise is the bollo**S, when road conditions permit, fuel should be about the same and is a lot easier on the driver, a lazey driver me, automatics are the best for long haul driving, stuff the fuel consumption! if i wanted good mpg i wouldent be driving around in a two ton brick!

[dieselboy]

proper cruise is the bollo**S, when road conditions permit, fuel should be about the same and is a lot easier on the driver, a lazey driver me, automatics are the best for long haul driving, stuff the fuel consumption! if i wanted good mpg i wouldent be driving around in a two ton brick!

What I like about cruise control is that you can speed up / slow down the vehicle by pressing buttons. When you go from a 50mph to a 70mph or whatever, just press the button a few clicks and your then doing 70.

Except for my mums Astra. That one confuses me. Sometimes when I press "set" it accellerates up to 70mph from whatever speed I was doing. I pressed set at 50mph once and needed to go home early to get a change of clothes.

[Surf01]

I have cruise control on the Mondeo and it is brilliant especially when towing. There is a company in Birmingham that fits after market cruise controls and cost of fitting waas about £250. I saw the advert in the Practical Caravan magazine about a year or so ago.

[Fey!]

I got cruise fitted last week.

Unfortunately the fitter couldn't find a reliable point to take a pulse for the speed from, so it goes up/down about 10% from the speed you set it at (mainly up and down hilly bits).

Can anyone recommend where to take a pulse from on a 3rd gen? Thanks.

[madmanc]

Well I have to say I have it and use it. Driving up the M1 is a dodle if you can put it at about 60mph and sit back its a lovely drive.

[markp2]

Fey,
How much did the c/c retrofit cost (if you don't mind me asking) and where did you have it done. I am taking my Gen 3 to Galway City for a week in July. If the cost isn't too much, I might join you in the c/c club.
Cheers,
Mark

[Team Japan]

I've just bought one of these for my Surf:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WAECO-MagicSpe...item3efbfe737d

I bought the same one to put on a Volvo I used to do a lot of motorway miles in. When I got rid of the Volvo I took it all off again and later fitted it to my Dodge before I drove it across Canada. Worth its weight in gold for a journey of that distance, and I still use it all the time on the Dodge in the UK.

Last year I drove the Surf from Cambs up to Scotland to see my Dad, and decided then that I'd get one for the Surf before I did another long trip. It's just so much more relaxing to drive when you haven't got to think about the speed. I hate those people who constantly speed up and slow down, and therefore don't want to be one of them.

I haven't fitted it yet, will probably do it in a couple of weekends' time, but I'll let you know how I get on for those who are asking about it. I fitted the Dodge one in a driveway with basic tools and it took about two hours. The only hard part was working out the best way to attach the end of the cable cable to the throttle linkage.

[steved]

I fitted one of those to a previous Surf if the speed is not accurate you will need to cut the loop wire on the Magic speed control box.

[Team Japan]

I fitted one of those to a previous Surf if the speed is not accurate you will need to cut the loop wire on the Magic speed control box.

Cheers Steve, I'll bear that in mind.

[Fey!]

Mark - sorry for the delay in answering.

I got the kit on ebay from a company in Australia, which took about 2 weeks to deliver.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The arm would only go on the left hand side of the steering column; we had to shorten the bar to stop it hitting my knees (I'm kinda tall, though).

I'm still getting used to it; doing it again I'd probably go for the one that Team Japan linked to if those controls went on the steering wheel (and if the system worked on the 3rd gen).

Fitting was done by Auto Electrical Concepts in Galway; he'd have to give you a quote, as he was doing other bits for me at the same time. His name is Jeremy, and his number is +353871376173.


@Steved; thanks for that bit of advice. Have you a bit more detail?

Where my guy took the pulse from was from where the signal is sent to the dash for the speedometer, which is the same place he takes the pulse for taxi meters on a corolla or and avensis.

[IanB2]

I had a Rostra cruise control installed in my Surf last night, used the 250-3742 style swich, and it works beatifully! For the guys who said it doesn't work well with the auto tranny, this has not been my experience in the least. Maybe with less power in the 2.4 or where there are lots of steep grades you could have issues, but it's a huge improvement for the kind of driving I do, and I couldn't be happier!

http://www.rostra.com/products/after...by-rostra.html

[dieselboy]

Thanks for the link! I couldn't think how cruise control would work with anything BUT an auto?

[Surf01]

If you don't mind us asking what was in the price in US dollars and how long did it take you to fit? Are the instructions fairly clear?