Cruise Control Qs?

[Otis2]

What options do we have for adding a cruise control to our diesel VWs that are too old to have VSS sensors?

I see there's a generic "Audiovox" model from JC Whitney for about $120.  http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/CruiseControl.shtml

But even though that Audiovox model has magnets to mount on the driveshaft to monitor vehicle speed, it also requires a standard coil input to monitor engine speed.  Fine if you have an optical tachometer setup on your diesel, but for us "W" terminal guys, not terribly useful.  

I don't want to have to add an optical tach just to get cruise control, because I have finally got the OEM diesel tach working properly on the "W" signal.  Anyone have a better idea?  Can the Audiovox cruise control be installed without any coil signal input at all (just relying on a "kill switch" on the clutch pedal)?  What did the original factory VW cruise control do to monitor engine speed for the diesel cars?

Thanks, gurus!

[fspGTD]

Don't see any mention of what car you're talking about here.  But assuming a VW Rabbit, how about the factory cruise control that was offered is the later model years?  They have a diesel version for it.  Pretty rare, but it fits and works like you would expect factory stuff to fit!  I know there is a sender inside the speedometer for the vehicle speed with that system.

[DieselsRcool]

I have that Audiovox on my diesel rabbit and it works great. The only problem is with a standard tranny you should have either a coil connection or a clutch pedal switch. This is to kick off the cruise control if you push in the clutch. I don't have this connected on mine. If I push in the clutch it just revs until I step on the brake or turn the CC off. It's easy to install too. It responds quickly and very smoothly. Very neat unit.

I like the way it works so well I'm going to put one on my TD Samurai, Trooper and my motorhome

You can get it here for $90, I did.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/brandsplace/0002-ccs100.html

[Otis2]

Thanks guys.  

Vehicle is a 4 speed 1985 Vanagon with AAZ 1.9 TD conversion, taken from a '97 Canadian Golf.

I've looked into used VW cruise control, but as they are rare and expensive ($200 was the asking price for the only used Vanagon cruise unit I could find), and I think it's dodgy buying used electronics on the internet, I'd rather go aftermarket for a new unit.  

I read the Audiovox installation manual up here:  http://www.audiovox.com/manuals/owners/1284540_OM.pdf

As DieselsRCool suggests, the only "kill switch" for these things is wired to the brake pedal.  The installation manual doesn't say anything about having another kill switch for the clutch.  Instead, for manual transmission cars, the unit seems to rely exclusively on a tach signal to tell whether the driver has depressed the clutch.

It's useful to know the unit will work (sort of) without the tach signal, but it will rev uncontrolled when the clutch is depressed.  I suppose that would only be really irritating in hilly terrain, where I would want to downshift without slowing down.  Still, I'd like to put a clutch switch into the system.  

Page 3 of the Audiovox manual warns, "Note: If the vehicle is a manual transmission and does not have a VSS wire, the cruise will operate from tach signal only."  This is a bit confusing, as it seems to suggest configuring the dip switches on the unit NOT to use the magnets, and ONLY to use the tach signal.  

I take it DieselsRCool installed the dip switches to pretend it was really an auto trans car, using the magnets in place of the speed sensor?  I don't suppose you could explain your dip switch settings, and whether you're using the magnets, could you?

Of the 10 wire terminals going into the unit, I see that two terminals are unused (#5 and #7).  Maybe one of those (or both?) is a secret and undocumented input for a clutch kill switch.  I'll have to see if Audiovox will tell me, but I doubt any of their customer service flaks will know that much about it.  DieselsRCool... I don't suppose you feel like experimenting with those two terminals and a multimeter, do you?  Maybe grounding out or sending 12 volts to one of those terminals would disengage the cruise - an easy switch job to rig on a clutch pedal.

[DieselsRcool]

It means the unit will work getting it's speed signal from the tach instead of the magnets if you want. I used the magnets on the half shaft. Just leave the blue wire disconnected, pull the jumper, set your switches to 0010101.

Your concern about hills is valid but doesn't bother me. When you come to a hill you just put your foot on the throttle and turn off the CC at the control sw. Then when you down shift it won't rev. You might try connecting the blue tach wire to a clutch switch and see if the unit detects the signal and shuts the unit off.

[racer_x]

I have that Audiovox on my diesel rabbit and it works great. The only problem is with a standard tranny you should have either a coil connection or a clutch pedal switch. This is to kick off the cruise control if you push in the clutch. I don't have this connected on mine. If I push in the clutch it just revs until I step on the brake or turn the CC off.
<snip>

Can't you just get a second switch for the clutch pedal and wire it in parallel with the brake pedal switch? That is the "normal" way to handle a manual transmission with a cruise control. The VW Factory cruise control worked that way.

[DieselsRcool]

I.m sure that would work.

[cheng]

careful with those switches

if the brake switch is normally closed (meaning it opens when you depress the pedal) you would wire another NC switch in series with the first one. or parallel if they are NO

Ken

[Otis2]

The Audiovox PDF installation manual, page 7, seems to show the brake switch as normally open (ie. 12 volts are supplied to cruise unit and taillights only when brake pedal is depressed).  

I'll have to check the Bentley manual, but unless VW did things very differently from the "expected" way in the Audiovox manual, then I would wire a NO clutch switch in parallel to the brake switch, I guess.

Thanks folks.  I'll order the unit today.  Thanks especially to DRC, who just saved me 30 bucks on the purchase price, and set me up with the right DIP switch settings.

[cheng]

uh oh, I just read my previous post and started thinking. (dangerous I know)

the switches are mounted on top of the pedals so that they are really actuated when the pedal is out with your foot off.
 so if you are buying a switch you do want a NC configuration so that with the pedal at rest the switch would be actuated or in the open position.

sorry if I led you astray.

ken :oops:

[ragulka]

Hey, just a noob question...

will i be able to install a cruise control on my Vanagon T3 1.6TD engine?
I mean - it doesn't have an electronic injection...

[jtanguay]

Hey, just a noob question...

will i be able to install a cruise control on my Vanagon T3 1.6TD engine?
I mean - it doesn't have an electronic injection...

read up

i'm pretty sure all of the above people don't have electronic injection...

i can see a good reason for having the rpm sensor with this cruise control system though... it will disengage if you lose traction, where if you did not have it hooked up, your tires could just spin and you will lose control if you don't react fast enough...

[gunrtd]

I have the factory cruise and it doesn't work. Tried fuses, nothing wrong there....still a mystery to me. Haynes manual is very silent on the topic.

[ragulka]

i can see a good reason for having the rpm sensor with this cruise control system though... it will disengage if you lose traction, where if you did not have it hooked up, your tires could just spin and you will lose control if you don't react fast enough...

You mean the optical rmp sensor?

[Vincent Waldon]

I have the factory cruise and it doesn't work. Tried fuses, nothing wrong there....still a mystery to me. Haynes manual is very silent on the topic.

Would be helpful to know what chassis and engine you have... the cruise is different between models... and they each have their own foibles.  


Vince