Post by Hoovie on Feb 8, 2018 12:34:22 GMT
by Hoovie
Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:59 am
Fitted a Gold Cruise Criuse-Control system to my RAV4.2. The following is a review of the system and some install info.
I believe it may be possible to get the OEM stalk and plug into the existing system, but that could also involve reprogramming the ECU (not sure :dunno: )
[UPDATE: If you have a RAC4.2 Facelift (2003-2005 with round foglights) then you CAN just fit an OEM stalk and add Cruise that way. That is the simplest and Cheapest way]
Installation was fairly straightforward.
Needed the usual Permanent +12V, A Ignition-Switched +12V and a Ground.
Additionally had to wire in
1) the Speed Pulse signal - found on the radio connector on my RAV4.2
2) the +12V wire and the brake switch signal wire on the brake switch to feed into the electronics Module so the cruise disengages when brake pedal pressed.
3) Being a Manual, also needed to fit a Clutch switch and wire that in series with the feed from the brake - so when clutch is depressed, cruise is dis-engaged just like with the brake, as otherwise the engine will rev up as the cruise control tried to maintain set speed.
There is an optimization sequence that is needed for fine tuning, but on the inital test drive, it is working pretty nicely
There are 3 buttons on the stalk (picture lower down in the post showing it installed)
Button 1: ACT/OFF: this simply switches the cruise control system on ACT (activate) or off. Although it can be switched on at any time, it is recommended to get into the habit of switching on when the engine is started as it is then always ready for use.
SET/ACC: this fixes current speed and once the cruise is engaged gives ACC (accelerate) and tap up features. Drive as normal up to your chosen cruise speed and rotate the stalk forwards then release, the cruise control will take up the throttle and constantly adjust it to maintain the chosen speed. Once the cruise is engaged if the stalk is rotated and held the vehicle will accelerate (ACC) until the arm is released and the new speed will be maintained. This switch also provides a tap up feature, once cruise control is engaged each subsequent short rotation (tap) of the stalk will accelerate the vehicle by approximately ½-1 MPH.
RES/DEC: gives a last set speed memory. For example if the cruise control has been set at say 60mph, then disengaged by pressing either the brake or clutch (manual transmission only), when it is safe to go back to cruise speed (60MPH in this case) one short rotation back of the stalk will cause the cruise control to accelerate the vehicle back to cruise speed in a smooth and controlled manner. This switch also provides decelerate (DEC) and tap down features.
Button 2: COAST, this button disengages the cruise without having to touch the pedals and allows the vehicle to coast, thereby reducing speed gradually.
Buttons MEM 1, 2 and 3 are the programmable memory buttons. To programme your chosen speeds, for example 30MPH, 40MPH and 50MPH on buttons "1", "2", and "3" respectively.
1. Start engine and switch on cruise control system.
2. Drive to first chosen speed, in this example 30MPH.
3. Rotate stalk upwards once to engage cruise mode.
4. Press and hold button "MEM 1" until two beeps are heard (approx 4-5 seconds).
5. Repeat the process for "MEM 2" and "MEM 3"
To operate the memory buttons simply press the required button. As long as the minimum operating speed of approximately 20MPH has been reached the vehicle will accelerate (or decelerate) smoothly to the chosen speed.
Being a Manual rather then an Auto, the Cruise Control is not quite as straightforward to use, but I had Cruise on my Rover 623 which was a Manual also and found I did use it a lot, so looking forward to using this one :good:
Here is a quick snap of the controller - the rest of the gubbins (two small black boxes and a load of wires) are tucked away now and I haven't put the centre console back together again yet.
The controller is variable length adjustable - by upto about 20mm I think, with the gaiter automatically catering for the difference. The fitting method with the controller means it is a nice firm install, even when just mounted onto the plastic cowling. I did wonder if I would have to fix a metal plate inside to gain rigidity, but once cowling refitted and screwed into place, it's all good :yahoo:
ONE MONTH UPDATE on Cruise:
Been fitted for about a month and I am really liking it :thumbup:
The part that I thought may have been a bit of a gimmick is actually my favourite feature. The system can be preset with 3 different speeds and you simply press a button to have the car go to that speed. When you are driving along and the speed limit regularly changes - in my case, the A30 and A303 where the dual carriageways come and go - you can simply press button ONE to set the cruise at 70 and then when the limit changes down to 60, just press button TWO; Dual carriage way back? just press button ONE - excellent stuff, no need to use accelerator, just a little button press :rofl:
The cruise control can be fine-tuned depending on how it reacts in your car - I have found on the RAV4 VVT-i, the setup out the box works great - occasionally on some steep hills the car goes a couple of miles over the setting before settling back down a few seconds later, but I think the OE cruise on my Rover did something very similar anyway and it is not worth bothering about :dirol:
So ...
Would I buy and fit it again? Was it worth the money? Well it wasn't cheap, I have to say, but I had been looking at this kit for well over a year and now I wish I bought it when I first came across it!
One final thing I am looking to do is to see if I can wire up the signal that turns the LED on on the CM25 stalk to the Dashboard Cruise signal to be able to see when it is on or off in the same way that the factory Cruise does, as the stalk position I have is not ideal for seeing the light, althought it is fine for actual useage of the controls
Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:59 am
Fitted a Gold Cruise Criuse-Control system to my RAV4.2. The following is a review of the system and some install info.
I believe it may be possible to get the OEM stalk and plug into the existing system, but that could also involve reprogramming the ECU (not sure :dunno: )
[UPDATE: If you have a RAC4.2 Facelift (2003-2005 with round foglights) then you CAN just fit an OEM stalk and add Cruise that way. That is the simplest and Cheapest way]
Installation was fairly straightforward.
Needed the usual Permanent +12V, A Ignition-Switched +12V and a Ground.
Additionally had to wire in
1) the Speed Pulse signal - found on the radio connector on my RAV4.2
2) the +12V wire and the brake switch signal wire on the brake switch to feed into the electronics Module so the cruise disengages when brake pedal pressed.
3) Being a Manual, also needed to fit a Clutch switch and wire that in series with the feed from the brake - so when clutch is depressed, cruise is dis-engaged just like with the brake, as otherwise the engine will rev up as the cruise control tried to maintain set speed.
There is an optimization sequence that is needed for fine tuning, but on the inital test drive, it is working pretty nicely
There are 3 buttons on the stalk (picture lower down in the post showing it installed)
Button 1: ACT/OFF: this simply switches the cruise control system on ACT (activate) or off. Although it can be switched on at any time, it is recommended to get into the habit of switching on when the engine is started as it is then always ready for use.
SET/ACC: this fixes current speed and once the cruise is engaged gives ACC (accelerate) and tap up features. Drive as normal up to your chosen cruise speed and rotate the stalk forwards then release, the cruise control will take up the throttle and constantly adjust it to maintain the chosen speed. Once the cruise is engaged if the stalk is rotated and held the vehicle will accelerate (ACC) until the arm is released and the new speed will be maintained. This switch also provides a tap up feature, once cruise control is engaged each subsequent short rotation (tap) of the stalk will accelerate the vehicle by approximately ½-1 MPH.
RES/DEC: gives a last set speed memory. For example if the cruise control has been set at say 60mph, then disengaged by pressing either the brake or clutch (manual transmission only), when it is safe to go back to cruise speed (60MPH in this case) one short rotation back of the stalk will cause the cruise control to accelerate the vehicle back to cruise speed in a smooth and controlled manner. This switch also provides decelerate (DEC) and tap down features.
Button 2: COAST, this button disengages the cruise without having to touch the pedals and allows the vehicle to coast, thereby reducing speed gradually.
Buttons MEM 1, 2 and 3 are the programmable memory buttons. To programme your chosen speeds, for example 30MPH, 40MPH and 50MPH on buttons "1", "2", and "3" respectively.
1. Start engine and switch on cruise control system.
2. Drive to first chosen speed, in this example 30MPH.
3. Rotate stalk upwards once to engage cruise mode.
4. Press and hold button "MEM 1" until two beeps are heard (approx 4-5 seconds).
5. Repeat the process for "MEM 2" and "MEM 3"
To operate the memory buttons simply press the required button. As long as the minimum operating speed of approximately 20MPH has been reached the vehicle will accelerate (or decelerate) smoothly to the chosen speed.
Being a Manual rather then an Auto, the Cruise Control is not quite as straightforward to use, but I had Cruise on my Rover 623 which was a Manual also and found I did use it a lot, so looking forward to using this one :good:
Here is a quick snap of the controller - the rest of the gubbins (two small black boxes and a load of wires) are tucked away now and I haven't put the centre console back together again yet.
The controller is variable length adjustable - by upto about 20mm I think, with the gaiter automatically catering for the difference. The fitting method with the controller means it is a nice firm install, even when just mounted onto the plastic cowling. I did wonder if I would have to fix a metal plate inside to gain rigidity, but once cowling refitted and screwed into place, it's all good :yahoo:
ONE MONTH UPDATE on Cruise:
Been fitted for about a month and I am really liking it :thumbup:
The part that I thought may have been a bit of a gimmick is actually my favourite feature. The system can be preset with 3 different speeds and you simply press a button to have the car go to that speed. When you are driving along and the speed limit regularly changes - in my case, the A30 and A303 where the dual carriageways come and go - you can simply press button ONE to set the cruise at 70 and then when the limit changes down to 60, just press button TWO; Dual carriage way back? just press button ONE - excellent stuff, no need to use accelerator, just a little button press :rofl:
The cruise control can be fine-tuned depending on how it reacts in your car - I have found on the RAV4 VVT-i, the setup out the box works great - occasionally on some steep hills the car goes a couple of miles over the setting before settling back down a few seconds later, but I think the OE cruise on my Rover did something very similar anyway and it is not worth bothering about :dirol:
So ...
Would I buy and fit it again? Was it worth the money? Well it wasn't cheap, I have to say, but I had been looking at this kit for well over a year and now I wish I bought it when I first came across it!
One final thing I am looking to do is to see if I can wire up the signal that turns the LED on on the CM25 stalk to the Dashboard Cruise signal to be able to see when it is on or off in the same way that the factory Cruise does, as the stalk position I have is not ideal for seeing the light, althought it is fine for actual useage of the controls
