A guide to fitting cruise control to an FD3S RX-7

[RobbieRX-7]

Ideal for long motorway journeys, or nurburgring trips:3gears-lh ,  anybody with an fd 3rd generation RX-7 can now have cruise control fitted easily. This job is not difficult at all. It just takes a bit of time if you have to move the alarm siren or mount the wheel buttons somewhere else. The wiring is allready in the car which makes this job a lot easier than it should be.

Cruise control is a system that keeps the car at a given speed without the need for keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal. Look here for more information http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cruise-control1.htm

To get this installed and working your going to need

The main motor with cable


The ECU


the dash button


And the steering wheel buttons


First job is to install the cruise control ECU. This is located to the left of the clutch pedal. This is a bit fiddly because of lack of space. You\'ll also need the metal mounting bracket but it\'s not essential. You can always cable tie the ecu in behind the dash. There will be a plug round there somewhere. It can be difficult to find, but it is there.


Next you need to find out what sort of clockspring you have. This is a device behind the steering wheel which enables wires to be sent to the steering wheel without them getting all tangled when you turn the wheel. On certain models especially imports, there is no airbag. Usually on uk spec/ typeX modles, cruise control is fitted as standard. Other models may also have it fitted depending if the new car buyer had it fitted as an optional extra. Anyway, you\'ll need to remove the steering columns cowls and have a look. Here you can see how the 2 halfs fit together. There are 2 or 3 screws on the bottom cowl that you need to undo first, then press the lower cowl with your finger to seperate them



There are 2 different types of clockspring. The one on the left is fitted to airbag equipped cars, the one on the right is fitted to non airbag cars.


If you have the one on the left, you stand a good chance of mounting the buttons on the wheel with no soldering If you have the one on the right, you could still mount the buttons on the wheel, but you will need to modify the clockspring slightly. This would involve soldering 2 wires next to the red wire to go into the steering wheel. On the airbag type clockspring, i think it\'s just a case of plugging the buttons into the spare plug inside the steering wheel and voila..all done.

If like me, you have an aftermarket steering wheel, you can\'t really mount the buttons on the wheel. If you can then fair play to you, but personally i can\'t because it will look daft. I have decided to mount the buttons by the handbrake although i have\'nt got round to doing this yet. After doing a quick search on the net, i found this pic.
If you handy with a dremel, anythings possible!

The 2 wires coming out of the steering wheel buttons are coloured blue and black. On 1992 year models like mine, the cruise control wires are colured brown and green with a red stripe. You connect the blue wire from the buttons to the green wire on the car, and the black wire from the buttons to the brown wire on the car. This is specifically for 1992 model cars. Im not sure if this applies to later models.

The connector for the cruise control is under the steering column.

You\'ll need to remove the plastic cover on the very end of the dash where it meets the door. This just pulls away.


Then remove the plastic trim with the lap vent. 2 screws hold this on.


Next is to install the switch in the dash. 2 screws hold the pod in place.



Once the 2 screws are out, pull the whole pod towards you, then disconnect the electrical plugs behind. I hate this part!

Next job, install the motor in the engine bay and link it to the throttle. Your gonna need 3 small bolts to hold it. Also if you have an alarm, your gonna have to relocate it. Just hope the alarm installer left you plenty of cable to do  it! I relocated mine on the shock tower by the oil filler neck.


And thats it! Put everything back together and take it for a test drive It wont engage under 40mph. Press the set coast button over 40mph, take your foot off the pedal and it will gently accelerate to 40mph. Press the brake or cancel button to cancel.

[RobbieRX-7]

The ultimate mod for keeping the buttons on the wheel is this kit made by daikei


Or the 99spec Nardi wheel modded to accept the buttons

[arrouk]

awesome thread mate, i had always wondered about putting cruse control on my rex.

Matt

[scratchies]

i had it but had taken it of might put it back lol

[Spartacus]

Glad it all worked, I knew those pics would come in handy:Thumbs-up

[RobbieRX-7]

I spent a good hour or 2 trying to mount the wheel buttons somewhere. I decided to put them by the handbrake. Im well pleased with the result.

[CharlieP]

Aha....I have this on my type X but its not working! any ideas? is there a fuse for it?

[RobbieRX-7]

If the light on the dashboard switch comes on, then there is power in the system. The usual suspect is the clutch switch. Test it for continuity across the 2 terminals with the pedal pressed in and with the pedal at the rest position

[CharlieP]

If the light on the dashboard switch comes on, then there is power in the system. The usual suspect is the clutch switch. Test it for continuity across the 2 terminals with the pedal pressed in and with the pedal at the rest position

Nope no light on that switch... still try with clutch down?

[RobbieRX-7]

Does the light come on if you hold the button in? It\'s a toggle switch and it resets everytime you turn the ignition on

[dazpoynter]

On mine the light never went green on the switch or on the dash display in the speedo so the cruise control didn\'t work. This was because the throttle cable from the cruise control unit was all over the place and wasn\'t holding it self correctly on the butterfly when moving, but when i looked under the bonnet all seem to be attached correctly, it took Rotechniks just to re-route the cable in front of the strut bar to get mine working.

[SupraZed]

How would you get the parts for this job, from a breakers yard?
If they\'re still available from Mazda they must cost a packet.

Cheers

[Spartacus]

How would you get the parts for this job, from a breakers yard?
If they\'re still available from Mazda they must cost a packet.

Cheers

From some one who has either a UK spec or type X FD and doesn’t want the cruise control any more.:rolleyes:

[Ricco_04]

On mine the light never went green on the switch or on the dash display in the speedo so the cruise control didn\'t work. This was because the throttle cable from the cruise control unit was all over the place and wasn\'t holding it self correctly on the butterfly when moving, but when i looked under the bonnet all seem to be attached correctly, it took Rotechniks just to re-route the cable in front of the strut bar to get mine working.

I forgot to plug one of my cables back in a while ago and presented the same symptons - have a look at all the leccy plugs by the cable motor

Good write up Robbie - fair play to you! :cool

[CharlieP]

Aww man still havnt got mine working....could it be any of the fuses near the throttle pedal?