resurrecting an old thread. I have a '98 with a v-6 and a 5 speed. The dealership said I would have to take the dash apart to put in the factory cruise wiring?. I really wanted the factory cruise, but the parts are pretty much discontinued at this point. There is a good donor at the junkyard. Do I need the clutch switch or will it work without the clutch switch? I have put on 2 OEM cruise controls in the past, one on a jeep the dealer did the whole thing for $300, but that was 10 years ago now. The last one the Ford dealer charged $80 to flash the computer.
Any body else have the Rostra? is it flimsy at all or is the control stalk nice and sturdy?

 

The control stalk for my Rostra is very sturdy, looks and feels just like an OEM turn signal lever. I installed my cruise in 2006 and it still works great. I have never had any trouble with it at all. The clutch switch is built into the module on my cruise. It won't work without the clutch switch being connected. I would think an OE cruise would be the same. Personally I would not buy 15 year old electrical/vacuum parts from a junk yard. I think you would be much better off and have a more reliable cruise if you were to buy a new aftermarket cruise.

Just my 2 cents on it.

Jimmy

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I am inclined to agree with you. plus I will eliminate double labor to remove and install, for the OEM systems there is a lot of stuff,. But I really wanted that factory look. the junk yard gives a warranty. I will be at the yard later today anyway I will look again. I was asking about the clutch switch because I had to put new clutch hydraulics on this truck and when I put it back together the clutch switch did not work, anymore, and I chased it down to the clutch switch connector. I lost patience working under there, and not being able to start the truck, so I cut the connector and spliced the wires together, So now no more clutch switch
I scored a color matched camper shell yesterday for $150. I still need quite a bit of interior trim bits I did not have time to look for . all in all my little $1500 truck is coming together pretty nicely

 

I moved these posts into a new thread.

Diesel, take a look under the hood for the harness for the cruise control servo.

I added cruise to my '00 Dak a couple years back. All I needed were the switches, backplate for the steering wheel, the servo and cable, and the clockspring. All the wiring was in place. It literally took my just about 1 hour.

My dealer had told me the same thing, not available. The same dealer, once I had it in and working, told me the "cruise" light wouldn't work on the cluster because "I didn't have it" in my cluster. They didn't know what they were talking about and woudn't listen to me.

I found another dealer, that for all of $20 and 5 minutes enabled the indicator on the cluster - it's programmable by the DRB.

You don't need the clutch switch or brake switch, it's all handled by the PCM already.

If you can get the parts it's an easy addition.

 

under the hood of my truck, I don't see a wire pigtail to hook up the servo. There is a plugged vacuum line but no wiring. If I have to pull wire thru , plus a double clock spring change, I think that will be too much work compared to the aftermarket, .
Now I have to go return the camper shell I just bought, I found another one also color matched just literally around the corner for $30
If anyone needs a camper shell in South Texas, I have a red Leer, and a black Topper King. and also a soft tonneau cover all for sale. for 6.5' bed.

 

The pigtail, if you have one, should be under the battery I believe on a '98.

 

In case it might help you decide, here are a few pics from my truck.

Cruise stalk on steering column cover:

P1010112-1.jpg

Stalk seen from an different angle:

P1010111-2.jpg

Cruise module mounted under the hood:

P1010114-2.jpg

Module close up:

P1010115-1.jpg

All I had to do to mount the cruise was put the mounting strap they sent with it in a vise, bend it at a right angle and bolt the bracket to the existing stud on the firewall. I had to route some wires through a grommet inside the cab for power, brake switch sense, clutch switch sense and the wires from the stalk to the module. Then two wires ran over to the PCM for speed sense and tach input. The cruise came with plenty of clips and hardware to connect the cable to the throttle body and nuts, bolts and other parts to mount the module. It was easy to do.

Jimmy

 

well I am still undecided, The U-pull it will not give me money back for the camper shell. If I return it it will be for yard credit, and only for 6 months. I can't use $150 in yard credit that fast unless I get another big ticket item.
I am leaning toward the Rostra aftermarket. Just because I don't want to mess with a clock spring change and taking apart my steering wheel. I did find the cruise servo's wire pigtail I think it is a 4 pin plug with a cap on it.
I have to remember this is a $1500 truck and it does not have to be perfect. I think the after market cruise will be cheaper and faster. I am still thinking. I need to go back the the U PULL It next week I guess.
Thanks for the pictures of the Rostra unit. They look a bit different now. The new style stalk is shorter and does not have your dust boot at the base.

yall take care I will post what I end up with

 

The clock spring change is a piece of cake. Pull the steering wheel and there it is.

Odds are the wiring is all in place for you. Dodge made cruise available as a dealer add-on. They didn't have to do any wiring.

 

I went looking for clock springs for one of my jeeps. I must have pulled 6-7 at the u pull it looking for the same part # as the jeep. I pulled lots of Chrysler and Dodge units, I thought it was a kind of a pain my self don't forget you have to take off the wheel fairing.
That is besides the point. Those #$%% at the local upullit really pissed me off today. I tried to return that camper shell less than 18 hours after I bought it and they said yard credit only. I had half a mind to get my credit and then drop the shell in their parking lot go home and dispute the charges on my credit card. Unfortunately The $150 shell is quite a bit nicer than the $30 one I got today.
Well this thread is not about a camper shell, it is about cruise controls.

Break Break . Is there any way to re-flash the computer with out going to the dealer? That would be part of the pain of going with the OEM unit as well. Don't get me wrong I would prefer the OEM unit
So lets go over it again. pull the steering wheel, change the clock spring, install the buttons, install the servo , hook the wire up to the servo , hook the servo cable to the throttle body. I forget what happens with the buttons and the clock spring? I think the buttons hook to the clock spring, and then the new clock spring plugs into its harness , and then it is done correct?
I did a 2006 f-150 a few years ago, now that was easy. install the buttons on the wheel, and plug them into the wire that was already there, go to the dealer give them $80 and drive out with cruise control.
if the jerks at the yard will sell the clock spring, buttons and servo for a package deal at less than $100 I might go for it. I figure the dealer will get me for close to $100.

So can you flash the computer without the dealer???????

Next for the Dakota is a electric trailer brake controller. I did not get lucky there either. I already looked , NO blue wire on the drivers kick panel. This little 6 cyl 5 speed is not really set up to tow. I did pull a jeep Cherokee home with it on its first day. My good jeep pulled the Dakota, then I parked the good jeep and used the Dakota to pick up a fresh POS jeep. The extra Wheel base on the Dakota makes pulling a little nicer I will have to admit. But the Jeep with the 4.0l automatic has more pure pulling power.

yall have a good evening, time to entertain the little woman