Retrofit Cruise control - the definative guide

Originally Posted by clifford.warbur

Also - is the 1.6 powerful enough for cruise control - I'd imagine it should be fine on open roads.

Where else would you use cruise other than open roads?

Doh Good point!

Hi

Has anyone successfully retro-fitted cruise control to a 1.6 TS? My car is in with stealer. They reckon that although the connections are there, the ECU will not support cruise control. I'm hoping they are wrong.

Originally Posted by clifford.warbur

Hi

Has anyone successfully retro-fitted cruise control to a 1.6 TS? My car is in with stealer. They reckon that although the connections are there, the ECU will not support cruise control. I'm hoping they are wrong.

If you have ASR and VDC it should work, as from the factory - the options were linked.

I have ASR but not VDC. Does that mean its not possible :-( Boo hoo

You seem to be right - Just checked out the technical specs on alfa's website. All the models with cruise control have VDC and MSR.

Damn it!!! I had my hopes up because I had all the cables for it in my car.

What is MSR ?

Not sure. The spec reads "VDC/MSR and Brake Assist". Could be the same thing as VDC.

I don't suppose its possible to retrofit VDC/MSR either . Even though its probably a couple of lines of software and a sensor.

I think MSR is the function that stops wheels locking if you change down too quickly - I dont understand how it works - the explanation is terrible!

Sorry to be a nag - but I really want cruise control. I was checking specs on the alfa uk website and the 1.6 Lusso comes standard with cruise control but doesnt have Vehicle Dynamic Control (ASR + MSR + Brake Assist) fitted. I do have ABS, EBD and ASR as standard.

So now I'm wondering why I can't have cruise control. I'd appreciate advise on whether I should go for it or not. Can it do any harm if it doesn't work?

Ok ok. I'm getting confused with this cruise control now.

Phoned another dealer to query the parts. He reckons that according to my VIN I would need part 735365517 for the stalk and not parts 735293305 or 735365522 as mentioned earlier in the forum. He also cannot gaurantee that it would work. He says the new part is a newer version of previous.

Problem is that part # 735365517 costs R2025.00 (145 GBP) and parts735293305 and 735365522 cost R370.27 (25 BGP) and 292.02 (20GBP) respectively. Presuming they can get the old parts in - they're significantly cheaper.

Aaarrrgh - this is so irritating. At R2000 + I'm gonna scrap this whole idea. Does anyone have any idea what the discrepencies are?

Clifford - the part numbers quoted on here were as fitted to a 156.

No one will guarantee this works - the official line from Alfa is that it doesnt work (but so far on forums - it has)

The SA prices are ridiculous - the second part for example I bought 4 months ago and it was £12.00!

The prices do not seem right at all, and you really dont want the lower column shroud from a 156!

Why are the dealers so useless?

How do I find out which parts I need for the 147? Can anyone advise the part numbers for the stalk and the lower column shroud?

The dealer said I would need a part that combines all the stalk components (ie indicator, wipers & cruise). Can I add just the cruise stalk seperately?

My car is a 2003 147 1.6 TS 3 Door Progression. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance

PS. I got the part numbers from a previous post in the thread by Throttleman who quoted them for the 147.

To be fair to the dealer - the parts system does not show the stalk seperately in the diagrams, so you cant search for it.

I bought the entire stalk pack on Ebay, removed the cruise stalk and sold the rest on here for that reason. If you do that its just 2 screws a plug and a snap fitting and off you go.

You need someone on here who has bought a single stalk for a 147 to let you know the part number on the box.

The cowling part number I used was 735283341

Ok - I see. If I get the part number will alfa be able to order it as a seperate item without the stalk pack?

If it has a part number - it will be seperately orderable.

Thanks a million... anyone out there have the part number for me?

Originally Posted by clifford.warbur

Thanks a million... anyone out there have the part number for me?

I am almost sure I have seen it in my ePER as separate item. I will check it in the evening at home and post the part number if nobody does it sooner today.

Originally Posted by clifford.warbur

I was checking specs on the alfa uk website and the 1.6 Lusso comes standard with cruise control but doesnt have Vehicle Dynamic Control

My 1.6 Lusso has cruise control (and ASR) but, as you say, NO VDC.


The thing I'm finding hard to understand about this is...

If you can "Retro-Fit" Cruise control just by buying a stalk for relative peanuts, was it £50 (or there abouts?). Then surely Alfa would factory fit it and charge everyone an Extra £500 for the priveledge.
(Equals, give or take, £450 profit for the company.)

There must be some other (expensive) part that's needed in order for it to work correctly.

Originally Posted by clifford.warbur

Thanks a million... anyone out there have the part number for me?

Its 735365522. Should cost you about 60EUR.

Thanks a million man. Thats brilliant

Also there is a guy on ebay uk selling the whole stalk assembly for a 147: