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Another Cruise Control Thread

37K views 100 replies 23 participants last post by  dd.davedyson 
#1 ·
Hi guys,

i could use a helpful hand with my "problem".

As the title suggests i'd like to retrofit a Cruise Control to my car.
The Alfa 156 is a 2003 (PRE-Facelift) 1.9 JTD.
So it has NO CRUISE cable fittet.
However - checking the ECU with FES it reads various CRUISE settings (Set Speed, CRUISE on / OFF etc...) which makes me think the ECU could handle the CRUISE Stalk.

now neede for installing is the Stalk (relatively easy to come by).
AND the Wiring / Cable from the ECU to the STALK > which is verry hard (not to say impossible??) to get.

Now i tried to find it in eper - but somehow i can't find anything related to the CC system?!!
So could any of you please take a look an may name me the part number of that cable? (got Left Hand Drive) Or maybe someone which is selling one / can obtain one?

thank's in advance
BS
 
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#4 ·
Im trying to do the same thing on my 2002 156 which has clutch and brake sensors but apparently no cruise control cable.
You have to get the cable with 4 wires (on/off, +, -, recall) from ECU to the steering wheel. You have to also get 12V control signal from somewhere (for example from the cigarette lighter).
Then you follow the appended schematics to connect the wires to the cruise control connector.

summary:
cruise control connector | function | ECU
pin 1 | on/off | pin 53
pin 3 | control voltage (12V)
pin 4 | speed - | pin 56
pin 5 | speed + | pin 57
pin 6 | RECALL | pin 55
 

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#6 ·
Im trying to do the same thing on my 2002 156 which has clutch and brake sensors but apparently no cruise control cable.
You have to get the cable with 4 wires (on/off, +, -, recall) from ECU to the steering wheel. You have to also get 12V control signal from somewhere (for example from the cigarette lighter).
Then you follow the appended schematics to connect the wires to the cruise control connector.

summary:
cruise control connector | function | ECU
pin 1 | on/off | pin 53
pin 3 | control voltage (12V)
pin 4 | speed - | pin 56
pin 5 | speed + | pin 57
pin 6 | RECALL | pin 55
i was looking for that cable, too
but unfortunately no one seems to have one - or know the part number to buy one :(
 
#5 ·
Hi mate. this has been covered before many times. And I can tell you that you should be able to fit CC. I have a 2003 facelift and asked the same questions. You have the facelift interior? Basically if you have a non facelift interior then its more tricky but our cars are plug and play apparently. It took me about 30mins to fit. I have the light on the dash etc and it all works as it should. I was worried originally as I couldn't see the icon but now that its been working for a while teh light has burned teh smoke pass on the applique so you can just see it like all the other warning lights. Its all there. Just plug it in to the connector in the column. The wiring is already there. You need the stalk (£80 ish) and new lower coweling as there is a cut out for it. (£13) both from alfa. :) You will also nee a coupel of screws as they are also missing.
 
#7 · (Edited)
The cable isn't sold separatly because it is part of the entire wiring loom that comes from the engine ECU to the inside of the car.

I've installed cruise control today on my 02/2002 sportwagon which has no facelift, interior or exterior (well it has the facelift front but I've retrofitted it :lol: ).
I had to make the wiring from the engine ECU to the cruise control lever in the stalk.
It is very easy if you now what you're doing.

On TS engines it will work on every CF3 (Euro 3) engines, the ones that have the ME7.3.1 ECU (the ones that have this ECU have the twin cat pipes near the exaust manifold and no throttle cable). Also, they already have the clutch switch fitted.
It will not work on CF1 and CF2 models because that feature isn't built in the ECU.

On JTD's it should work on every one of them.

Note that the ones that don't have the facelift interior don't have the cruise control light on the dash, so either you make the connection and add a new light (wherever you want to put it) or leave it without one.

The pinouts that are posted above are only for 1.9 JTD 8v and 2.4 JTD 10v.

Here are the ones for all the ECU's:

H7----> ECU (conector A)

1.6 TS ; 1.8 TS ; 2.0 TS ; 2.5 V6 ; 3.2 V6 (only Bosch ME 7.3.1 ECU)

1---->10
2---->n.c.
3---->+vcc
4---->58
5---->43
6---->42

1.9 JTD 16v ; 2.4 JTD 20v

1---->77
2---->n.c.
3---->+vcc
4---->78
5---->56
6---->38

1.9 JTD 8v ; 2.4 JTD 10v
1---->53
2---->n.c.
3---->+vcc
4---->56
5---->57
6---->55

2.0 JTS

1---->41
2---->n.c
3---->+vcc
4---->43
5---->44
6---->21

The 1,2,3,4,5,6 numbers are the cruise control lever (H7) pinouts, in front of them are the pins that they connect to in the engine ECU.

If someone needs it I can post the pin where to connect the lamp (only for models with no facelift interior)

Cheers!
 
#10 ·
The 156 2.5 V6 doesn't have the ME7.3.1; only the ME2.1 (CF2) and ME3.1 (CF3).
I'm going to hazard a guess that the connections will be the same for the 3.1 as 7.3.1 - it must be possible as the ME3.1 ecu was fitted to the 166 V6s and came with cruise control.

I'd be doubtful if you could hook up cruise with the ME2.1 on the 156 V6 CF2 though.
 
#13 ·
OK, hooked up some switches to make a mock stalk. Took it for a drive and nothing happened when any buttons were pressed.
Plugged it in to FiatECUScan to check the CC parameters.

To start with it shows;
Cruise Control: Unavailable
Resume: Released

then once I press the Resume button I get;
Cruse Control: Faulty
Resume: Pressed

When I press either + or - nothing shows up in FiatECUScan.

Clutch switch is fine and so is the brake switch - also checked with FES.

I'm puzzled - any ideas? :confused:
 
#15 · (Edited)
When i connected the cruise control it took some key/door acrobatics until the light would turn on. Try turning on the car, closing and opening the driver's door (im serious), turning the key to MAR and waiting until all diagnostic lights go off and all combinations of the above. After some time the light should light up ;)
Full version of FES also supports cruise control recognition if i remember correctly.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Cheers for that. I'll leave it in and see what happens over the next few days; unless anyone else has any suggestions.
I do have the full version of FES, as I do a bit of diagnostic work myself.
Anyway, here is what it shows:

View attachment 112212
As you can see, it states Cruise Control is 'Not Available'.

View attachment 112213
However, the 'Increase' button works

View attachment 112214
As does 'Decrease'

View attachment 112215
Resume

View attachment 112216
And the Brake and Clutch switches.
 
#17 ·
Black-Sheep, you use the plug that is already on the ecu.
You only need the pins, the slots where you have to put them are empty.

filipharvey, If the buttons work in FES the cruise should work.

The buttons only work with the cruise control set to ON, right?

Go for a drive with the car and see if the system activates.
Dirve above 30 Km/h and turn cruise to ON, the press increase and keep pressing for a few seconds.
Hopefully the car will start to accelerate. If it does, then the system is fully functional. :thumbs:

Cheers!
 
#18 ·
If the buttons work in FES the cruise should work.
You would have thought so. :confused:

The buttons only work with the cruise control set to ON, right?
Yes.
Go for a drive with the car and see if the system activates.
Dirve above 30 Km/h and turn cruise to ON, the press increase and keep pressing for a few seconds.
Hopefully the car will start to accelerate. If it does, then the system is fully functional. :thumbs:
Done that a few times and it isn't working... yet.
I took FES with me on one drive to see if the CC status changed at all - it didn't. No errors are being thrown up, and all key presses are shown in FES.

I saw on the full schematics of the ME3.1, pin 18 is for the cruise control indicator lamp. Any idea how to wire this in too? (Obviously I'll need to install a lamp) Is pin 18 +ve or -ve? 12v?
 
#20 ·
It's wired up right.

The lamp is pin 18 -ve.

I've measured the voltage in pin 18 when cruise is on and it didn't change.
I'll try to hook it up to see if it works.

If it doesn't we can plug a lamp in pin 1 of the cruise stalk (+ve).
I'll plug mine in pin 2 of connector B of rev counter, which is normally used for trailers turn signal warning.

Cheers!
 
#25 ·
Haven't seen that option either...

Maybe ME3.1 isn't prepared for cruise control :(
Just find it wierd that it recognizes all inputs...
On Elearn, in the schematics it has the cruise inputs, but when seeing the ME3.1 ECU description, in the pinouts it only has the resume function. All others say Not Connected. :(

Alfa 156 JTD, I have the wiring diagrams in my laptop which decided to die on me yesteray :cry:

I'll pass everything from my hard drive to another computer and then I'll post the lamp pins for all ECU's.

Just remember the pin for the lamp is -ve!
You'll have to connect the lamp directly to +ve and the other wire to the ECU.

Cheers!
 
#27 ·
Haven't seen that option either...

Maybe ME3.1 isn't prepared for cruise control :(
Just find it wierd that it recognizes all inputs...
It must be though, as the same ECU is fitted to the 166 V6s, which have CC.

On Elearn, in the schematics it has the cruise inputs, but when seeing the ME3.1 ECU description, in the pinouts it only has the resume function. All others say Not Connected. :(
I saw that, but then I found that someone had written a comparison of the ME3.1 and ME7.3.1 pinouts here

I wonder if Elearn shows different pinouts for the ME3.1 if you look at the 166?
 
#48 · (Edited)
Plug A is usually the larger one with the battery power inputs furthest to the left.
Plug B is usually the smaller connector with injector outputs furthest to the right.

Edit>


Confirmed this morning M10A is the large plug on the ECU M10B is the smaller one.

Also to correct some information posted here earlier.



Pin 23 is the clutch pedal pin out.

Pin 21 is the cruise control indicator bulb pin out.

PS:

Also I need a cruise stalk secondhand would be great.

Main dealers want £104.12 + delivery
 
#33 ·
That's what I did, although I just used twisted wire, long enough to make the connection - just under an inch IIRC.
I used a very small screwdriver to get through the gel, twisted the wire and pushed it through - cutting it at the point where it emerged from the connector. This gave me an indication of length needed.
I then pulled it back out of the connector, cut it down by a further 2mm and pushed it back through.
 
#34 ·
filipharvey I only have Elearn for the 147 and 156.

To light up the signal for the trailer it only works if you put directly from the stalk which is +ve.
But, as you said, that will only tell you that the stalk is set to on. If the system turns off the light will stay on.
I believe that it's possible to use a relay to turn on that light.
I'll probably do that and let you know later.

Alfa 156 JTD I don't know where the engine ECU is on your car...
As filipharvey said, you need to put the connector in the correct slots (that are empty) of the ecu plug.

I don't know what the -mA is, didn't measure it.
But I measured the voltage between +ve and the pin in the ecu and the value was the same when it was off or when I turned it on (+/- 8V).
I think it should be 0V when off since the ecu cuts out the -ve signal.
But know that I think of it I only turned on the cruise control with the car stationary, so probably the system didn't activate.

But I have seen a facelift 156 with the engine on Idle and by turning the cruise stalk on the light lit up...

Cheers!
 
#36 ·
I'm just wondering, as the only part of the system that is missing is the light - could it be that (for some reason only on the ME3.1) it needs to have the light to activate. Maybe as a safety feature - no warning for the driver - so no cruise operation allowed?

Yup, 'ON' connector is making contact, if I pull that wire from the ECU and press any of the buttons, I get an 'Invalid Stalk Signal' fault stored in the ECU and the CC Status in FES shows as 'Faulty'.
 
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