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Howdy y'all. I recently bought a really nice E350 extended cargo van with high top (only 10K miles!). Unfortunately it didn't come with cruise control and I'd like to add it. I have found a few threads and videos on people who have done the mod for earlier year E-series, but apparently these instructions are only valid up to 2008.
For the 2008 model you get a cruise control steering wheel with the buttons on the wheel. Then also get a cruise control clockspring. Install all that and plug in the clockspring harness. Then take the van to the dealer and they tap into the vehicle's ECM to enable cruise control mode. After that, you should have a functioning factory cruise control.
But these were the instructions for vehicles up to 2008, implying that procedure may not be applicable for the 2009 and onward models. Anyone know what is needed for the newer 2009+ E series? Thanks...
The ECM control of VSC was first added in about 2005 previous years using the servo and cable pulling on the throttle plate to maintain the desired set speed.
For model year 2009 would require the steering wheel and control switches along with the correct clockspring as well as the master cylinder defeat sending unit. Once those components are properly installed the dealership or someone with the FORScan program loaded and competent in its use changing ECM parameters can enable the vehicle for VSC.
Thanks JWA, appreciate the input. So starting in 2009 they added a master cylinder sending unit too? I read something about a master cylinder switch, but I thought that was for older E series with a more primitive cruise control system? Also, do you know if when I'm looking for a cruise control steering wheel (used) are other years ok to use? And maybe from other platforms like F series trucks? Thanks again.
Based on the factory wiring diagram (attached), it looks like the 2009 with gasoline engine uses a second contact on the brake pedal switch as the "fail safe" for the speed control and only the Diesel uses the pressure switch.
Thanks JWA, appreciate the input. So starting in 2009 they added a master cylinder sending unit too? I read something about a master cylinder switch, but I thought that was for older E series with a more primitive cruise control system? Also, do you know if when I'm looking for a cruise control steering wheel (used) are other years ok to use? And maybe from other platforms like F series trucks? Thanks again.
My 99 had the recall, the master cylinder switch is on All Fords, they put a fusible link on them for fire safety.
Thanks JWA, appreciate the input. So starting in 2009 they added a master cylinder sending unit too? I read something about a master cylinder switch, but I thought that was for older E series with a more primitive cruise control system? Also, do you know if when I'm looking for a cruise control steering wheel (used) are other years ok to use? And maybe from other platforms like F series trucks? Thanks again.
The master cylinder defeat switch seems to have been added between 2000 and 2003, I've owned both years and it appeared by 2003. There is no real "sophisticated" VSC on Ford E- or F-Series, the biggest difference in model years is whether speed is maintained by a mechanical servo and cable or via the ECM commanding the electronic throttle body beginning 2005.
The actual steering wheel should be compatible from about 1997 up to 2013 (WAG) the only real difference would be the color as that changed over time to match interior changes.
Originally Posted by etinpa
Based on the factory wiring diagram (attached), it looks like the 2009 with gasoline engine uses a second contact on the brake pedal switch as the "fail safe" for the speed control and only the Diesel uses the pressure switch.
Consulting ANY E-Series EVTM from at least 1997 forward will have a different VSC arrangement between diesel and gasoline fuels. This is because engine RPM's are set or controlled differently between the two fuels.
The brake pedal defeat switch in one form or another is present on ALL vehicles with factory VSC without exception! The master cylinder pressure switch I believe somewhere just before 2003.
I had a friend want to do this, had to go aftermarket, can't just tap into wiring Ford installed.
Before model year 2005 the E-Series used the servo and cable pulled throttle plate arrangement to maintain a set speed. Without a few factory installed wiring additions its exceptionally difficult to add factory-like VSC to a van not built to facilitate Ford's components. Those systems were simply plug n' play unlike the '05 and later years.
Based on the factory wiring diagram (attached), it looks like the 2009 with gasoline engine uses a second contact on the brake pedal switch as the "fail safe" for the speed control and only the Diesel uses the pressure switch.
Thanks for that diagram! Do you know if the wire and switch shown for gas models is default installed on all models so it's VSC ready with the addition of the VSC steering wheel/clockspring and PCM update? If not, I guess I need the part numbers for that switch and wiring harness segment. Is there an online source for searching for all the factory part numbers I will need? And did you get that diagram from an electronic factory manual? I want to get that as well so I can start studying it.
Originally Posted by JWA
The master cylinder defeat switch seems to have been added between 2000 and 2003, I've owned both years and it appeared by 2003. There is no real "sophisticated" VSC on Ford E- or F-Series, the biggest difference in model years is whether speed is maintained by a mechanical servo and cable or via the ECM commanding the electronic throttle body beginning 2005. The actual steering wheel should be compatible from about 1997 up to 2013 (WAG) the only real difference would be the color as that changed over time to match interior changes. Consulting ANY E-Series EVTM from at least 1997 forward will have a different VSC arrangement between diesel and gasoline fuels. This is because engine RPM's are set or controlled differently between the two fuels. The brake pedal defeat switch in one form or another is present on ALL vehicles with factory VSC without exception! The master cylinder pressure switch I believe somewhere just before 2003.
When I said sophisticated, I just meant the older electro-mechanical systems that physically pulled the throttle cable vs the newer purely digital control system used in later years. One thing I'm a little confused about is why they bother with a brake pressure switch, implying it taps into the brake hydraulic system. Why not just Y into the same pedal switch used for the brake lights?
I don't know what sensors are installed in vehicles not equipped with a specific option.
The VSC does monitor the brake pedal switch and this is the first sensor which turns off VSC. Two reasons an additional switch is used:
1. If the brake pedal switch fails it's a backup system to turn off VSC
2. The brake pedal switch is electrically open in normal operation. That means a broken wire would prevent the switch change of state from being recognized. The backup switch is closed in normal operation so a broken wire disables the VSC.
The wiring diagram is from the Ford Factory Service DVD. Here's an example from EBay (I don't know this seller, it's just an example):
There are others but every one I have is the red series.
Note these are "expired" DVDs. The program on the DVD checks the computer date and won't run because the DVD is expired. There is a readily available free program named RunAsDate which is used to have the computer "lie" about the current date. This works well for the Ford DVDs.
When I said sophisticated, I just meant the older electro-mechanical systems that physically pulled the throttle cable vs the newer purely digital control system used in later years. One thing I'm a little confused about is why they bother with a brake pressure switch, implying it taps into the brake hydraulic system. Why not just Y into the same pedal switch used for the brake lights?
The brake pedal VSC defeat switch on 2004 and earlier is just a pedal actuated physical switch that disables the cable pulled throttle cable which disengages the servo releasing the VSC's operation. In 2005 it became a switch connected to the ECM which also cancels VSC.
The master cylinder switch on all years it appeared in simply a secondary safety precaution. Its noteworthy either of the VSC cancel switches will cause the VSC to not be put into operation.
Originally Posted by maples01
Did the Econoline get an electric throttle, I thought they remained old school throttle cable?
Gasoline engines beginning model year 2005 started the electronic throttle body change.
A fairly priced printed EVTM can be found here: eBay 2009 EVTM
Summary of added Factory Cruise Control to a Non CC 2002 E-250
UPDATE : Sorry I see this is in a 2009 Cruise Control Thread. I am describing the 1997-2004 Cable pull with servo Cruise Control.
This is a quick note to report my final success in resurrecting my broken cruise control (sort of). This applies primarily to 1997 thru 2004 Econoline Gasoline speed control(4.9,5.4,6.8L) on page 31-1 of the FS Wire Diagrams.
This diagram is not of an Econoline and it doesn't have the correct wire colors, but it does show the basic flow of signal between the steering wheel switches and the Speed Control Servo. I have seen nothing to indicate that the SCS connector pinout is NOT common to all these types of units. In other words they are all common.
Background, I bought a 1997 E-350 RB passenger van that had few options, but I had the dealer install cruise control as part of the purchase. So this is NOT a factory-optioned cruise control.
All the wiring was there to install the servo unit but the Speed control uses two brake disconnects to cut the CC when braking.
One is the voltage sense at the high-mount rear brake light and the
second is a pressure switch at the brake master cylinder.
Since my 1997 E-350 did not have this MC pressure switch, the dealer installed a second brake switch under the dash to act as the pressure switch would.
The general flow of the Brake deactivation signals is:
HOT-IN _RUN signal from the central Junction Box (Page 13-2) COLOR::LG/RD
This goes to two places in parallel : BRAKE PEDAL POSITION (BPP) SWITCH: IN::LG/RD OUT::LG goes to SPEED CONTROL SERVO::PIN 4 (BRK=OFF<->PIN4=0V) (BRK=ON <->PIN4=12V)
The second parallel path is to either a pressure switch at the brake master or a second brake switch under the dash at the brake pedal.
DEACTIVATOR SWITCH: IN::LG/RD OUT::RD/LG goes to SPEED CONTROL SERVO::PIN 9 (BRK=OFF<->PIN9=12V) (BRK=ON <->PIN9=0V)
Please note that these two signals have the opposite polarity so you should use two separate switches. Also, it is best to not try and tie the two together using a solenoid to invert the BPP signal to apply to the Pin 9 of the speed control servo.
Here is a link to the Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB). As you can see it applies to many Ford products generally between the years 2000 thru 2005. This also implies that many of these products interchange.
In order to install Cruise Control in a vehicle that never had it, you will need:
Steering wheel with switches (preferably with backlighting)
Cruise Control compatible Clock Spring for your year model
Speed Control Servo (SCS)
Actuator Cable from SCS to the throttle body (see attached link).
As a for instance, for the 1997 E-350 there are two clock springs listed: CONTROL ASY. AIR BAGF7UZ-14A664-EC
Cover And Contact Plate Assy
Less speed controlF7UZ-14A664-DC
Cover And Contact Plate Assy
w/speed control, BEFORE 05/13/98Make sure to connect the cable under the cover on teh SCS ! https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5f0o0...7x310mwku&dl=0
You also need the required electrical connections. The primary one is the 10 pin connector JWA shows which plugs into the SCS.
You also need a 2 wire plug that is located near the brake master cylinder for the DEACTIVATOR Pressure Switch.
In the case of my 2002 NON Cruise Control E-250, both of these plugs were present and caped off. Because I did not have the pressure switch, I installed teh second brake switch that had a pair of LG/RD RD/LG wires from below the dash-> through the fire wall-> to 2 wire plug above near the Brake master cylinder. I did not have a matching plug for the two pins, so I cut off the end and installed a new automotive-style 2-pin connection.
You should use crimpers, but if you use a needle nose plyers to crimp, then solder the crimps to secure then (so the wire doesn't slip out).
I will mention that I did/do have LED lights installed in all the brake light fixtures (on the corners and the high mount). This includes having an adjustable Brake light flasher (to adjust the LED flashing period). I also have a brake light modulator but have not tried to install it back in again yet.
Finally, I will offer some of my observations as to what parts are likely to be interoperable.
According to the TSB, the functional test applies to a great many vehicles which all use the same steering wheel switches. The tests described are pretty thorough so it is best to get to a situation where everything is connected and the tests can be run .
In my case, I verified that the Brake signals on Pin's 4 and 9 were correct according to the functional polarities I described above.
If you don't have a CC dash light ( my 1997 did not, 2002 does)you will want to connect an LED to Pin 1 of the Speed Control Servo. This is a ground signal so tie a 12V LED high side to a 12V source and tie the other LED leg to the Pin 1 ground signal as shown in the first schematic diagram. An LED is preferable because the test goes pretty fast and the LED will react better than an incandescent bulb.
The test directions are a little confusing and it takes a little practice to go through the button sequence.
After you initiate the SERVE DEBUG Mode by turning the ignition key ON with the OFF button depressed, you go through the described button sequence.
It is difficult to determine the exact timing of the final button push, but if you get any number of flashes more than one you have a problem.
When it works you get one final flash as you do from all the switches depresses and then the light goes off, and you can hear a servo movement over the ignition key chime.
In my my case I can't tell if I got 3 or 4 flashes following the last key press which would have been either a brake input error or one from the VSS signal. Since my steering buttons are working, I have to assume that the first of the last sequence of flashes indicated the Set button works and the following 3 flashes indicating a bad break activation switch.
As it turned out the 1997 Speed Control Servo I had was bad, and I happened to have a 2000 Explorers SCS that passed the test with flying colors. What had confused me before was that the failure happened sometime after I had switched in LED lights but well before I had retested the cruise Control. So when the CC failed is actually is a mystery which led me to suspect any modification I had made that might have impacted the CC (see warning in the TSB)
This YouTube video also swapped in an Explorer SCS for a failed Econoline SCS. I changed the mount and opened the unit to clean contacts and add sparingly some grease to the servo gears.
So to summarize my final configuration for the 2002 E-250 Base Model NON Cruise Contol van (5.4L),
I have a clock spring that is compatible with the 1997 E-350 installed into the 2002 E-250. I don't know if the original E-250 would work with the CC buttons. However, I would guess that any clock spring intended to work with Cruise Control would work with the same set of buttons and will work in any other relevant year Econoline.
As mentioned the second brake switch is a dealer-installed brake pedal mechanical switch connected to the 2 pin plug that would have connected to the master cylinder pressure switch.
The Speed Servo Controller is out of a 2000 Explorer.
The throttle body pull cable is out of the 1997 E-350.
The steering wheel with leather cover is out of the 1997 E-350.
The buttons are new cheap Chinese but despite what he add said without backlighting (my last set of buttons got blown up by my airbag activated totaling of the 1997 E-350). I just bought a set of used eBay OEM switches with backlighting for $40
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