I see some steering wheels with cruise control on E-Bay. They are Ford parts that look new. Does anyone know if they just need to be swaped with a non-cruise wheel to get it? I have a '05 4.2 4speed-AOD.
If thats really all that needs to be done then is it easy to do? I assume that the bag is in the center of the steering wheel and would need to be removed then reinstalled. I have pulled and replaced steering wheels on non-air bag cars no problem. Is the bag easy to pull out? Remove power first of course.

 

It's pretty easy, there are some posts on it, but in case the search isn't working to well, here are the basics

The wheel with the buttons is all you need.
Forget about the stereo control wheel, you don't have the extra harness for that.

It's gonna take the dealer to 'turn the cruise on'.

You can do the swap, all you need is a 45 torx socket, a 7mm or 8mm, I forget, socket or nut driver, and a steering wheel puller, the type with two claws. Lots of parts places will lend/rent you that.
Total time to pull and replace wheel is under twenty minutes for average ability home mechanic.

It will cost 30-60-85 bucks to have it 'turned on' by a dealership. Call around, all three prices are from the three closest dealerships to me. I paid 60, but now that place says it 'might' do one for 30. Make the best deal you can then it will only take them a few minutes.

Quick directions, 1. pull negative battery cable, give it five minutes to be sure the power is gone. Your gonna be pulling the airbag, and you DON'T want that to get a spark.
2. Pry off the two little disks one on each side of your wheel base. Bigger than a quarter. You should probably tape them and the area with black tape, cause sometimes your hand slips... this stuff scratches easy.
3. using a mirror, or bending your head way down, look into the holes and find the bolts, one on each side. Unscrew them with the 'nut driver' metric socket or whatever.
4. Carefully pull airbag up and towords you, watch it, it has a harness that goes inside. Using a small screwdriver, something pointy, carefully pull up the red clip, then unclip the harness. Lay the airbag down somewhere safe. No static sparks, please.
5. Disconnect the horn harness.
6. Remove center bolt, Torx 45. Book says to replace this now. Your call.
7. Using wheel puller, gently remove wheel. Book says be sure you have it to the top, and centered so you can replace it straight. The three I've done could only go on one way...
optional;
Now decide, swap wheel, or just swap buttons. four nuts hold the buttons in place to the wheel. Your call, Note colors from Ford Black wheel, light gray buttons. Light gray wheel, black buttons. Black leather wheel, dark gray metal flake buttons. Don't have a clue about tan....
8. Slide wheel on. Tighten (torque escapes me, if you get to it, ask and I will have it.) Tight though, don't want this sucker comeing loose next year.
9. Hook up horn, and cruise harness. Everyone I've seen has the cruise harness ready in the column.
10. Carefully insert airbag, then reinstall two bolts. Mirror helps, if you forget the angle you need to hold the bolts at.
11. Put the disks back, and reconnect the battery.

12. When you get time, drive to the dealership.

Hope this gets it for you.
Chris

 

Cool deal! Thanks!

 

So it sounds like you know your stuff on these wheels. Heres a question for ya Chris:
I just installed a 6 disk changer/MP3 Ford unit to replace my AM/FM radio. Sounds good and works great! MP3 even works well. The radio had 3 plugs on the back, 1 for the regular plug, 2nd one I didn't seem to have a plug for and the 3rd is the antana. I'm assuming the 2nd is for the sub woofer and the steering wheel controls, sound correct?
If I get a wheel that uses the radio controls can I get a harness for it (unless its in there somewhere and I just need to dig in the dash for it)?
I would also like to do up an aftermarket sub also, but thats for a different thread.

 

Without looking at my F-150 cd, I'm gonna assume your right. What the heck else could it be? You can have the dealership add the cable inside the column. Don't know what it costs, but I know it's been posted in either here or the 'other' f-150 forum.

Good time to check out that search engine again.

Try Clockspring as a key word. I think I remember that being used in the post. Also, it was since the first of the year.

Glad to hear the MP3 function works on your 6 changer. Most couldn't get it to work, when I considerd one, so I went with a Kenwood. No regrets, after I swapped the speakers, added a small amp and small woofer, I'm pretty happy with the sound.
Gotta have my MP3
Chris

 

Whoops again, on the steering wheel with the 7 buttons. Don't pay too much. They usually go for about 70-80 plus shipping. I've seen them bid up to silly prices. You can buy the leather with the buttons retail for about 130.00 on the web. You don't want to pay anywhere near that much for a 'take-out'. They often don't have good bases,the plastic part with the two air bag screw disks, (you have to reuse your old one.)
Another possibility is you can get a marked up wheel, or even a junked wheel, since all you need are the buttons. Lotsa yards have them with blown bags, and bends from accidents. But the buttons are just buttons...
Course, brand new is shinnier.
Chris

 

Yeah I see that they go for under $80 on E-hay. I am watching a few right now that have like one day left with no bids beeing around $30-$55. $55 one is leather with radio, temp and cruise, I wouldn't mind the one with radio, cruise and leather. But like you said I just need the buttons. LOL

I'm gona search around and see if I can get the sub out off that 2nd plug. I was going to get an after market unit with CD, tape and changer controls but I am getting tired of always having to pull the face plate off the radio for fear of theft. I only drive 1.5 miles to work and I usualy don't find it worth while to have the face on for my daily comute. With the factory CD changer I feel that less people will want to steel it and I should be so-so safe.

Now I just need power door locks and I am set! I can do without the power windows, but that would be nice!

 

Question....

Can the cruise control buttons be installed WITHOUT having to take the entire steering wheel off???

MK

 

I don't think so, I have swapped two wheel with cruise, and have a non cruise wheel in my hands as I sit here. the four nuts( two on each side) that hold the dummy switches, or the real ones, just arn't that accesable with the wheel shaft in place. I think you could fashion a 'crow's foot' type tool, and with hours of patience you might get the nuts loose, and possibly put them back on the new switches. Getting the wire harness on would involve cutting holes in the surround (under the airbag) in just the right place. Lacing the wire in the lumes would be a chore. You could do it, but since you only have to remove one bolt at that point to remove the wheel, 45 torx, and use the two claw puller...
Just don't see spending hours doing a two minute job. Too bad, would be nice not to bother with the puller. Good news is the wheel is splined, with a large flat spot, hard to put back wrong.
Chris

 

thanks

mk

 

Chris is totaly right. I just did my cruse swap over the weekend and all the work it would take to finagle the bolts and the harnesses wouldn't be worth it at all. (would have been all day I think)

 

Hey last night I was drivin my truck with the cruse control buttons on it with the lights on and they did light up! I still have to have them activated. But lighting up like that must mean I did something right! Heck I even used lock-tite on the wheel bolt!

 

The best time is when that little green emblem lights up in the dash.

 

Yeah I tried turring it on but nothing happened. hehe