2001 Tacoma Cruise Control Install

Hello to everyone,

I have been looking all over to see if anyone has installed cruise control on a 2001-2004 Tacoma Automatic and couldn't find a lot. One of your members did do it but by the time I emailed him he already forgot what all he did. So I'm here to post what I did on my Tacoma for anyone in the future that wants to install a Cruise Control. Remember I am not a mechanic, but it works like as if a real mechanic would have don’t it himself.



So first thing I did was I went to the dealership and gave them my VIN to my truck and they told me what part numbers are needed for the Actuator and Module. After getting the numbers like for mine the Actuator part number is (88020-04030) but on the actual Actuator its part (88002-04030). Why the different's I have no idea but its the correct one. And when I received my actuator the mounting bracket was a little different but instead of bending it to what I needed I had one laying around so I just swapped mounting brackets, and the cable that goes from the actuator to the throttle body that I need for my truck is discontinued but there is another cable like the one I have on no was you will see in the pictures is a bit longer but that is ok as long as it isn't shorter. Like so:




Then I got the Module which that part number was the same. And if you see in the picture the outside looks bad but they are made really good so more than likely if you get one looking bad it may still work.


Then you need to get the On/Off switch that goes on the steering wheel, and the either get the proper back plastic with the correct hole in it or like I have seen someone on youtube do that they just cut out the hole. Remember to get thetwo phillips screws that came with the knob/switch.



And hopefully the last part is the brake switch. The reason I say hopefully is because at the end if everything is working but the light isn't turning on then you will need to get a light and socket for the light in thedash to light up cruise in green.


The websites I went to, to get the parts where from EBay and alltoyotalexusparts.com. For the brake switch I just went to Autozone and got that for like $35. The other place I would say is yotayard.com, at the time I was looking for my parts unfortunately they didn’t have what I needed but still a good place to look at. For all the parts it came out to be like $220 around there. If anyone does tothe dealership and tries to buy all new parts well just for the Actuator islike $1,700. So the $220ish for everything doesn't seem bad at all

So after you have all the parts. Turn off your truck and disconnect the battery(forthose who don’t know first disconnect the negative(-), black cable, then thepositive(+), red cable). Let it be sit disconnected for like 10 min, for when you take your airbag out so it wouldn't accidently open in your hands and thenyou will have another problem.

After you have waited on the steering wheel there are two round plasticclips on the back of the steering wheel and they are located across each other,that you will have to remove with a flat head. Once removed you will see thereis bolt with a T25 or T35, can't remember exactly. When you loosen the bolts you will see that they don’t come out and the airbag doesn’t want to come out,and that is ok the bolts have little stoppers do they wouldn’t fall out if theyget loose. What you will have to do is one try to get the bolts out by releasing them or two just wiggle the airbag side to side and you will notes one side let go and just keep wiggling until it comes out but don’t pull too hard as there are wires from the airbag. Once airbag is free disconnect the wires(don’tbe afraid if you waited there should not be any charge in the system so you should be ok should be). once the airbag is out there will be a green wire that goes to the horn attached to the airbag and connected at the steering wheel. Disconnect everything so in your hands you should have the airbag and green wire. The green wire should be just screwed in by a phillips head to the airbag. Unscrew that. For now put all that to the side. Here are two ways you can go, one just drill out the hole needed to fit the cruise control knob or two keep reading for installing the correct back plastic part.

Now in the middle of the steering wheel you will see a big nut. Get the correct socket and take off that nut. Before removing the steering wheel get apaint marker or something to mark at couple spots the teeth on the steering wheel and the teeth on the steering column, for then you put it all backtogether for your tires to drive straight and your steering wheel to be in the correct spot. Then take off the steering wheel. Once the steering wheel is in your hand after moving it up down side to side to get it off the steering column, you will see couple screws that are bolted to the metal and to the back plastic. Unscrew them and remember how you took off the plastic because you areabout to put that same plastic but with the hole for the cruise control knob back on. So now do that. Once you got the plastic screwed back onto the steering wheel put the steering wheel back in the correct marked teeth on the steering column and the steering wheel. Ifthe teeth are in the right spot and it is looking like it was before you took it off, then put that big nut back on and wrench it back on. On the top of my head I don’t remember the torque specs but you can ask the dealer or look it up online there are manuals out there. Now screw in the Cruise control knob intothe two holes that have nothing screwed in them and you will see that it lines up correctly. Then take the airbag and of the knob you will see that green wire that is like that one you took off earlier. Yes screw that new green, wire thatis connected to the plug with the knob of the Cruise control, to the airbag where you took the other one off of. Now connect all the two plugs to the steeringwheel and put the airbag back in place. Screw the T(whatever size) back in and put those two round plastics back in. Now you should be all done with the steering will component. DO NOT connect the battery yet just wait until everything is done at the very end.

Now open your hood. You should see a wire like this:



Where that wire is you will see two holes empty on the fender and one empty hole on the wheel wheal, and when you put the Actuator the holes will all line up. With a 10mm socket you will tighten all three bolts, BUT be careful not to force the bolt throw are there may be things like dirt and stuff in the way so tighten a little loosen then tighten a little more and loosen maybe even use some WD40, don’t be like me and break off one of the screws. Once all bolts are tightened connect the wire to the plug on the Actuator;


Then you will see the cable that does from the Actuator to the Throttle body, you will need to put that in and tighten;



As you can see my cable is a bit long but that is ok as long as it is not shorter and you can see the two bolts on the side where I was talking about earlier.

After that is done now you can close you hood if you want, but you will have to go back in to connect the battery LATER.

So now you are ready to install the Module. The Module goes on the passenger side. First unscrew the 4 screws on the plastic floor board thing by the seat;



After unscrewing and putting the screws to the side, pull that plastic up to remove it, it maybe easier to start from the rear and make your way forward;





Then it will look something like this. Don’t worry if you don’thave the blue cables that just my after market sub wires. Now we move to the front side of this where there is a plastic cover thing;



I would tell you how to get it out but I still have no idea the way I kinda do it is by pulling towereds the back. It is kinda weird. Once removed;



You will have wire there and notthat silver box thing that is your Module. To get the right wire because there are two free ones at least on my truck. I just saw that one that fit the same design on the module(the one in my hand);





After connection, in the picture you will see that one bolt on top of the module that you will need to screw in. Now do the reveres of taking off that cover and plastic step thing to put itall back together.

Now to the almost last part is thebrake switch. This is where I was having issues because I thought if there are four wire coming out the connector there should be four prongs on the brake switch. Which I was wrong about. So to check and to take off the brake switch you will need to disconnect the wire from the brake switch(sorry didn’t getpictures of the original switch in that spot), that is located above the back lever;



The picture above is the new brake switch, but as you can see there is a nut on the switch itself that you need to loosen first before unscrewing the brake switch from the bracket it sits on.Once it is off and you see that yours looks something like this;





As you can see there are only two prongs in this switch that means it’s a non cruise control brake switch and you will need to get one that is a cruise control brake switch as the blue looking one in the other picture. Now screw the new or if yours had the four prongs back on to the bracket where you took it off of and when you are good is aboutwhen the pedal is close to been pushed with the switch's body is a good spot to screw that nut back in to keep it in place. Then connect the wire to the switch.



At this time you are done kinda. Why I say kinda is because of the Cruise control light thing that I will get to next. But for now make sure you don’t have any loose screws laying around and everything is back to normal looking. So now go plug your battery backup( to those that don’t know to plug back first put the positive side(+),red, then thenegative(-),black). Start your truck make sure everything is running proper. While in park turn the cruise control on by pushing the side button on the cruise control knob. If you hear some clicking noise coming from where you installed the module it's ok it will do that every time you turn it on and off,at the same time you should see a green CRUISE light up on your dash board. If nothing lights up on yours it's ok keep reading. Once the light is on or not, get on a free way and push down on the knob/switch/lever and let go of the gas pedal. If you see you truck is running and the cruise control is doing its thing you are done.

To those that the cruise is working but the light doesn’t turn on that means that in the back of your dash there is no light. First disconnect the battery again.

Then you would have to push the plastic clips that hold the bottom of your center counsel in, and your two extra power plugs are at;



Then you can unplug those two power plugs and just remove that plastic cover for now. Then take the three knobs that control you’re A/C out by just pulling them out;



Once all three knobs are out carefully pull out that black cover from where the knobs where at;





And after removing that you willsee that there are four screw, you only need to unscrew two of them;





Now gently pop out the top of that cover;



Now leave that free hanging there.What you will need to do next again I forgot to take pictures but just read and everything should do smoothly. So under your steering wheel there is a big plastic cover that has your hood open lever at there like three or four bolts and as crew or two that hold it in that you need to unscrew, and two screws holding the hold release lever. Once you have unscrewed it and took it off you will see that there are more bolts and screws holding other things that you will need tobe taking off. There will be a screw holding in the cover around ignition switch (where you put your key to start your truck);





Once you get that screw off then there are two screws above the gauges;



Once those screws are off then slowly start taking off that plastic that goes all the way around your gauges and by the side where the door is there will be some switches that you willneed to disconnect to get that plastic off. Once you get that off you will be seen your gauges with nothing blocking them;



As you can see there are four screws holding the gauges in, unscrew them. Then carefully take the gauges out and you can just turn it to the side if you have room or just disconnect the wires just remember where which wire went to. For me I just turned it to the side. Then look from the back to see where there is a CRUISE logo at. On mine it's on the left hand side from the front and right from the rear, and empty;



So I just took a light from one of the other things light I have no use for and plug it in to my Cruise control light. If yours are been used for something then just go to the dealership and get a new light and socket and install it into the right one;



Then put everything back together and connect the battery and turn on the truck and push the cruise control switch and see if the light comes on. If the light comes on and on the road the cruise control is doing what it is supposed to be doing you are in good shape. But if after all this it is still not working then you will have to go to the dealership to check out what else is wrong.

Hopefully this helps some of you out there,

Paul

 

If anyone need this with the pics let me know and I will email all of this with pics to you in a word document.

 

Yeah I don't know why its not letting me post the pic's but if you want send me you email and I will send you the hole thing with pic's so you can see what you need for your truck

 

Your images start with "file:///C:" which is a local file on your computer, not accessible to us.

Upload the images as attachments, or find an image host.

 

Yeah idk I tried loading them to my profile and then to the post and nothing

 

picasa is your friend. Or photobucket, or any of a few dozen others. Upload them there, and update the links in your first post. Please

 

Yes, pics. This would be so awesome with pics.

 

ok got the pic's if need anything else let me know

 

anyone else done this?

 

Awesome explanation/pics! I'm trying to do this on my '03 4cyl, and it looks like some of the parts may be the same, although I've read there may be differences btw actuators on 4 vs. 6 cyl's.

Anyway, your writeup and pics don't mention/show a cable from the gas pedal to the actuator (which I had on an '01 4 cyl that I used to own with CC). Is this missing from your writeup, or does your actuator not need a cable connection to the gas pedal?

Also, where did you get your parts - from dealer? Weren't they crazy expensive?

Thanks!

 

You don't have to worry with the pedal cable, this is a stand alone cable from the right fender well.

 

Not for older trucks, however. The CC actuator for 98-99, for example, has 2 cables, one coming from the pedal, and the other going to throttle. The one from the pedal is the same cable used in non-CC trucks.

 

Read the context of the quoted portion of my post, the earlier trucks have 2 cables, the later, like mine have 1.

There is no reason to be messing with the pedal cable to accomplish this mod.

 

Yes on the 4 cylinder ones I looked the cable from the pale goes to the actual on one slot and another cable does to the throttle body a little different then the v6 and the moduel stock number is different, this is y I say if u can go to the dealership and with the trucks Vin ask for what part numbers u need for the actuator and moduel couse the on off switch is the same and I think the brake switch is the same I think I actually may still have a moduel of a 4 cylinder and the actuator but no cables couse when I started to put it into my truck no one had posted anything like I have. Hope this helps

 

Oh yeah forgot to put the parts I only asked how much they cost at the dealer I didn't buy them there I went to ebay and alltoyptalexusparts.com and autozone. If u look at the beginning of this thread I wrote how much what is and where I got what from.

 

yes please send it to me, im purchasing an 04 without cruise and will need these instructions, thank you

PM sent with email

 

All you need to do on the 04 is install the cruise control switch,everything else is in place. I already did my 04.

 

man that would be so sweet!

so all I need is the CC steering wheel and switch?

and the brake switch and CC ECM are already the right ones?

 

It depends, which 04 are you getting? Four banger or V6? 2WD or 4WD? Manual or auto trans? There are two different options for what is required to install cruise.

 

On mine I used a hole saw and made the hole in my trim, installed switch, everything else was ready to go.

Buzzhead is right though, mine was a V6, but if the 4cyl has the electronic throttle body and automatic it too should be plug and play.