Has anyone actually added cc to a 2003 Tacoma by just the plug?

ok I have been trying to figure this out and have asked several people but I am taking one last shot at this... according to what I have read, on my 2003 Tacoma prerunner double cab trd all I need to do is plug the cruise control lever in to the steering wheel in place of the one that is currently there. I have my plug in but when I run the engine and press the buttons, nothing lights up in the dash. My understanding is the lights already in the dash cluster. Is there anyone who as actually done this and succeeded? And by this I mean specifically just added the control lever and nothing else. I have not taken it for a drive yet to test and am hoping maybe it’s just a dead bulb or missing so far, after a good bit of effort and struggle this looks like a bust.

 

Bump. This got buried too quickly.

 

I documented this extensively when I was trying to install CC in my 1996. There is a LOT of information out there and plenty of people who say all they had to do was get a steering wheel cc switch, plug it in and presto! They had Cruise! I did that, cut a hole in the right side of my steering wheel, plugged it in and no cruise lights either. So then, I had a really nice switch on the side of my steering wheel that looked good, but that was about it! So I then went about doing more research and found that not all tacomas came in a condition known as "prewired" for CC. The BEST way to tell if all you would have to do is plug in a switch, from my experience, is to look for several OTHER clues, such as, if there is a CC computer control module installed already on your truck. Do a google search for its location for your model year, but in mine, it would have been located on the passenger side, behind the right kick panel. All too late since I had already cut a hole in the steering wheel column, I checked this and there was NO control module there. I ordered one online for $20 and installed it [it simply bolted in], but then, I realized that I needed the plug and wires to plug into the control module and which, would then somehow connect over to the control switch on the steering wheel. In looking for this wire connector, it was NOT already installed in the truck [not prewired], as I had hoped. I could not find a wire module with the plug on it that would plug into the control module anywhere online, so I went to a couple of junkyards, where I found one. But it was hot as hell out there, and I discovered that the wire harness that plugs into the control module, starting from the plug itself, runs all the way over and under the dash board, across to and eventually, connecting to the switch on the steering wheel. Along the way, it has various plugs that connect it to various items along the way. But most notably, the first deviation of the cable, was first leaving the control module, there is a side cable that is attached, and which runs through a rubber grommet out under the hood, and which, connects to the ACTUATOR and also connects to the windshield wipers. So this brings up item number TWO to look for, which is, do you already have an ACTUATOR under the hood? If not, then that too, is another indicator that you do not already have CC prewired and ready to go on your truck! So, I got the wire plug and harness, actuator [I actually picked up TWO of them, just in case!] and other miscellaneous parts that I discovered I needed along the way. What are these? Well, it turns out that you will also need a brake switch with 4 prongs on the back of it. Mine did not come with one with 4 prongs, but only two, again, because it was NOT prewired. Getting to this brake switch is a real pain in the ass, let me tell you! Then also, if you have done all of this, meaning, you have the actuator, control module, wire harness with plug, brake switch, you then get to connect to the switch in the steering wheel. BUT WAIT, THERE's MORE! It does NOT connect directly to the cc switch, but to the round thing [sorry, I cannot seem to remember what it is called!] that is under the steering wheel cover, and which, the airbag is connected to. And I am not talking about connecting on the front side, but on the back side of this round thing, where there will be a connector which should have 4 prongs on it if you are prewired. Again, mine did not. SO, that meant obtaining a new or modern one of these "round things" [sorry, I still have not remembered what it is called!] that will then fit your truck, and also, connect to the airbag. What I found was that the new round thing I got, had the 4 prong connector on the bottom on the back, but then connector plug that is a part of it that connects with the airbag, was a different connector than what came on my truck. So I just figured that I could cut and switch out the connector plugs, which I did not do, and I will tell you why in a minute! After ALL of this, I began looking under the hood as to where the actuator was supposed to mount on the truck. Turns out it was to mount on the right side of the truck under the hood, against the right side of the engine compartment. BUT, on my truck, there was already a water bottle mounted there for the windshield washer system! I discovered again, that on models that had CC already installed, the water bottle was rerouted towards the front of the truck, hidden down on the lower right side near the right front headlight! Of course, try to find one of those water bottles and see what you come up with! Also, if you DO manage to find one of those water bottles, you then realize that the wiring that I talked about earlier, that comes off of the wiring harness that connects to your cruise control module, is now too short to connect to the new location of your water bottle, if you can find it! I don't know if you are getting the message or not, but in other words, at least, on my 1996, I finally gave up on installing CC at least, factory CC because of this water bottle issue. I then thought about, and actually BOUGHT, a universal CC from Rostra, with the intention of installing that, but the issue with the "round thing" under the steering wheel, just finally made me realize that I had gone so many years without cc, that I was just going to forget about it. I actually sold my 1996 truck earlier this year, and my new 2019 tacoma trd sport of course, comes with CC! IN any case, I am providing a link to the two videos I put out there, that document what I found in my quest to install CC on my 1996 tacoma. I hope this LONG diatribe answers your questions and provides some insight. Here are the links to my two videos on this subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIgqjAK5jXQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLAQsbtcAYE

 

Great actual hands on info. Had to be a pain to type but that is a lot of good info that's hard to find man

 

cruiserguy, thanks for the acknowledgement! I saw the post, and starting typing, but realized that it was going to be a long response but I did want to help the guy. This site has been incredibly helpful to me, both when I had my 1996 [I was the original owner for 23+ years!] and now since I bought my 2019 Tacoma. I really do like to give back to help others here, as many have helped me. Actually, typing my response to him really brought back memories of how really hard I DID try to install CC in my 1996! I still have all of the parts I collected to do the installation, as well as the brand spanking new universal cruise control from Rostra, including the Rostra steering wheel switch. I would love to sell all of that stuff, but I don't know who would want them! But thanks for the comment!

 

BTW, it’s called a clockspring. And yes, there’s an actuator, the module on the passenger side footboard, the stalk, brake switch (possibly clutch switch as well), and if your truck isn’t prewired, you need to wire it as well. A lot of work to say the least!

 

YEAH! CLockspring! For some reason, I just could not remember that! Thanks, DPTacomaGuy!

 

Wowzers! Thank you so much for this info! Super helpful. Really hoping I can figure this out but yikes.... one question... the white plug that comes attached to the factory lever.... I have to press part of it done and snap it together to plug it in. Is there a way to open that back up so I can add a wire to it? There is. Aware attached to the back of the airbag that I could t get out of the original plug and put in to the new one. Thanks!

 

Yes, I forgot to mention that part, although I talk about it in one of the videos. That is also another way to tell if you are prewired or not, as under the center part of the steering wheel, when you take that off and are looking at the clockspring and place where the cc switch will mount, you will see the plug that comes off of where your horn plugs into it. Unplug that, and in the plug on front of the clockspring where this plugs into, you will NEED 4 prongs to connect to, and your probably only has two. That is why I needed another clockspring, so I could have a connector that had 4 prongs. But the cc switch does simply plug into that connector. That whole thing just pops right off with the screws, and you simply swap out the bracket that comes with the cc switch, with the bracket that was already there. And I DO still have that new clockspring that I was going to use, if I hadn't ran into a wall with the water bottle issue!

 

Ok. I have an update. I installed the new cruise switch and have 3 wires now plugged in to the white plug. (Where the white plug connects is 4 metal prongs.) The 2 wires from the cruise lever and one from the back of the air bag. I think this is the one you guys are calling the clock spring?? The green “cruise” light is flashing when I turn it on in the drive way. Have not had a chance to test drive it yet since I’m watching the kiddos but I am hopeful this works. If so I got super lucky compared to what @oogielaflick went through.

 

Hi Natenite; I am a little concerned when you say you have 3 wires now plugged into the white plug. I am quite certain there should be 4 wires. I have to check my old video out that I linked earlier, but I am sure there are supposed to be 4 wires. And the Cruise light, while it lights and that is a GOOD sign, it should not blink if I am correct here, and I 'think' I am correct there. But at least you got SOME reaction by the cruise light lighting up. Things certainly look good! Please advise and keep the group and myself posted on how this turns out. It will be good to read some good news on this front! Thanks!

 

Yeah... tragically it doesn’t work currently. I was able to test it extensively today. Just keeps flashing green... taunting me. There is still something missing. I have no idea yet what that is though. I can say there are probably some gremlins in the truck though. I was a prior salvage and doesn’t have the air bag connected in the steering wheel. When you try to connect the yellow plug for it the horn goes off.... non stop... so I’m thinking some wires got crisscrossed. There are 4 prongs where the white plug goes so I’m sure there should be something there. Seeing as I know next to nothing about vehicles it’s going to take me some time to figure out the last thing.

 

Natenite; did you watch my video above where I talk about installing cruise control? I show good video of the cc switch plug, etc. I am personally encouraged though, since the cc light DOES at least, light up. Just out of curiosity, did you check to see if you have the Cruise Control Module installed in your truck? Also, is the actuator, etc, already installed on the engine? If those two things are definitely there, then I see this happening real soon, regarding your being successful. Check first, to make sure you have those things already installed.