Installing cruise control in 1996 Tacoma; update and final chapter

I am really sad to be reporting this. I have a couple of other posts out here, where I posted what I was finding as I tried to install original factory cruise control in my 1996 Tacoma that did not come with it. I got a lot of help from people out here, and in the end, I hit a brick wall and did not install the factory parts needed for cruise control. I still have all of them! [Anyone need cruise control parts?] The bottom line on the factory install is that there are a lot of parts needed to do it, and even then, it was not just a matter of installing them. The main problem for me, was in the mounting of the Actuator. For those that came with cruise installed, the actuator came mounted under the dash, on the right side of the engine compartment [left side if you are in front of the truck looking under the hood], in the middle. Now, for those that did not come with cruise control, such as mine, that same spot is where the windshield washer container is mounted, and it is big! The pictures I found online of trucks with cruise already installed, did not show the windshield washer, but after inquiring here, I learned that for those that came with cruise control, the washer container was relocated to just inside the front bumper on the right side, and finding either a replacement is almost impossible, even in junkyards. Even if I was to find one of these containers, there is also the need to replace the current water lines going from this container to the washer spray nozzles, as it would be further away that current lines. Also, there is the need for a longer electronic plug and wire since again, the washer container is further away from its current location. These two issues were enough to make me just stop with my intent of installing original factory Tacoma cruise control.

Now, having said that, I did decide to go ahead and try to install a universal cruise control that I saw online, called Rostra Universal Cruise Control. It is much simpler and comparatively easy to install. That is, IF one uses the cruise control switch that is recommended by Rostra. The problem with using their switch, is that is DOES NOT mount on the steering wheel in the same spot that a factory Toyota tacoma switch would be mounted! On a normal cruise control switch mount, it is mounted on the right side of the wheel, in easy reach of a normal hand that is on the steering wheel for normal driving. BUT, in the Rostra versions, they want you to mount it in the part of the steering column that DOES NOT TURN when you turn the wheel! This is awkward at best, to use on a normal routine basis, as you have to take your hand off of the steering wheel to use it. Rostra makes a point to say that they do NOT SUPPORT use of the Toyota Factory Switch, that is mounted in the correct spot on the part of the steering wheel that turns. However, when I ordered the Rostra cruise control kit, I also ordered the Rostra cruise control switch that they recommended, albeit, the right side version. I wanted to see what the difference was, and other than a display light on the switch stalk, there is no difference! So I decided that I was going to just go ahead and use an Original Toyota Tacoma cruise control switch that I had already ordered, found, and installed on my steering wheel. It plugs into a plug under the middle of the steering wheel, under the airbag, and has four wires coming from it. This was the beginning of my problems. The plug that the switch plugs into, is mounted and part of what is called a "Clock Spring". It is a round device that the airbag also plugs into, and it turns with the steering wheel. The plug that the switch plugs into, it on top, and another plug is on the bottom on the back side of the clock spring, and it has 4 pins coming out there, whereas there are only TWO pins on top. This is a problem, as you need to have 4 pins on top and bottom of the clock spring, in order to use the toyota cruise control switch. I ordered a replacement clock spring, which came with 4 pins on top and bottom. While the cruise control switch plugged into the top ok, the bottom plug did not accomodate the original wire plug already installed on the truck. So that would require me to do some modifying of the plug on the bottom. Also, the airbag plug on the new clock spring, was different than the plug on the original airbag, so again, would need to be modified. Then finally, changing out the brake switch is also required, and again, I have the needed switch that has 4 prongs on it, as the original only came with two prongs. The additional two prongs are needed for hooking up to the cruise control system in order to deactivate the cruise control when hitting the brake. Well, getting under the dash and just trying to get to this switch, was enough of a hassle for me to just say "forget it". So, after I made the initial mistake of cutting away a portion of the right side of my steering wheel, in order to mount the toyota tacome cruise control switch, before I had tested it to see if I had already had cruise control prewired, I ended up removing this switch, and putting the original horn bracket back in where it came from. I now have a hole in the right side of my steering wheel which I intend on covering up to look as normal as possible. My mistake there!
The bottom line is all of this, is that I now know about everything there is to know, about installing cruise control in a 1996 Tacoma, even though I have not done it! But I can tell you how to do it, if you really want to. I myself really want cruise control, but there are just too many modifications needed for me to do it. I have 174,000 miles on my tacoma, and I am the original owner. So after trying to do this for months, I have now given up. I now have a brand new Rostra Universal Cruise Control Kit, along with a brand new Rostra Cruise Control Switch, as well as all of the parts needed from Toyota, to install a factory cruise control on a toyota that did not come with it. I guess I put out around $400 for all of this, and a LOT of time. I learned WAY more than I should know, about cruise control in the process, without obtaining the end result of actually completing installing it. I wanted to update you guys on the process. My videos are still out there that show installation of the switch in the column, as well as the parts needed for original installation of toyota cruise control. Believe me, I am disappointed in this but I learned a lot and wanted to share my experiences here.

 

OP, I pm'd you about the parts. I've dealt with clocksprings and such already.

 

The hurdle to installing the factory cruise is the washer fluid reservoir? Yours sits on the passenger fender? Check this post out...

 

Yes. It sits right where the cruise control actuator is mounted, in fact, the actuator uses the exact same holes to mount it. On factory installations, the windshield washer bottle is then located under the right front bumper, with an access tube running up, much like that on the 1996 Rav4. I checked the link you provided, and it shows a windshield washer container mounted on the right side of the inside of the engine compartment, in much the same location as mine on my 1996. The picture shown though has different configurations for the other "stuff" in the engine compartment rather than mine. Thanks for the comment though...