cruise control for 97 impreza?

[oldmuddysubaru]

I want to put cruise control in my 97 impreza outback.... it is a regular 2.2 with an automatic..

wondering what's my best option for getting cruise control.. is there a kit available? is it difficult to install?

 

thanks

[idosubaru]

a good friend of mine has done it a couple times, he just finds one with it at a junk yard and pulls everything that's needed for it. he's a member here but very rarely posts (like never).

 

post in the "Parts Wanted Forum" here as well, a few of us have parts cars that we could pull the stuff off of.

 

there are two different cruise control set ups (not sure if it's a year or model thing) that i've seen so i'd be sure to get it all of the same vehicle.

 

i have all the stuff off a 97 Legacy GT parts car if you're interested. it's just a vacuum pump, actuator and some hoses. then you'd need a steering wheel maybe?

Edited November 4, 2009 by grossgary

[oldmuddysubaru]

i have never even worked on any kind of cruise control before.

 

do you think i would have trouble installing ?

 

i would rather throw in some buttons/switches on the dash or something than swap the steering wheel.

 

you can also get a kit right? might be hard to come by?

 

thanks

Edited November 4, 2009 by oldmuddysubaru

[idosubaru]

there are aftermarket kits, not sure what's entailed with installing them, try looking them up on line. they should show just what is needed to install. they'd definitely ahve directions and all which would be a plus.

 

personally i think it would be easier to install a factory unit if you can find one.

actually a steering wheel isn't hard to install at all. if you're uncomfortable swapping a steering wheel i would think doing a cruise install would be a really big job.

 

parts:

buttons (on the steering wheel and an on-off button on Subaru OEM systems)

brake negator - button that disengages the cruise when you hit the brakes

actuator - mechanism that actually hooks into your throttle cable

vacuum pump - gives vacuum assist to the actuator mentioned above

 

and the associated wiring between the actuator and buttons. maybe there's a controller (computer), i can't remember.

 

i would personally go with a Subaru system in the engine bay at least - pump and actuator. then you can wire in your own buttons however you want it in the cabin if you're not down with swapping the subaru stuff.

 

Oh - i think my buddy that does this said the wiring is usually already in place - i'll have to ask him and get back to you. if that's true then you just slide the parts in, that would be easiest and probably best.

[idosubaru]

Got in touch with a friend, when he gets back to me I'll let you know, he's done this a few times.

[idosubaru]

Good news for you:

 

Yes, all the wiring is there....Bingo - this is easy, you just need parts and it's plug and play. I'd definitely go with a factory unit verses wiring one in myself.

 

You need the actuator(under the hood) and the vacuum fitting,

the cruise control box (under the instrument panel)

and the Brake Position Switch off the brake pedal (and Clutch Position Switch if it's a manual),

and the Cruise control switch (in the steering wheel)

and the Main Cruise Control Switch, from the dash.

[Legacy777]

I've been meaning to do this for my 97 OBS for over a year. For the 97 MY, there was a kit that Subaru sold. It was plug & play. I got all the parts from an earlier model impreza. However the throttle cable is too short. I haven't really put much time in trying to find another one, or having a new cable made.

 

Here's two threads, one with picture of the cable, and one with instructions/diagram on adding cruise.

 

http://ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=91906&highlight=impreza+cruise

http://ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=69560&highlight=impreza+cruise

[Scoobywagon]

Rostra Precision Controls part # 250-1176 and

Rostra Precision Controls part # 250-1223

 

1176 is a sort of universal cruise kit and 1223 is a universal control handle. Installation is pretty straight forward and complete (useful) instructions are included. Plan on this being a half-day install if you've never done something like this before.

 

Having said that, if you have the option of using a factory kit, do so because steering wheel controls rock.

[oldmuddysubaru]

Good news for you:

 

Yes, all the wiring is there....Bingo - this is easy, you just need parts and it's plug and play. I'd definitely go with a factory unit verses wiring one in myself.

 

You need the actuator(under the hood) and the vacuum fitting,

the cruise control box (under the instrument panel)

and the Brake Position Switch off the brake pedal (and Clutch Position Switch if it's a manual),

and the Cruise control switch (in the steering wheel)

and the Main Cruise Control Switch, from the dash.

 

thanks for all the help. glad to hear the wiring is already there.

 

plug and play.. meaning just bolt on the stuff and the wiring harnesses are sitting there waiting, or...

 

i should probably pull all of this stuff myself so i can see where it will go on my car. because i will be honest i have no chance at this point. maybe i should forget about doing it myself.

 

do i need to find all the stuff out of my exact car (97 impreza outback sport 2.2 auto) or just any 2.2 ??

 

i went on ebay just out of curiosity and am now confused. parts dont look cheap either....

i wonder how much a wrecker (or someone on here) would charge for all the parts you listed including steering wheel?

 

Cruise Control Module ECU Subaru Lega Outback 1997 1998

 

96 97 98 99 LEGACY CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR MODULE ECM

 

1996 96 1997 97 SUBARU LEGACY CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER

 

 

...thanks for the help

Edited November 14, 2009 by oldmuddysubaru