After market Cruise control?

[jmagill]

I have the six speed S model. Can anyone tell me about putting on a cruise control. Dealer? Aftermarket?

Any sugestions or warnings. I would like to here all.

Jill

[Ever Victorious]

cruise controls have to have their computers understand both the data from your ECU and from your clutch. A Nissan cruise system is the only way to go, and I don't know if they make an add-on system for the S.

[yerrago]

They don't but it would be nice to get an OEM kit and convert the S to one with cruise control. It shouldn't be that difficult considering that the car has a modular design and that a cruise control module can be added. All that needs in Nissan's blessing and with that it will be available.

I ordered an S and know I won't get cruise control. For me, it's not a "must have" but it sure is a "must have" if you drive long distance and you could cruise easy with it.

Just wondering if I could go overseas and get an OEM kit. Maybe it's just Nissan USA not giving us the cruise control option, just so we are forced to have to go with the SL version if we want cruise control.

Y'know if I were in Nissan USA's marketing department, I would do the same thing they did.

[rwanttaja]

They don't but it would be nice to get an OEM kit and convert the S to one with cruise control. It shouldn't be that difficult considering that the car has a modular design and that a cruise control module can be added.

The OEM cruise control is operated via steering wheel-mounted controls, so your OEM kit would probably have to include a new wheel. One would hope the airbag in your existing wheel would fit the new wheel, but if not, that'd be another $500 or so for a new airbag.

One would hope all Versa models use the same wiring harness for the wheel-mounted functions (cruise, radio, horn, airbag, etc.) and leave the unused functions disconnected. If not, THEN one would have to thread a new harness down the steering column. You don't know if the S model's computer is ROM'd to ignore cruise inputs, or whether it'll wake up if the cruise input lines suddenly become active.

If the "S" option list included cruise control, I'd be optimistic. However, it doesn't, which may mean this is more of a problem than it's worth.

That's not to say other companies won't eventually offer aftermarket cruise. But they won't have the OEM look.

Ron

[indus49]

This is a possibility... http://www.jcwhitney.com/autop...10101

[rwanttaja]

This is a possibility... http://www.jcwhitney.com/autop...10101

Unfortunately, I not sure it's compatible with the Versa. The ad refers to a "servo," short for "servomechanism"...the device that actually ties onto the throttle arm of a normal car to physically control the car's speed.

I'm not sure the Versa *has* throttle arm...or any other physical object that the servo can be attached to. The Versa has a "drive by wire" throttle...there's no mechanical connection from the pedal to the engine.

The OEM cruise control operates via the drive-by-wire system... it electronically replaces the output of pedal position sensor with another signal. Now, it *could* be adjusting speed via its own servo under the hood. Or it could be electronically adjusting fuel injectors with no mechanical mechanism.

I took a brief glance under the hood of my Versa, and didn't see any obvious physical mechanisms for controlling engine speed (though what I needed was somebody "blipping" the gas pedal while the engine was running to see if anything was moving). Even if there is, an installer is left with the task of finding somewhere under that tight hood to mount a servo, and running a control cable from the mounting location to pick up the throttle arm equivalent and pull it in the right direction. Not easy.

Ron

[yerrago]

The "fly-by-wire" feature would actually make it easy- but only for Nissan - to add cruise control as an option. The kit would consist of a replacement control "knob (for lack of a better term)" for the steering wheel (not a new steering wheel) and some kind of electrical actuator that would hook up with existing wiring assembly to enable cruise control.

At any rate, if you're stuck with an S, just chew a gum while driving. And if you haven't bought one yet, go with an SL as it's a nice project, but only if you love tinkering.

[rwanttaja]

The "fly-by-wire" feature would actually make it easy- but only for Nissan - to add cruise control as an option. The kit would consist of a replacement control "knob (for lack of a better term)" for the steering wheel (not a new steering wheel) and some kind of electrical actuator that would hook up with existing wiring assembly to enable cruise control.

I'm not sure what you mean by "knob." The standard Versa cruise control has two buttons and a rocker switch for set/coast and resume/accelerate. Sure, it could be done with a separate control box, but where would you put it on the wheel? Hard to add on such a box without it looking really ugly and tending to get in the way...and I don't think Nissan would want to put their name on it.

Conceivably, the stock wheel has all the wiring and mounts for the cruise control system in place, under the plastic covers for the steering wheel "arms". If this were the case, Nissan would just have to ship out the replacement arms with the appropriate bezels in place for the cruise control switches.

Ron

[Ever Victorious]

I'm not sure what you mean by "knob." The standard Versa cruise control has two buttons and a rocker switch for set/coast and resume/accelerate. Sure, it could be done with a separate control box, but where would you put it on the wheel? Hard to add on such a box without it looking really ugly and tending to get in the way...and I don't think Nissan would want to put their name on it.

Conceivably, the stock wheel has all the wiring and mounts for the cruise control system in place, under the plastic covers for the steering wheel "arms". If this were the case, Nissan would just have to ship out the replacement arms with the appropriate bezels in place for the cruise control switches.

Ron

Still not so simple. You still need a cruise computer, which needs to be wired into the ECU (easy if there's a pre-wired loom, but that may not be the case on the S)... and also to the clutch. Those of us with the SL that have had the clutch-slip problem know that there is a hydraulic switch tied into the clutch assembly that deals with the cruise control. Not exactly "plug and play" material.

[jmagill]

I appreciate all the anwsers!

I don't need cruise control for everyday driving, but as most weekend trips usually involve long areas of flat Wyoming highway it would be a nice bonus. I guess I will contact the dealer.

Jill

[electech]

If you don't already have the car, maybe an SL would suit your needs better, just a thought.

[jmagill]

Have the car! Love the car!