Aftermarket Cruise Install Gen IV V6 <long>

[CamryGordo]

Hi all,

Thought I'd chime in for anyone considering installing an aftermarket cruise control (CC) into their Camry. FYI mine's a 2000 Gen IV RHD (Aussie) V6 Csi auto.

The cruise kit is a Command Autopilot AP60 found here in Aus for about $200AUS in many Supercheap Auto and Kmart stores. It gets good reviews on the web from many independent sources and gets installed on all sorts of pass vehicles including 4wds.

Only neg feedback I could find was the max speed was limited to 100kph is some cases and was easily remedied by removing one of the two supplied magnets on the front driveshaft and cutting the supplied (as recommended by instructions) PPM (pulse per minute) wire to limit the number of senor pulses to the unit.

The instructions are excellent as is the completness of the kit...bar the extra brake switch for Camrys

Please note all locations are what I deemed appropriate as advised byt he manual but the main bits of the kit are able to be installed in many different spots as required.

The unit is really easy to install (some pics coming soon as it sounds quite complex). the vacuum-fed actuator goes under the hood against the firewall sharing a post with the engine diag plug.

The brain of the unit (small plastic box which attaches to supplied wiring loom) goes in the pass side kickpanel with other factory wiring loom, the magnet gets double-sided taped and zip-tied onto drive shaft (glue on for offroad/4wd users) on driver side on thin part of front drive shaft (and sensor mounts on small bracket directly opposite using an exisiting 13mm bolt in the transaxle) and <breathe in>

the brake sensor (see notes following) attaches to the existing brake switch and FINALLY the control panel (buttons!) on the dash and wired back to the control unit.

It takes minimal tools to install and only basic skills with automotive elecectrics is needed.

SAFETY ISSUES: For all those worrying about "the backyard-installed CC sticking and launching the car off a dam wall to an explosive fate" there are many safety features as part of the kit.

eg gets disengaged when :

brake pedal touched (or when any of the 3 brake lights blow a bulb !)
unit turned off;
over-rev protection (with optional clutch switch fitted);
decelerating to 75% set speed;
overspeed dropout (150% of set speed) ie overtaking
ignition turned off

It has 3 very easy to use inbuilt diagnostics modes to check the wiring and the actuator (vacuum-controlled connected to throttle linkage) function.

so go get one and happy cruising

My real hint is that for those with a non-factory cruise installed gen IV Camry you will have a two pin brake switch as required by the instructions.

HOWEVER the switch is turned ON when the brake is applied (brake light comes on)....

... and the circuit of the CC requires the switch to turn OFF when the brake is applied as used in factory CC vehciles which have a 4 POST brake switch instead.

The extra two posts are a reverse switch of the non-CC installed vehcile. Hope this is making sense. In english - you need either

a)another switch (what I did for $5.55AUS for 2) or

b) the factory 4 post CC brake switch ($47.50AUS from Toyota spares).

Switch I used from my local elec nerd outlet (Jaycar elec) is used for interior light switches on car doors and is perfect for the application.

So the new wiring setup encorporates a new 2 post aftermarket switch (see pic coming soon) using 12V from factory 2 post brake light to post 1 of new switch then onto the CC brain.

Whilst the 2nd wire goes from post 2 of new switch to CC brain. clear as mud ?

Am putting the new 2 post switch on tonight and hopefully have a working CC so will grab some pics to illustrate my endless ramblings afterwards.

btw if anyone's gone the aftermarket CC route and go tround the brake switch situation a different way I'm all ears !

Cheers

[Knailgun]

good post....good detail

[CamryGordo]

Ok this POS is finally installed.

I want the 4 nights of my life back to troubleshoot it.

Things went from bad to worse till I unplugged the main box and was about to investigate warranty when the email I sent to Command (makers of the unit) replied.
They advised there was a typo in the instructions and where is said 8 seconds of led flashing on startup meant there WAS a fault actually should have read there WAS NOT a fault

I never had a #@$%$#%ing chance...

Once I realised the brake circuit was fine I moved onto other tests like the actuator.

With ignition to ON it made clicks with acc or dec but no actual movement of throttle cable. Plenty of vacuum when the motor was running but 3 seconds after starting the motor the control panel stopped responding.

After testing the hot wire I had used (blue/red stripe - located near where the CC brain is located in the passenger kick panel near vehicle's computer) I found yes - it powered 12V all day with ignition ON but when the motor started it lasted 3 secs then nuthin ! WTF ?!?!?

Found another hot wire and the actuator worked WOOHOO !

Following a road test the unit couldn't hold any speed at all so back home to add another magnet to the driveshaft to make it two in total. Also rerouted the sensor wire to avoid further scorching from hot exhaust bits (good old zipties!).

nb -the tech support dude at Command advised it's mainly 4wds and other rear wheel drives that need one magnet only and black loop wire cut - wire is still intact on my front wheel drive 2000 camry.

Road test YEAH BABY ! FINALLY !!

Holds speed from 40km to 120kmh and cuts out when it should - brakes on, powered off, accelerating, etc

Hope this helps anyone trying to install the same/similar aftermarket unit - Command Autopilot AP60 may your chosen deity have mercy on your soul

one word of warning - don't use any hot wires going to/coming out of your car's computer. I stupidly tried this and was surprised to find the car idling rough and eventually stalling when the cruise was engaged. Appears the computer needs a full 12V to function properly.

footnote - for a gen Iv 2000 camry theres a plug in the main fuse panel (located lower part of dash under fuse cover) that can be used. I used the 1st wire (blue w/ red stripe) 4 pin plug in the middle bottom of the panel for my hot wire. No adverse affects.

have some pics of locations of parts just gotta post em...here they are...

Actuator and relocated diag port :


Actuator cable routing and throttle body linkage :


Control Pad and labels for rotated use:


Fusebox hot wire connection. Red wire from CC main power goes to 1st wire on 4 pin plug found in lower right front of fuse box :



Sensor attached to bracket from bottom of transaxle. 1 of 2 magnets used shown on shaft.

[Ruffrydasean]

Nice post... I'd get one but i have factory CC

[CamryGordo]

Yeah after my little episode I'd consider letting someone else have the headache of an install. Compared to installing stereos, CBs, 12v plugs, winches and interior and auxiliary lights this was like brain surgery with a blunt spoon with the instructions I had to endure..oh well works now.

Wonder if I'll use it

[Toysrme]

I'm with Ruffrydasean.

As un-complicated as the factory CC is I would have just gone to a junkyard and bought the entire thing for like $10.





Everyone else keep in mind he is Australian. That means his cruise control comes from the PASSANGER side of the engine bay, and run BACK across the engine bay.

[CamryGordo]

There must pretty disparate pricing between the US and Aus as the whole factory CC setup from a wrecker(junkyard) down here would be plenty more than what I paid for the Command unit and up until my experience all reports were that it was a cinch to install...yeah right

[Toysrme]

No they're not! You want a USDM one???

[CamryGordo]

Originally Posted by Toysrme

No they're not! You want a USDM one???

Thanks for the offer but now it's all cool will stick with the Command one seems the support is ok now I have an email address. And I went to through so much drama to get the POS to work.

Just out of interest though any idea how much they go for (and new or used) ? TIA