Adding cruise control

I added OEM cruise to my '00 Dakota.

No, the wiring isn't in the steering wheel. My truck had all the wiring in place except you'll need to replace the clockspring with one for cruise.

I needed the servo, servo cable, both switches, a clockspring, and the shroud on the steering wheel itself (differs in '00 with/without cruise). I got all mine from a wrecked Dak at the boneyard.

Plugging it all in was easy, maybe 1/2 an hour. Then I had to go to the dealer to get the "cruise" light programmed with a DRB. That was more of a hassle. I explained what I needed to the service manager and the tech he assigned it to told me that I didn't have that feature and it wouldn't work. Funny I said, I used the cruise on the way here - it did work, just no light. Went to another dealer, found a tech that knew his way around the DRB and in 5 minutes it was programmed.

Thanks. That points me in the right direction. When the snow melts I can go to the bone yard and look for parts. I will be off line for a while but will rejoin the conversation in a week or two.

where at in michigan are you? I have everything you need sitting in my garage.

Hmmm interesting, I just did the same, 1999 sport extended cab, installed a unit from a 2000 Quad Cab. Cruise light doesn't come on, cannot test drive as motor is out right now, checked voltage at cruise pin connector on clock spring, it changes as the cruise buttons are pressed so I know they are OK so I assume it's working. What exactly is a DBR, and are they programming the power module or the body control module?

It's DRB and it's the tool Dodge uses to access the computers on the truck.

The dash (it's a computer too) gets programmed to turn on the "cruise" indicator, that's it. My '00 worked as soon as I plugged it in - except for the indicator. 10 minutes at a dealer and that was working too.

AandPDan said:

It's DRB and it's the tool Dodge uses to access the computers on the truck.

The dash (it's a computer too) gets programmed to turn on the "cruise" indicator, that's it. My '00 worked as soon as I plugged it in - except for the indicator. 10 minutes at a dealer and that was working too.

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Thanks, wonder if my OBDII scanner can do this or is it specific to the DRB tool?

It's not just a scanner. It can access/test/program any system on the truck.

AandPDan said:

It's not just a scanner. It can access/test/program any system on the truck.

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Yeah I googled it, 2-5K for one of those, hahaha, can live without the light for now, my local Chrysler shop is crazy in the head expensive and min charge is either 1/2 hr or 1 hr labor at around $100.00/hr. Will go back to the Dakota I got the cruise from and get the CTM it's a 2000 with the same options I have plus cruise, it's behind the glove box I think, that should solve my problem I hope.

CTM won't help. It's not a CTM function, it's the cluster. Things like the cruise indicator, upshift light, all that can be programmed to be enabled/disabled.

Cruise itself is a PCM function.

AandPDan said:

CTM won't help. It's not a CTM function, it's the cluster. Things like the cruise indicator, upshift light, all that can be programmed to be enabled/disabled.

Cruise itself is a PCM function.

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I have the entire donor truck, so can you tell me what components I need to swap over to make this work properly WITHOUT having to go to a Chrysler Dealer.

Then I guess its swap the cluster.

AandPDan said:

Then I guess its swap the cluster.

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That shouldn't be a problem, I will let you know how it works out, thanks for the info.

Little bit of a revive here.

I'm going through a bit of the same problem and I'd like to try and get the light to turn on but Id rather not pay $115 for the dealership to plug in the computer for two minuets. So would getting the cluster out of a car with cruise control make it so the light turns on?
Also, would that affect the odometer at all?

Wow, they want $115. It only cost me $20.

Yes it will screw up the odometer and if the rest of the programming isn't the same you'll have other issues (stupid shift light, etc).

Did you just walk in and ask them? How did you get away with only spending $20?

I called two dealers earlier and one dealer said they would have to do a diagnostic to see if its working (I reassured him it was) then do a re-flash but they both told me the same price. From what its sounds like, a re-flash is just a flat rate thing... If that's what i even need.

I tried two dealers.

The service writer at the first place didn't have a clue what I wanted done so he brought some young ASE certified (plastered all over his shirt) "hot shot" out. The kid told him that the truck didn't come with it so it couldn't be done.

I thanked them, left, and have never gone back to that dealer.

The second place, the service writer was great. He knew what I was talking about and told me to wait a few minutes. We did this all in their "service writing bay." He came back with an "older" mechanic with a DRB in hand. Less than 2 minutes later it was all set. That's it.

It's all in who you talk to.

Hmmmm I was under the impression that the mileage came from the PCM and therefore any odometer you install would display correct mileage, however the features are another can of worms so therefor the donor must have the same trans be it auto or manual, not sure what else would be effected, maybe ABS?? I wouldn't concern myself about the light working, as long as the cruise actually works, have fun.

If I was offered the opportunity to get it done for $20.00 I would but as many have stated our local Chrysler dealer is a wackadoodle and wants 1 hr labor to do a 5 min job. No light as of yet, but cruise is functional.

The mileage is stored in two locations, the cluster and the PCM.

The rest of the cluster is just programming. It's a computer, nothing more.

The "CRUISE" indicator isn't really a great help anyways. As soon as you turn the system on it comes on. It doesn't matter if the cruise control is engaged or not.

so doesn't the cluster just update from the PCM at least mine did when I swapped in a 140K cluster into my 256K truck ( had 2 clusters and the 140K from a donor truck looks like new, the 256K one was a bit shabby so I swapped them), odometer went from the 140 to 256 immediately and never had a problem with it since, too bad it wasn't from a cruise opted rig, maybe I just got lucky.