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How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Alright folks. I finally did it. I own a 2004 Honda Civic VP sedan that I am restoring/upgrading. As part of that upgrade, in addition to front and rear parking sensors, remote control mirrors, rear-view camera, etc., I wanted to add cruise control using the stock OEM components. This replacement will take you several days to perform, even when you have all the tools, components, parts, and help. I would recommend this this in stages to save your sanity. Trust me. Go easy on yourself.
PART 1: First things first. Here is a shopping list of everything you'll need to complete this project. Below are the parts, part numbers (when and if available), and new prices. I will tell you at the end how much I saved by getting the below parts from a junk yard.
1. Cruise control main switch. Part number (P/N) 36775-S5A-A01ZC - $21.86 (5 wires) (Goes to left of steering wheel where the plastic inserts go)
2. Auto cruise control Set Switch Assembly. P/N 36770-S5A-A11 - $44.57 (3 wires) (Goes on side of steering wheel)
3. Auto cruise control set switch plate assembly (connects switch above from #2 to steering wheel.) P/N 78517-S5D-A61 - $7.28 (metal) (Goes inside steering wheel)
4. Two bolts and washers to hold set switch plate assembly inside steering wheel. P/N 93405-06012-08 (QTY 2) - $1.01 each (metal) (Goes inside steering wheel)
5. Cruise control wire actuator (connected to cruise control actuator). P/N 17880-PLM-A01 - $32.98 (metal and plastic) (Goes inside engine bay to throttle body)
6. Cruise control actuator bracket A. P/N 36635-PLM-A00 - $7.19 (metal) (Goes inside engine bay on the right side)
7. Cruise control actuator bracket B. P/N 36636-PLM-A00 - $7.19 (metal) (Goes inside engine bay on the right side)
8. Cruise control actuator cover. P/N 36621-PLM-A01 - $42.36 (metal) (Goes on top of the cruise control actuator in the engine bay)
9. Cruise control actuator assembly. P/N 36511-PLM-A01 - $223.88 (metal with 4 wires, get the connector that is connected to it as well) (Goes inside engine bay on the right side)
10. Auto cruise controller unit. P/N 36700-S5A-A11 - $152.98 (14 wires, get the connector that is connected to it as well) (Goes inside car under the dash behind the dash where the cruise control main switch is, behind steering wheel)
11. Auto cruise control bracket. P/N 36701-S5A-A00 - $5.08 (metal) (Goes inside car under the dash behind the dash where the cruise control main switch is, behind steering wheel)
12. Brake pedal position switch and connector. P/N 36750-SMA-013 - $7.08 (4 wires) (Goes inside car, under the driver's side dash, connected to the brake pedal)
13. Throttle body from 01-05 Honda Civic LX/GX/EX. P/N 16400-PLR-A04 $370.69 (Goes inside engine bay. Need the LX/EX throttle body because there is an additional space for the cruise control actuator wire to connect to). If you get this from a junk yard, be prepared to also pay for the sensors connected to it, which would be the TB position sensor (rotary air valve set) and some other kind of sensor, unless you can take them off. I would leave them on)
14. Clock spring from 01-05 LX/EX. Can not be from a DX or VP because of non electrical conductivity between steering wheel side and steering column side of clock spring. Could not find online. I'm guessing this would cost roughly $150 new. This replaces the old steering wheel clock spring you had.
15. Steering wheel column plastic piece. P/N 78518-S5D-U81ZA. This replaces the plastic piece that goes around the steering wheel so that your steering wheel set switch can be connected to the steering wheel. I chose to cut mine, so I have an extra if anyone needs it.
16. CC set switch harness. Don't know P/N. Goes inside steering wheel and connects to CC set switch.
17. Your choice of wires from Amazon. I chose silicone wires because they were cheap, but would recommend for you something more robust, especially with plastic sheathing and not silicone like I had.
18. 3M Scotch electrical tape. $2.17. Make sure you get the quality stuff that sticks together well. TRUST ME.
PART 2:Tools needed:
1. 10mm socket (you will use this the most)
2. 6" to 10" socket extension.
3. Small phillips head screw driver.
4. Flat head screwdriver.
5. Metal coat hanger to fish wires through grommet on fire wall.
6. Jack stands.
7. Jack.
8.12mm open ended wrench for the throttle body actuator wire nuts.
PART 3: Cruise control main switch installation
We'll begin with the easiest thing to install, which is the main switch.
Go to the car, open the door, and see that little pocket to the left of the steering wheel that opens? Open it. From below, remove the phillips head screw, and set it aside. Gently remove the pocket assembly. There are some clips at the bottom that might be holding it in, so remove it gently.
Once you have that removed (which, BTW, on the VP/DX, there should be nothing but blank plastic inserts there), remove the left most insert by squeezing the plastic tabs from inside and pushing the insert outwards. Now take your CC main switch and electrical connector and push it into the blank hole.
Now to wire it up part of it. The RED wire from the connector and RED/BLK wire goes to the interior lighting system. I connected wires to those to wires, ran them to the center console, and connected them to the RED and RED/BLK wires on the transmission light on the center console.
I connected the ground to the ground that is just behind this switch, inside the dash.
The LT GRN wire goes to the LT GRN wire on the brake pedal position switch. The BLK/ORG wire goes to the cruise control unit AND the fuse box, wired to FUSE #4, 10A using a fuse tap.
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
PART 4: Cruise control actuator (7 minutes to install)
Go to the engine bay. On the upper right side of the fire wall is where the cruise control actuator goes. If you got yours from a junk yard, you'd know that!
Take out the bracket A that is connected to the fire wall and replace it with #6 from the parts list above. Smile. Seriously, smile. You're awesome! We're gonna get through this!
Take out the bracket B that is connected to the inner fender and replace it with #7 from the parts list above. Have another smile. Check that off your list!
Place the cruise control actuator on the brackets and install it using the two screws that came with the original brackets.
Route the cruise control actuator wire to the throttle body using the metal black clips on top of the valve cover. Temporarily secure the end near the throttle body so it doesn't rattle or cause a disturbance.
We'll wire this up later. Let's just make progress.
PART 5: Cruise control unit and bracket (20 minutes to install)
Go inside the car and take off the under dash black plastic piece by twisting the little **** and pulling down on it. Now take off the fuse cover piece under the steering wheel. Remove the driver's seat all the way back, and look up into the dash from below. You will see a screw hole, to the slight left of the steering column, where #11 goes under the dash. It will mount to the metal tube under the dash. Install the bracket and #10 cruise control unit (from the parts list above) using the screw that you pulled from the junk yard. We're making progress! This is where the majority of the wiring is going to take place, so hopefully, when you were at the junk yard, you go the electrical harness that plugged into this plug, which should have been 14 wires. Cut as much of those wires from the donor car as possible. We'll wire that up as we go along.
Wire the BLK wire to the ground from PART 3. There is a ground inside the dash, behind the cruise control main switch.
Connect the BLK/ORG wire to the BLK/ORG wire on the cruise control main switch. THEN ALSO connect the BLK/ORG wire to the fuse #4, 10A, using a fuse tap under the dash.
Connect the LT GRN wire to the brake pedal position switch AND the cruise control main switch from PART 3 above.
Take a break. Seriously. You've earned it! We'll wire more as we go along.
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
OK folks, picture time.
Below is the picture of the cruise control actuator. It's located on the left side of the engine bay, towards the rear, attached to the fire wall. You need to attach it to brackets A and B from the parts list above.
Next up is the new throttle body that you will need. It sticks out more towards the rear to accommodate the extra room needed for the CC throttle actuator cable.
Up next is the cruise control main switch, which has been turned on. That's not the only thing...
Next is the most important picture that you'll find in this thread. It's the wiring diagram for the new cruise control system.
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Oh, you don't need to connect the YEL/BLU wire to the gauge assembly. The cruise control works without that. Once I do the gauge swap (in about another 5.5K miles), I will connect that wire to the gauge and be all set!
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
awesome job man, I have a 2005 civic vp but I was wondering where did you tap into the transmission range switch? the light blue wire? did you get it straight from the transmission range switch or inside the dashboard? thank you again for your help.
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Do you have a manual or automatic?
If you have a manual, the light blue wire goes to the clutch pedal position switch, which is light blue, and underneath the clutch, I believe.
If you have an auto, it gets connected to the pink wire on the transmission range switch, which you can find on the passenger side wheel well. See picture below of what it looks like. Make sure the transmission is in neutral. The pink wire is in the electrical connector. You don't even have to move it, just remove some of the plastic cladding and solder the light blue wire to it and properly wrap it.
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Below picture is a picture of the pink wire, in between the needle nose pliers.
Above is a picture of the transmission range switch behind the plastic trim on the passenger side wheel well.
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
I just did this on my Honda Civic 2004 VP it was a lot easier for me because I had already replaced the dash harness so I already had the pigtail for the cruise control button my issue is the horn is beeping when I press the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel may just be a bad clock spring just wondering if you can give me more insight
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Originally Posted by gatrhumpy1
You have a wire crossed somewhere inside the steering wheel. I would check them again.
I just doubled checked And I have continuity with the right wires going to the actual connector to the steering wheel control So I'm going to assume my clock Spring from the junkyard is no good Because I also tried doing cruise control with the other cruise control actuator with like 10 or 12 wires and the same thing happened the horn beeps when pressing the button Also when I have the system connected the cruise control light stays on (on the cluster ) even when I press the button to turn off
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Originally Posted by Flyboit
I just doubled checked And I have continuity with the right wires going to the actual connector to the steering wheel control So I'm going to assume my clock Spring from the junkyard is no good Because I also tried doing cruise control with the other cruise control actuator with like 10 or 12 wires and the same thing happened the horn beeps when pressing the button Also when I have the system connected the cruise control light stays on (on the cluster ) even when I press the button to turn off
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Originally Posted by gatrhumpy1
Did you get a clock spring from a 2005 LX?
sorry yes I did i currently gave up on that route and I am going to try and wire it with the newerr style cruise control again hopefully I figure it out
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Originally Posted by Flyboit
sorry yes I did i currently gave up on that route and I am going to try and wire it with the newerr style cruise control again hopefully I figure it out
Alright so not sure if you're aware but the other style actuator for cruise control is a all in one and it has only 11 wires! I'm choosing to go this route for the simple fact, no cut wires I depinned and repinned those missing wires I have. It was easy since I have a lx dash harness. So i have no cut wires. I've also confirmed all the colors are the same as the schematics for the one you're showing. But It still does not work. I've done continuity test and everything is good I have the ground on the battery. I have ran a test to diagnose the cruise control. 3 test I cannot do because of the 3 missing wire and i dont have any info on the board to be able to test. One test I did fail it's to test the signal from the blue/orange wire and I don't get any volts. I tried about 5 actuators from the junkyard but. They could all be bad because none of those vehicles had no hoods. I even swapped the ecu with a lx one.
The 3 wires that are missing are:
brown/yellow (actuator)
brown(actuator)
brown/white(actuator)
Re: How to Add Cruise Control to a 2001 to 2005 Honda Civic DX or VP
Originally Posted by Colin42
It would probably work if you got the correct actuator...
it should technically work with this one since my dash harness is set up for this one. And it probably does work. My other variant is the jdm auto transmission I have which always throws a code since it's geared different from the US. So the pcm thinks there's faults.
