2008 Caravan Cruise Control

I just bought a 2008 Grand Caravan SE Value. I didn't necessarily
want to pay the dealer the $500 they said it costs to install Cruise
Control, because I'm pretty sure it's a rather simple install since it
probably has all the sensors and wiring in place already. I have some
questions, hopefully to be answered by a friendly Chrysler Garage
tech.

Does anyone know a dealer who will sell me a cruise control unit on-
line? I'm presuming there's an advantage to having a Chrysler
designed unit since I read that they will control acceleration upon
descent of a hill by downshifting.
Is there any big downside to purchasing a generic unit like an
audiovox? I presume that this won't control acceleration.the same was
as an OEM. Will they interface with the existing sensors, etc?
What is involved in installing the cruise control? I'm quite
technical and competent; I've done motor rebuilds, heads, clutches,
etc.

 

There are several dealers that sell parts online. Here is one:

http://www.chryslerjeepdodgeparts.com

It may be that installation of a cruise control may require a scan
tool
to *enable it* once it is installed.

BTW, what did you give up by buying a *SE Value* as opposed to
a regular *SE?*

-KM

 

I don't really know what I gave up, to be honest. It was the price,
and the Lifetime Warrantee that sold me. When you have 4 kids, you
can't really argue with a $17K people mover. The upside is that it
came with captains chairs, stow and go, AC, Power Windows, Mirrors and
locks. The only things that I might want for would be cruise control
and tinted window glass. When I inquired about the cruise control,
they told me that it was part of a $1700 option package that included
rear air and its controls and tinted windows. That didn't seem like a
bargain to me. I live in upstate new york, so AC doesn't work quite
so hard as it does in the south.

Honestly, it was only the Lifetime Drivetrain Warrantee that sold me
on another Chrysler product. My '94 Voyage (3.0 with 41TE) made it to
140K miles and the transmission was exhibiting early indications of
failure, since MTBF on these at the time was 60-80K, and it was living
on borrowed time, I traded it in on an '00 Voyager (2.4 with A603 3
speed). That van has 160K on it, and I did the transmission last year
for the second time. I was not going to buy another chrysler product,
but the Warrantee and the price were quite irresistable.

 

I very much doubt it.

30 years ago automakers would do stuff like that.

These days they will design wiring harnesses, and the entire
vehicle with-or-without the options.

For example take the option of heated rear view mirrors.

A normal person would think the logical thing to do would be
to design ONE wiring harness that would be the same for both
the heated and non-heated rear view mirrors. The only difference
would be the mirror on the heated rear view mirror would have the
actual heater in it.

But in actuality the harness for the non-heated mirror is missing the
wire for the heater. Yes, they actually inventory TWO separate
wiring harnesses, one without the 2 cent wire in it, the other with
the 2 cent wire. You cannot go to a wrecker and get a $20
heated rear view mirror and give yourself a $400 gazillion dollar
option for $20 without tearing the entire vehicle apart and
replacing the harness. (or running wires or some other hack)

I think your probably going to be stuck with the aftermarket unit.

But, I don't know many motorcycles with cruise control yet lots
of people managed to cruise cross country many thousands of
miles on them. Maybe this is one of those options that you really
-don't need- but are just hoping to get if you can get it for next
to nothing.

By the time you get the factory service manual with the wiring
diagrams to see what you need, and spend the money on
parts and spend your time on it, you would probably be better
off just having the dealer do it.

The other issue of course is that in a few years the dealer's
techs won't have any experience installing cruise controls in
2008 models, and some of the parts may no longer be available,
or be special order as part of some more expensive assembly,
so unless you get it done now, your option of having the dealer
do it will probably disappear or become a lot more expensive.

Ask the dealer what part of the $500 is parts and what
part is labor.

Ted

 

Gee, Ted.

Thanks for that wonderfully unheplful, negative screed. You've
managed to abuse the auto industry, their dealer and service networks,
my new vehicle and myself in the brief space of your message.

Do you work for the auto industry? It would seem so, becuase you've
been nearly unhelpful as some of the service people within Chryslers
'FiveStar' network.

 

I understand your annoyance. I do my own wrenching on my own cars
and I've been surprised at the amount of special ordering that has
gone on. I really don't understand it. Logic says that an automakers
inventory costs go down the more of the same parts that they can
use across models. Logic also says an automakers costs go down the
more of the same parts that they can use WITHIN a given model
and it's various option permutations. Logic also says an automakers
costs go down the more of the same parts they can use from year to
year. But the reality I am observing is that automakers change
even trivial parts designs from model to model and year to year,
and option package to option package. I don't know why they
do this, maybe that's why new cars today cost $20K. Apparently
none of them learned anything from the VW Bug and the Model T.

Ted

 

i have installed hundreds of the audiovox actually Ralston kits
best aftermarket system made onlty draw bac is the handle sticks out
just make sure all connections in the wiring is soldered and you won't
have any issues
the dealer i worked at used these instead of chryslers because the cost
factor was way less