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240: Cruise Control Options
- Thread starter malloy1
- Start date
2manyturbos
Moderator
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2003
- Location
- Monroe, OR USA
I think the Volvo cruise systems work great, unless, they don't work at all. Your car is pre-wired for cruise. Have you already tried a stock Volvo system in your 240?
Really?
->Vacuum pump can't keep up the speed when climbing a slight hill. I live in Colorado, so the terrain is up and down, not flat (sometimes up for a long way).
->No speed adjustment down without hitting the brakes or turnoff/on cruise system, and resetting speed.
My pump now has either a bad pressure switch or a leak in the vacuum pump.
I figured somebody here would have figured out another maker/model that uses a better system that I can grab off a car in the junkyard for peanuts.
I was hoping somebody had a better solution, instead of just replacing the pump.
->Vacuum pump can't keep up the speed when climbing a slight hill. I live in Colorado, so the terrain is up and down, not flat (sometimes up for a long way).
->No speed adjustment down without hitting the brakes or turnoff/on cruise system, and resetting speed.
My pump now has either a bad pressure switch or a leak in the vacuum pump.
I figured somebody here would have figured out another maker/model that uses a better system that I can grab off a car in the junkyard for peanuts.
I was hoping somebody had a better solution, instead of just replacing the pump.
M.H. Yount
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2008
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
I used a Rostra universal for almost 20 years. You can activate it with either the Volvo OEM switch or with one of Rostra's -- which look reasonably OEM. Much better performance than OEM - fully electronic and adjustable in a variety of ways. When I went with a DBW LS a couple of years ago I switched to a Dakota Digital unit -- turns out it is made by Rostra as well. Kept my same activation switch. You can see it below the wiper stalk on the passenger side of the column. This has all worked perfectly with a pickup and 2 magnets on the driveshaft. There are provisions for VSS input as well.
http://www.rostra.com/universal-aftermarket-cruise-control-by-rostra.php #250-1223 -- probably get it through Jegs or Summit or Amazon
http://www.rostra.com/universal-aftermarket-cruise-control-by-rostra.php #250-1223 -- probably get it through Jegs or Summit or Amazon
Kjets On a Plane
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2002
- Location
- Californicated Oregone
Sounds like your vac switches leak or are mis-adjusted or something?
I haven't really had issues, it's basically the same system as in a 740 Turbo? Only difference is that the puller is in the cabin, which is nice for longevity, but it will be compromised if the throttle cable binds up from the gas pedal. Many are frayed/crusty/tired by now. It should be quite effortless to pull that cable.
The cruise worked fine in my stick shift 700T.
Auto were a little weird with boost but any road straight enough to be worth bothering to use cruise on was really no big deal for the most part...
Then again though, you're not supposed to use cruise in rain/bad weather. So between that and not having that many no traffic roads appropriate for it exactly, I almost never get to use it (anymore).
I forget...IIRC you just tap the brakes and hit resume or whatever?
I remember it being painless when working properly on the 90+ cars.
at 6K feet maybe the engine is ~40% down on power (N/A?) so it has to really yank the throttle open to climb a grade, but it worked fine for me getting over the siskyous which is one of the hillier portions of I5 (~4Kfeet).
If it has 3.31 gears, OE wagon-size tires and the average tired B230F with an M46/47, forget climbing anything vaguely resembling grades in OD/5th and being able to maintain speed precisely/effortlessly (even near sea level) cruise or not (even without pulling much weight)
The earlier cruise really is terrible with more power, but the 90+ 2/7/9 systems got a LOT better.
I haven't really had issues, it's basically the same system as in a 740 Turbo? Only difference is that the puller is in the cabin, which is nice for longevity, but it will be compromised if the throttle cable binds up from the gas pedal. Many are frayed/crusty/tired by now. It should be quite effortless to pull that cable.
The cruise worked fine in my stick shift 700T.
Auto were a little weird with boost but any road straight enough to be worth bothering to use cruise on was really no big deal for the most part...Then again though, you're not supposed to use cruise in rain/bad weather. So between that and not having that many no traffic roads appropriate for it exactly, I almost never get to use it (anymore).
I forget...IIRC you just tap the brakes and hit resume or whatever?
I remember it being painless when working properly on the 90+ cars.
at 6K feet maybe the engine is ~40% down on power (N/A?) so it has to really yank the throttle open to climb a grade, but it worked fine for me getting over the siskyous which is one of the hillier portions of I5 (~4Kfeet).
If it has 3.31 gears, OE wagon-size tires and the average tired B230F with an M46/47, forget climbing anything vaguely resembling grades in OD/5th and being able to maintain speed precisely/effortlessly (even near sea level) cruise or not (even without pulling much weight)
The earlier cruise really is terrible with more power, but the 90+ 2/7/9 systems got a LOT better.
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Centsableone
SNAFU - BOHICA
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2011
- Location
- Olive Branch (The "OB") MS
So my mighty 240 has like 100 hp on a good day with my foot against the floorboard. I guess I expect that there will be a little lag on inclines with the system. Maybe I have lower expectations or something but like 2manyturbos I'm thinking it works as advertised.
To each their own.
2manyturbos
Moderator
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2003
- Location
- Monroe, OR USA
The pump not keeping up is probably a leaking vacuum break valve at the brake pedal, or, clutch pedal if it is a stick car. They work fine on all the late 2-7-9 series cars. I think you just hold in the set button to set it at a lower speed. While holding it in it goes into a "coast" mode, if I remember correctly. My 7 -9 series Turbo cars will pull steep grades at 70 mph with the cruise set. They are into boost when doing so. Boost has no affect on the cruise function since it does not utilize engine vacuum.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Location
- San Francisco
The cruise on my 90' 240 also has issues. Nothing as dramatic as malloy1 but I do get slight surging of the throttle. I'm guessing a vac leak or something. It overshoots then backs off with a pretty steady frequency. Actual vehicle speed doesn't change hardly at all but it kills my highway MPG.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Location
- San Francisco
I guess that might make sense. It's the same mechanical parts as the 1990-93 240s from the looks of it.
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Location
- San Francisco
Kjets On a Plane
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2002
- Location
- Californicated Oregone
<s>
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Location
- San Francisco
No way in hell I'd want to hack a cruise module from another car into mine.
Good idea checking the throttle cable. I've got a pile of those vac pumps for whatever reason. Do you remember what size o-ring is in the switch?
After doing a bunch of research on Hella based (what ours are) cruise modules, OEMs will use the same control module between very different models/engines. Audi/VW for example has the same module in a Passat, A8, A4, A6 etc. The PID loop is tuned for the response the pump/actuator system.
Good idea checking the throttle cable. I've got a pile of those vac pumps for whatever reason. Do you remember what size o-ring is in the switch?
After doing a bunch of research on Hella based (what ours are) cruise modules, OEMs will use the same control module between very different models/engines. Audi/VW for example has the same module in a Passat, A8, A4, A6 etc. The PID loop is tuned for the response the pump/actuator system.
photoman327
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2009
- Location
- North Alabama
Following
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Location
- San Francisco
Found a leaky o ring in the brake pedal switch and my throttle cable is draggy. The leak wasn't bad enough for the cruise to not work at all but it makes sense that it was surging a little.
Suitable o-ring size is AS568B-008
Suitable o-ring size is AS568B-008
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Kjets On a Plane
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2002
- Location
- Californicated Oregone
<s>
Last edited:
Cruise control is to control speed of the vehicle, not the gas mileage. If you want best MPG, I agree, use your foot and don't vary the throttle if you can help it.
I can get over 83mpg going average of 45mph, but nobody wants to drive behind an Insight at 40-50mph...
