Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Westy wants to cruise, but ...
From:Mike Collum
Date:Thu, 17 Apr 2003 19:41:22 -0400

I know that universal cruise control kits typically have a switch or
separate contact points or some way to tell the unit whether you are
using coil or magnetic pickup sensing, but did some of the old cruise
control kits come with electronics modules that were "Specific" to
either an automatic transmission or manual transmission? i.e. magnetic
pickup sensing only?

The reason I ask is because I recently picked up an old kit from Travel
Accessories (a division of A.R.A.) that is labeled "For Automatics".
The instruction sheet's parts list shows all items necessary for either
method of sensing but, with asterisks and notes, show which parts are
included for automatics and which parts are included for manual trans.
Of course, this kit contains the magnets and the twisted wire
pair/magnetic sensor.  Shown, for manual trans (not included, of
course), is a twisted pair, that hooks up to the same place on the
electronics module, with one lead going to the negative side of the coil
and the other to ground.

My first thought is, "Ahah!"  All I have to do is cut the magnetic
sensor off the twisted pair, hook up to the coil and use the kit for a
manual installation.  But .... there is no switch on the module for
selecting which sensing method is being used.

Could I blow the electronics module by hooking up to the coil when it's
expecting input from the magnetic pickup?

Thanks,

Mike

'84 GL 7 pass
'85 GL Westy