Aftermarket cruise control installation

Hello everybody,
I bought an aftermarket cruise control and the instructions say that a 2007 aveo might not have the necessary wires under the dash for cruise control. So I would then have to attach the wires to the ecu module in the engine area. Here are the instructions: http://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/06-07aveo.pdf [see last page]

I dont see how to attach wires to the ecu. Its is within a harness and it is mated to another component. Any suggestions?

michael, you answered my post about the radio, appreciate that.

I'm going to take a venture that what we're talking about here is simply connecting the white wire to pin 3 of the connector and the green wire to pin 45.

If this is what I think it is (you be my eyes), the wording may not explain exactly what needs to be done.

Look at this large connector to the ECM. With the ignition off, remove it from the ECM, see if you can identify the pins 3 and 45 referenced above and find the wires leading off them to the harness. Usually the connectors themselves or the female connector will have at least one number and you can count from there to find the correct pins.

they will each have a certain color, these are the wires you will have to tap into with your white and green wire from the cruise.

How does that sound so far? the assumption I'm making is simply that you will need to tap into those pins one way or another in order to connect your cruise control. I'm assuming you'll do that with the wire taps like in the first illustration on page 1.

Take a look at it and post back, I'm not an expert installer, I can only walk you through based on info you give.

Good luck,
Chipsndukes

Thanks for the reply! Here is the update: I did find the large connector and disconnected it from the ECM. I also removed the plastic top 'cap' so i can see the wires. I found the correct wires. The problem is how to tap into them? The space is so tiny and the wires are wrapped very tight. If I put a wire tap into it I can not close the top 'cap' back up. I would have to leave it open and exposed. The wires the lead to the 'large connector' are double shrink wrapped with tape as well. How does anybody get something connected??
Do they use soldering?

michael, this is the joy of aftermarket installation manuals--they assume a lot--they tell you to do it, the "how" is up to you. :lol:

1. those wires (pin 3 and 45) have colors. can you trace them back (even better to a location closer to the firewall) to a place where you have easier access to cut into the loom (yes, you'll have to do some cutting)?
That's my first thought, find another spot closer to the firewall where the harness is free and very CAREFULLY with a box cutter cut back the tape from the harness, if there is corrugated tubing it is split at some point, find the split and reveal the wires, maybe you get lucky and can clip in there.

2. if you think you can do some tight soldering close to the ECM under the cover than listen closely: an old trick I use is to expose a wire without cutting it, either with a little delicate surgery with an EXACTO knife or by taking a wire strippers and stripping the wire while it's still intact (it will pull away the insulation enough to expose the wire but not separate it, be careful not to cut the wire). Then take your green or white wire, strip the end and wrap it around the exposed area of the wire and solder (gently) the joint. Don't use too much heat or burn other wires around it, can be delicate, you just want to wick enough solder in there to cover the joint, nothing more.

Regarding soldering, just the tip of the iron on the joint to be soldered (you need three hands) while feeding the solder wire between the tip and the joint, it will wick on it's own, pull both away quickly (don't burn your fingers).
Wrap the final joint with electric tape and put the cap back on your ecm connector

regarding cutting into wiring harnesses, just make a little slit, then spread it so you can see how deep you cut (only want to cut tape, not insulation or wire!) and then keep slicing away until you can get to the wires below. If it is in some tubing or something corrugated, try and preserve that protection, just cut the tape and either peel the tubing back or separate the corrugated stuff at the split and peel it back.

This is a lot of ramblings, but I hope you can make sense out of them, these are just tricks I learned from installing alarms, gauges and lots of other electrical stuff on cars.

Some won't like soldering for automotive applications, say the joints will harden and fatigue crack. This is true but only if they are under stress...ergo.. make sure that your joint is laying loose and stress free (no major tension on it).


Peace, good luck, report back, lucky I can type 60 wpm, I hope this helps.

Chipsndukes

one more thing, you will have to re-wrap the harness where you exposed it, it is not a big deal, you can do a good OEM job if you pay attention, I worked in a wiring harness factory and saw them do it everyday, it's not rocket science, just be careful and you can make it look just like original.

Don't know what else to suggest without seeing the application, I hope you don't mind cutting into your car a little.

Peace,
Chipsndukes