This article collects the questions customers have sent us over the last few years. If you want to know more about cruise control and about what we do, it is written for you.
What is cruise control?
Cruise control (cruise control system) holds your car at a constant speed without the driver keeping a foot on the accelerator. Once switched on it controls the throttle and holds the speed you want. There is more on how it works here.
What speed will cruise control hold?
Cruise control will hold any speed the driver sets, anywhere between 35 km/h and 200 km/h.
How do you switch cruise control on?
One movement of the command module is all it takes. Push it up and the car holds whatever speed it is doing right now. The module has two buttons you can store preset speeds on, and pressing one makes the car speed up or slow down to the stored value. Switched on this way, cruise control holds the speed until you switch off with the module, the brake or the clutch.
What is in the AP900 kit?
The kit contains the control unit, the command module, the wiring matched to your car, and manuals for use, installation and calibration.
How do you fit a cruise control?
Fitting is relatively simple and anyone who works on their own car will manage it. We go into the subject properly in the article here.
AP900 Universal Cruise Control
Your companion on every journey.
Will you fit the cruise control for me?
We do not fit our own devices. You can hand the job to any mechanic or auto electrician and none of them should have a problem with the installation. If anything comes up, we help over the phone.
How long do fitting and calibration take?
For cruise control to hold the speed of your car properly it has to be fitted and calibrated correctly. Fitting usually takes around 3 hours and calibration between 5 and 20 minutes.
I am fitting it myself. What if I run into trouble?
We help. When you buy a cruise control from us you have our word that we see it through to a fully working unit in your car. The phone is the quickest route, because we can diagnose the problem there and then and talk you through the fix.
What do you need to know about my car when I order?
On the AP900 universal cruise control page you pick the make, model and year range of your car before adding it to the basket. There is also a field in the delivery details where you say whether the car has an automatic or a manual gearbox. We need that to program the unit and to pick the right wiring.
What is the difference between the AP900 and the mechanical AP500?
The AP900 universal cruise control is electronic, which means it connects to an electronic throttle pedal. That pedal has been effectively standard from the 2003 model year onwards. We also make the mechanical AP500, commonly called a cable cruise control. It drives the throttle with a small motor and a cable rather than electronically.
For the driver, the mechanical unit behaves no differently from the electronic one. Both hold the speed you set and both give you comfort, safer driving and lower fuel use on fast roads. Switching on takes a movement of the command module, or a button if you choose the panel version instead.
Is your cruise control adaptive?
No, ours is not active cruise control, also known as adaptive cruise control. Those systems are mostly factory fitted in new cars, because they need a set of sensors and access to the software in the onboard computer. Adaptive cruise control holds a constant speed and keeps a safe distance from the car in front as well.
How does cruise control behave in hilly country?
Going uphill it adds throttle and holds the speed the driver set. Coming downhill it brakes on the engine. Whatever the gradient, cruise control holds a constant speed.
Will cruise control fit my car?
Yes. The list of compatible models is on the AP900 universal cruise control page. If your model or year range is not there, the car most likely has a mechanical cable throttle pedal, and the mechanical AP500 is the one that fits. If you know for certain that the throttle pedal is electronically controlled and your car is still not on the list, get in touch. In 99% of cases we can fit it anyway.
AP900 Universal Cruise Control
Your companion on every journey.
The benefits of cruise control
The main one is comfort on longer routes. Because the car holds a steady speed, you can concentrate on watching the road, which makes driving safer. Cruise control also helps you avoid drifting over the limit by accident, which keeps you clear of expensive fines. On top of that it contributes to fuel savings and more economical driving. Passengers feel the difference too, because a steady speed is smoother and less tiring, particularly on motorways and fast roads.
I need a permanent speed limit
Customers come to us for this for all sorts of reasons. Some run a fleet and want to be sure their staff stay within the limit. Others want to make a car safe for their children, who are still new to the road. We can set that up on request when you order a cruise control. You can also order the speed limiter on its own here. Once set, the limited speed can only be changed by disconnecting the control unit.
