Cruise Control Installation

Installation difficulty? NOVICE

Total time: Under an hour to install

This is by far the easiest thing you can ever install in your RX-7. All the parts are pretty easy to find at a local salvage yard. You can also buy the components from Mazda part "Recycle " shops.

WHAT YOU NEED TO FIND:

  1. The Cruise Control CPU
  2. The Dashboard Switch
  3. Vacuum throttle actuator
  4. Bracket to mount actuator in engine bay

INSTALLATION:

The CPU installation is simple. Locate the main fuse panel that is located by the drivers feet, behind the dead petal. Just above the fuse panel, you will see two studs with the nuts already on them. Mount the computer there and find the extra plug that is usually tucked behind the fuse block. Plug it in and move on to the Switch.

The Dash is pretty simple to take apart. All you need is a Phillips head screwdriver. Take the cover off the steering column.  Next remove the three screws right above the tachometer. There are also two screws below the instrument cluster that have to be removed. This will free the entire black molding piece that surrounds the tachometer and speedometer. Some people say that you have to remove the steering wheel to remove this piece, but you don’t. Just pull the molding out, remove all the plugs that go to the light, hazard, and wiper switches and wiggle that baby out of there. Once removed, you’ll see where the cruise control flipper goes. (Just opposite of the turn signal flipper.) Screw it in, plug all of the switches back in, and put it all back together.

The Vacuum pump installation goes right above the Sub-Zero Starting Assist System. You will have to remove the Sub-Zero Starting Assist System and remove the bracket that holds it on. Then replace the old bracket with the new one. It sometimes helps to remove the black charcoal canister and disconnect the wiper motor to get some more room. Once the new bracket is installed, replace the Sub-Zero Starting Assist System and then install the Vacuum Pump to the top of the new bracket. The next thing to do is run the cable over the Air conditioning piping and connect it to the throttle. Everything is already there so you just have to adjust the tension on the throttle cable till there is no slack in the cable. Finally, run the vacuum hose from the pump to the back of the intake manifold below the throttle body. There you will find several caps. Just remove one and install the vacuum line.

DONE!  

Just a final note here:  The Turbo II cars do not have a vacuum operated cruise control.  The unit is electronically controlled.  The Turbo II actuator CAN! be used in an NA car.  The only difference is that you do not have to hook a vacuum line up to the actuator.   The connectors are the same.