2008 Caravan Cruise Control

On Jun 6, 2:46 pm, kmat... RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
> On Jun 5, 7:35 pm, bruce <baxt... RemoveThis @bigfoot.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I just bought a 2008 Grand Caravan SE Value. I didn't necessarily
> > want to pay the dealer the $500 they said it costs to install Cruise
> > Control, because I'm pretty sure it's a rather simple install since it
> > probably has all the sensors and wiring in place already. I have some
> > questions, hopefully to be answered by a friendly Chrysler Garage
> > tech.
>
> > Does anyone know a dealer who will sell me a cruise control unit on-
> > line? I'm presuming there's an advantage to having a Chrysler
> > designed unit since I read that they will control acceleration upon
> > descent of a hill by downshifting.
> > Is there any big downside to purchasing a generic unit like an
> > audiovox? I presume that this won't control acceleration.the same was
> > as an OEM. Will they interface with the existing sensors, etc?
> > What is involved in installing the cruise control? I'm quite
> > technical and competent; I've done motor rebuilds, heads, clutches,
> > etc.
>
> There are several dealers that sell parts online. Here is one:
>
> http://www.chryslerjeepdodgeparts.com
>
> It may be that installation of a cruise control may require a scan
> tool
> to *enable it* once it is installed.
>
> BTW, what did you give up by buying a *SE Value* as opposed to
> a regular *SE?*
>
> -KM

I don't really know what I gave up, to be honest. It was the price,
and the Lifetime Warrantee that sold me. When you have 4 kids, you
can't really argue with a $17K people mover. The upside is that it
came with captains chairs, stow and go, AC, Power Windows, Mirrors and
locks. The only things that I might want for would be cruise control
and tinted window glass. When I inquired about the cruise control,
they told me that it was part of a $1700 option package that included
rear air and its controls and tinted windows. That didn't seem like a
bargain to me. I live in upstate new york, so AC doesn't work quite
so hard as it does in the south.

Honestly, it was only the Lifetime Drivetrain Warrantee that sold me
on another Chrysler product. My '94 Voyage (3.0 with 41TE) made it to
140K miles and the transmission was exhibiting early indications of
failure, since MTBF on these at the time was 60-80K, and it was living
on borrowed time, I traded it in on an '00 Voyager (2.4 with A603 3
speed). That van has 160K on it, and I did the transmission last year
for the second time. I was not going to buy another chrysler product,
but the Warrantee and the price were quite irresistable.
 >> Stay informed about: 2008 Caravan Cruise Control 

Gee, Ted.

Thanks for that wonderfully unheplful, negative screed. You've
managed to abuse the auto industry, their dealer and service networks,
my new vehicle and myself in the brief space of your message.

Do you work for the auto industry? It would seem so, becuase you've
been nearly unhelpful as some of the service people within Chryslers
'FiveStar' network.
 >> Stay informed about: 2008 Caravan Cruise Control 

"bruce" <baxterb.DeleteThis@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:139e2363-d24a-454b-919a-b68cc11005e3@c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> Gee, Ted.
>
> Thanks for that wonderfully unheplful, negative screed. You've
> managed to abuse the auto industry, their dealer and service networks,
> my new vehicle and myself in the brief space of your message.
>
> Do you work for the auto industry? It would seem so, becuase you've
> been nearly unhelpful as some of the service people within Chryslers
> 'FiveStar' network.

I understand your annoyance. I do my own wrenching on my own cars
and I've been surprised at the amount of special ordering that has
gone on. I really don't understand it. Logic says that an automakers
inventory costs go down the more of the same parts that they can
use across models. Logic also says an automakers costs go down the
more of the same parts that they can use WITHIN a given model
and it's various option permutations. Logic also says an automakers
costs go down the more of the same parts they can use from year to
year. But the reality I am observing is that automakers change
even trivial parts designs from model to model and year to year,
and option package to option package. I don't know why they
do this, maybe that's why new cars today cost $20K. Apparently
none of them learned anything from the VW Bug and the Model T.

Ted
 >> Stay informed about: 2008 Caravan Cruise Control 

i have installed hundreds of the audiovox actually Ralston kits
best aftermarket system made onlty draw bac is the handle sticks out
just make sure all connections in the wiring is soldered and you won't
have any issues
the dealer i worked at used these instead of chryslers because the cost
factor was way less

bruce wrote:

> I just bought a 2008 Grand Caravan SE Value. I didn't necessarily
> want to pay the dealer the $500 they said it costs to install Cruise
> Control, because I'm pretty sure it's a rather simple install since it
> probably has all the sensors and wiring in place already. I have some
> questions, hopefully to be answered by a friendly Chrysler Garage
> tech.
>
> Does anyone know a dealer who will sell me a cruise control unit on-
> line? I'm presuming there's an advantage to having a Chrysler
> designed unit since I read that they will control acceleration upon
> descent of a hill by downshifting.
> Is there any big downside to purchasing a generic unit like an
> audiovox? I presume that this won't control acceleration.the same was
> as an OEM. Will they interface with the existing sensors, etc?
> What is involved in installing the cruise control? I'm quite
> technical and competent; I've done motor rebuilds, heads, clutches,
> etc.
 >> Stay informed about: 2008 Caravan Cruise Control