HappyTrails

My 96 XJ Sport came with power door locks and power windows, but no cruise control. Last week I dug out the parts from another 96 Sport in the junk yard. Turned out the whole thing is plug and play. The Sport wiring harness in my XJ had the four wire connector already up by the battery for the vacuum solenoid. At first I did not think it was there. But tucked tight under the power distribution box was the connector taped back out of sight. Vacuum solenoid just screwed right the inner fender well. Prepunched holes were already there for the bracket. Vacuum line up the right inner fender already has the T connector for the vacuum solenoid connection. Just pulled out the plug in the T and connected on the short line from the solenoid. Cable bracket for the trans cable and throttle cable already have a space for the cruise control cable. Snapped it in no problem. Even the throttle assy has the lever with the unused connector for the Cruise control cable. Just hooked it right up.
I removed the lower steering column shroud (hidden screws are small torx screws) and found the four wire connector to the clock spring was already there. Cruise control takes a specific clock spring unit. So be sure to harvest that out of the junk yard as well if you want to mount the switch assy back on the steering wheel. I opted to add some wire extensions and just mount the switch assy on the left edge of the console ahead of the seat. This way I did not have to remove my steering wheel and pay the extra they wanted for the clock spring. The cruise control switch assy easily comes off the donor's steering wheel. On the 96 XJ, and the 95 Grands, its all the same. They have the inertial, rather than electronic air bag. To get that off to access the cruise switch and wiring, remove the plug on the top of the steering wheel behind the air bag and unscrew the arming pin. Doing so also lifts an intentionally obstructive plate that rests in front of the top two air bag nuts. You cannot get those nuts off without this step. Undo the four air bag nuts from the back side of the steering wheel, stand aside, and pull off the airbag. Best not to toss it across the yard, since it operates on inertial impact. On the other hand, hmmmm.......
Once the air bag is off, the switch and wiring can come right out. If you want the clock spring, bring a steering wheel puller. If not, cut the wires at the clock spring and take as much of that short harness as possible with the switch assy. On the lower side of the back of the clock spring is the other connector in that circuit. It carries the horn circuit wire as well as the Cruise Control wires. You will have to keep your black and red horn relay ground wire from the dash harness connected to the clock spring. But note which wires belong to which on the donor. The in and out wiring on the clock spring are different color codes. Make notes or take pictures.
This whole project was a lot easier that I thought it would be. And it looks like most 95-96 Mopar vans, sedans, jeep, trucks use the same switch assy and vacuum hdw. They seem very plentiful in the junk yards and very easy to install.
Works amazingly well. Kicks in at 35 mph just like is says in the owners manual.
Hope this helps others thinking of the same project.
Also, I don't know if the SE harness is the same. It might be dumbed down and not have the wiring already built in.

Next are the power mirrors I salvaged. Does anyone know if wiring for this is already in the 96 Sport?

Blmhawkeye

Awsome, know what im pickn up at the yard.

HappyTrails

Let us know how it goes.
Remember to keep the black and red wire circiuit connected under the steering wheel at the back of the clock spring. You may need to jumper it if your are using a remote switch location. Your horn will not work otherwise.

nicpaige

Glad your went well, mine not so much. I swapped in all the parts and the cruise light comes on but nothing happens. I can hear the servo clicking but thats about it, then the cruise light goes out and wont come back on until you shut car off and start over.

HappyTrails

Hmmm. Lets figure this out. First, did you install the switch assy back on the steering wheel, or do a remote mount and wire splices.

If remote, make sure the wire splices are all proper: to the right wires. Nice soldered connections preferably.

Was the connector to the servo well cleaned before plugging in? I found mine very dirty from sitting open under the hood for 17 years. I cleaned it very well with spray electronics cleaner and wiped in off as good as I could.

Also, what year is the donor vehicle? Similar year and trim package? I got dumb and lucky and found another 96 Sport auto 6 cyl. Who knows what boogy men are programmed into the computers on various models for various options and features. I was concerned that the maybe I would get it all plugged in and the computer would not know what to do with it.

And, lastly, is the vacuum source hooked up well? Is the servo leaking? Do some checking around with that and see what you find. Is the vacuum reservoir ok? Its the black football under the right headlight. Some owners have discarded these, thinking they do nothing. Well, they almost do nothing. Being a vacuum reservoir is about the lowest level job a part can have on a car. But it is important.

Let us know how it goes.
How long ago was the installation?

nicpaige

The switches were installed from another 2000 XJ. The clockspring is brand new OEM for 2000 XJ. The cruise servo was harvested from a 96-98 XJ from junkyard. I did have to solder the connector plug from the junk yard car into my harness as the plugs were different sizes. Same wire configuration just physically different. I cannot see or hear any vacuum problems and verified vacuum to the servo. I can hear the servo click when I push the cruise on/off button. Im thinking the servo I picked up is bad. It concerns me that I had to change the plug as well.

SoCalxJ4.0

Make sure every part is from the same year. I had an issue putting it into my dads, he has a 2000. We had a servo from a 98, found out end of 99 they changed stuff.

nicpaige

Picking one up from a 2000 tomorrow.

jmonts

Check the wiring.
They seem to have wired things differently starting in 99. I nabbed a headliner and all the lights from a 99 for my 97 and had to change two wires around so the lights would come on when the door was open, instead of coming on when I closed the door. But I used my stock harness and 99 dome lights.

nicpaige

Can anyone tell me if a 2000 Cherokee with cruise has a different brake switch than one without cruise control?

jakecarder

I don't know for sure but if no one else knows off the top of their head I have a 2000 with cruise and you can tell me what to look for and compare to yours. I also have a 97 parts jeep with cruise so if your looking for parts maybe we can strike a deal. Let me know buddy

nicpaige

Replaced the servo motor with a 2000 model and also replaced the instrument cluster to try and get rid of the "NO BUS" monster. Neither helped. Had to disconnect the horns the other day because they come on and wont go off at random times of day and night. Looking for a deep ditch to roll this thing into very soon. I hate electrical issues! All this no bus stuff started when I replaced the crank sensor, maybe I should buy an oem sensor and start at the beginning. I guess I will start my own thread, dont want to keep hijacking this one.

JPayne

I have a 96 XJ sport and pulled the parts from junkyard for cruise control. I have the servo installed and am trying to install the clock spring. Can't seem to find the harness under dash for clock spring with cruise cable. Any ideas