Does the stock computer control cruise control at all?
Not on an 89.. There, the signal is generated behind the speedometer and split from the buffer. One signal to the ECM and one to the cruise.
On later cars, a signal is sent from the tranny to the ECM where it's split internally and sent to the speedometer and cruise seperately.
In other words, ditching the computer is easier on 89s than 90s.
On later cars, a signal is sent from the tranny to the ECM where it's split internally and sent to the speedometer and cruise seperately.
In other words, ditching the computer is easier on 89s than 90s.
It should. Assuming you don't hack up everything taking it out.
The signal wire is a brown wire, which it split right at the cluster connector. So the signal's first leg of it's trip after it's spit out the buffer is through the printed circuit on the back of the cluster to the right-hand side cluster connecter, where it's split. One goes off to cruise-land and the other goes to computer-land.
The signal wire is a brown wire, which it split right at the cluster connector. So the signal's first leg of it's trip after it's spit out the buffer is through the printed circuit on the back of the cluster to the right-hand side cluster connecter, where it's split. One goes off to cruise-land and the other goes to computer-land.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 137
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From: Maryland
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Transmission: 700R4 Auto
How about my 88 T/A (see sig)??? How does cruise work on this car? Also, if I were to go with an aftermarket computer system, what do I do about the transmission, or does the stock computer even control the tranny?
Last edited by MuttandJeff; Sep 5, 2002 at 02:33 PM.
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Originally posted by 89ProchargedROC
ok, but with my aftermarket computer if there is nothing in there to control that other signal, it wont work right?
or am i wrong and missing something?
ok, but with my aftermarket computer if there is nothing in there to control that other signal, it wont work right?
or am i wrong and missing something?
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
yes, it will work as long as the speedo head still has an operable vss buffer. The cruise has it's own control module independant of the ECM.
Originally posted by deadbird
yes, it will work as long as the speedo head still has an operable vss buffer. The cruise has it's own control module independant of the ECM.
yes, it will work as long as the speedo head still has an operable vss buffer. The cruise has it's own control module independant of the ECM.
Ok, 2 things:
1) good news and thank you for responding

2) i am not too good with electronics...what exactly is a VSS buffer and how would i know if it is operable?
Does this help?
i have a mechanical speedo and it will still work, i dont have a factory 700R4 tranny though
Thanks for the help
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,775
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
The VSS is located on the back of the speedo head (assimung it's a stock one). As long as you haven't messed with any of the wiring, it should be working. From the buffer a brown wire run to the cruise module and also splits to run to the ECM. Finding it is a matter of hunting thru wiring either where the ECM was or, at the harness where the ECM plugged into the regular underdash wiring. The VSS buffer puts out a pulsed (varies with speed) 5v signal.
Originally posted by deadbird
The VSS is located on the back of the speedo head (assimung it's a stock one). As long as you haven't messed with any of the wiring, it should be working. From the buffer a brown wire run to the cruise module and also splits to run to the ECM. Finding it is a matter of hunting thru wiring either where the ECM was or, at the harness where the ECM plugged into the regular underdash wiring. The VSS buffer puts out a pulsed (varies with speed) 5v signal.
The VSS is located on the back of the speedo head (assimung it's a stock one). As long as you haven't messed with any of the wiring, it should be working. From the buffer a brown wire run to the cruise module and also splits to run to the ECM. Finding it is a matter of hunting thru wiring either where the ECM was or, at the harness where the ECM plugged into the regular underdash wiring. The VSS buffer puts out a pulsed (varies with speed) 5v signal.
If i'm understanding this correctly....i'm going to have to generate a pulsed 5v signal somehow on my own to get it all to work?
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From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
Originally posted by 89ProchargedROC
I haven't messed with the speedo. I haven't messed with the cruise wiring, just "unplugged" it. I didn't cut any of it out in case i could still make it work.
I haven't messed with the speedo. I haven't messed with the cruise wiring, just "unplugged" it. I didn't cut any of it out in case i could still make it work.

The VSS buffer converts the signal down to 5v and sends it to the cruise and ECM via the brown wire.
Thanks a lot, i get it now. My friend explained to me that the brown wire just acts like a "signal" wire to tell the ECM the cruise is on but doesn't actually do anything.
AWESOME. Now i just need a new cruise moduel thingy with the cable...to the junkyard i go
AWESOME. Now i just need a new cruise moduel thingy with the cable...to the junkyard i go
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,775
Likes: 27
From: So.west IN
Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
The brown wire actually 'tells' the ECM how fast the car is going as well as the cruise.
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