Cruise control switch/stalk, can't find one

[knever3]

First off, this should not be this difficult.  I cannot find a cruise control switch/stalk, turn signal lever, whatever you call it.  My usual go-to is RockAuto, but they don't have anything listed for any year Jeep Cherokee/Comanche.  I would expect this to be similar to any GM product, but the information is all over the place.  The usual parts stores don't list anything either.  Sure, I could buy 10 different foreign ones from Amazon that state they fit, but it seems like Omix/Dorman/Standard would make something like this.  I looked through these websites and they don't list anything whatsoever.

 

Just so we're clear, this is what I am looking for: 1987 Comanche, Auto, Tilt column, Delay Wipers, Cruise Control

 

[eaglescout526]

1 hour ago, knever3 said:

Just so we're clear, this is what I am looking for: 1987 Comanche, Auto, Tilt column, Delay Wipers, Cruise Control

Correct. GM ones do fit and are more correct for your 87. The one pictured is late 89-94. Oh and the GM ones are ironically cheaper than ones that are sold to fit Jeep. 

[knever3]

What part number?  I would like to buy a nice one, not some cheap thing.  I have seen these from $15-$160

[eaglescout526]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/371107724163?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=tqSprHJARiK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=n7myxbO3SYC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
 

I used to buy this one for the cruise control kits I used to sell. 

[knever3]

Thanks!  I kind of wanted a black one, but with the new tilt column lever being chrome, might as well!

[eaglescout526]

Might as well match unless you find a later tilt column that has the black tilt lever. But those Jeep ones are stupid expensive even if you find a cheap one. I vaguely remember Chrysler still having some you could get but that was almost a couple years ago. 

[pizzaman09]

I purchased this, works great.  Only complaint is the mist function doesn't spring back all the way without a little help as it's a decently tight assembly.  I assume it will wear in with use.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BPHV18C?ref_=icdp_ba_mweb_mb_pd_bap_m_grid_rp_0_1_ec_ppx_aw_ya_bia_gf&clientRefMarker=pd_bap_m_grid_rp_0_1_ec_ppx_aw_ya_bia_gf&heartsTeamIdentifier=buyagain&psc=1&heartDisabled=true

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

@knever3, please post how your repair works out.  My factory cruise control has been replaced with my right foot for quite a few years now, I would not mind getting the original back!

[knever3]

I will update when installed.  I am going to wait till spring when I can drive my car though.  I feel this is going to be a "While you're in there" project since I have so much wiring under the dash.  

 

Just for reference:

 

My truck is an '87, it was manual, it had no cruise, non-tilt, no delay wipers, so I swapped in a '90 Cherokee non-tilt column Auto.  It didn't have delay wipers or cruise so I put both modules in and ordered a cheap cruise stalk.  The stalk was garbage, when I installed it I pulled it out the first time because the delay portion was jammed against the inner part making it hard to turn.  When I pulled it out the shaft came out, the knurling wasn't enough to hold it onto the plastic.  Some glue made it work, but it was still tough to turn.

 

My headlight switch is bad because my interior lights sometimes work, sometimes not, right side, or no pillar lights.  I have a new headlight switch.  I installed a remote start and keyless entry, adding door actuators and that wiring is under the dash.  Of course, the gigantic ECM, cruise module, sentinel (that doesn't work), door buzzer that doesn't buzz when the key is in/door open, or when the headlights are turned on.  

 

There is a 4 wire harness that goes left to right, one wire being the lockup for the torque converter, the other 3 I don't have a clue since my electrical manual shows the wires being another color altogether.  My drivers side footwell light I sourced from ebay only works when the key is in the ignition, the other footwell one works fine when either door is opened.

 

As you can see, I have a LOT of work to do!  Oh yeah, a crossover stuffed in the kick panel from a component set I am ditching since I am going active with a Helix DSP and two amps. 

 

Whew!  

[89 MJ]

33 minutes ago, AnotherOldJeepGuy said:

@knever3, please post how your repair works out.  My factory cruise control has been replaced with my right foot for quite a few years now, I would not mind getting the original back!

Is it just the stalk that is screwed up with yours? Could always make a new post about it if that’s not the issue and I’m sure @eaglescout526 will have a solution. 

[eaglescout526]

1 hour ago, AnotherOldJeepGuy said:

@knever3, please post how your repair works out.  My factory cruise control has been replaced with my right foot for quite a few years now, I would not mind getting the original back!

There’s so much than can go wrong or fail with the AMC/Dana cruise control. 

[pizzaman09]

3 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

Is it just the stalk that is screwed up with yours? Could always make a new post about it if that’s not the issue and I’m sure @eaglescout526 will have a solution. 

If you get another stalk to try, just put it in under the dash to try before going through the fun process of fishing a wire down the steering column.  The stall was the issue my cruise control has, it just had a worn out cruise switch.

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

For the moment I only know two things about the cruise control that did at one time work:

1.  Cruise doesn't work.

2. There appears to be a broken wire that may or may not have anything to do with this problem.  FWIW, the other functions of the control do still work, so that would seem to suggest the one thing that doesn't work might be due to the one thing I can see that is presumably broken (I'll assume a disconnected wires is not per spec).

 

If I could see/reach the other end of the broken wire I would try reconnecting it, but I can only see the piece in the pic.  But since I have multiple other more pressing issues, I'll keep this one on the back burner, and be a fly on the wall to this thread for the time being.

 

[pizzaman09]

22 minutes ago, AnotherOldJeepGuy said:

For the moment I only know two things about the cruise control that did at one time work:

1.  Cruise doesn't work.

2. There appears to be a broken wire that may or may not have anything to do with this problem.  FWIW, the other functions of the control do still work, so that would seem to suggest the one thing that doesn't work might be due to the one thing I can see that is presumably broken (I'll assume a disconnected wires is not per spec).

 

If I could see/reach the other end of the broken wire I would try reconnecting it, but I can only see the piece in the pic.  But since I have multiple other more pressing issues, I'll keep this one on the back burner, and be a fly on the wall to this thread for the time being.

 

That is the wire for the cruise control.

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

2 minutes ago, pizzaman09 said:

That is the wire for the cruise control.

  Now if I could only reach the other end!

[eaglescout526]

1 hour ago, AnotherOldJeepGuy said:

  Now if I could only reach the other end!

Now hang on. Are you sure you have all the parts? That pic looks like someone snipped the wire from the junkyard and stuffed that one I’m hoping for an instant upgrade. 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

At the moment all I am sure of are the same 2 bullets but with the input from @pizzaman09 I feel like my amount of sure about my guess on the wire is stronger.

[pizzaman09]

1 hour ago, AnotherOldJeepGuy said:

  Now if I could only reach the other end!

The broken end is probably in the steering column, but the other connection end is under the dash and accessible.  It is challenging but one can fish the new wire down the column.

[fiatslug87]

I think what eaglescout526 is asking is do you have the servo and everything else under the hood for cruise control?

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

1 hour ago, fiatslug87 said:

I think what eaglescout526 is asking is do you have the servo and everything else under the hood for cruise control?

Ah OK.  Well I would assume I do since the cruse control used to work. 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

1 hour ago, pizzaman09 said:

The broken end is probably in the steering column, but the other connection end is under the dash and accessible.  It is challenging but one can fish the new wire down the column.

So it sounds like if I could identify the accessible wire under the dash, I could just connect that point to the loose end at the control arm, and verify the cruse control functionally before attempting the more difficult fishing expedition for a more cosmetic fix.  For that matter, if that makes cruse functional, I could just secure that connection outside the column and call it a day, it would not be the only thing less than visually attractive in the cab..

[fiatslug87]

1 hour ago, AnotherOldJeepGuy said:

Ah OK.  Well I would assume I do since the cruse control used to work. 

That’s kind of strange that the wire would just get cut on its own.

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

Agreed.  Late last night I had a memory cell come back on so I looked it up this morning.  That memory was from quite a while back, and the cruise has not worked since quite a while back.  The memory was from a service done, recommended by a mechanic, that once looked up, was "tighten steering column" and was done in 2008.  Back in those days way before the relatively recent retirement I did less of the repairs myself and took fewer road trips (which is essentially the only time I use cruise) since 3 kids would not really fit in the cab at the same time.  It is entirely possible that recommended service included severing that wire, and I can easily see that by the time I had the opportunity to use it again enough time had passed that I may not have made the connection, pun intended.  In either case, the wire is open now, and its a bit late to take it back to that shop and call them on it.

[pizzaman09]

Well, the connection in the bottom is easy to find.  This thread has photos of the two connectors.  The thin one comes from the stalk, the blocky connector goes to the cruise system.

https://comancheclub.com/topic/54804-cruise-control-stalk-connector-connects-to-what-connector/

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

On 2/13/2025 at 8:15 PM, pizzaman09 said:

Well, the connection in the bottom is easy to find.

Would you say this is the end/connection at the other end of my broken/cut wire?  Does it just pull out or is there a latching of some kind to look for?