Another dealer installing area451 CC (OH)

[jwight]

He could probably have done it faster if we weren't standing around BSing with him.

[Terry Stibal]

Thirty minutes is a bit on the fast side, but with practice you could probably attain that rate. Other than size issues (I'm a very tight fit in the footwell, and had no end of trouble getting the screws in the steering column clamshell once it was all up and running), routing and plugging it in is like falling off of a log.

I would go so far as to say that ANYONE who can read and comprehend instructions can do it. I'm willing to help out anyone here in the Houston area who wants to install one, and I'm too lazy to make such an offer if the process is real "work".

[SmartieParts]

Originally Posted by Dickay1

Did have an occasion today when I slowed down, and pushed it in again, but it didn't work. Had a blinking red light. Waited a few, and pushed it again, works great?

If you were braking when you pushed the button then the unit is programmed to disable the cruise until both the button and brake are released and in the meantime the light rapidly flashes. That is one possibility. If it was a slow/steady flash, then it indicates one of the following (the first 2 mentioned by John):

1. You're holding the button to accelerate. It blinks until you let go.
2. Your car is currently above the set speed by a few mph for whatever reason (for example, gravity causing you to accelerate down a steep hill). It blinks until you get close to the set speed again.
3. You're pressing the accelerator down harder than the cruise is virtually pressing it. Most common example is you're passing or similar. It blinks until you release the pedal.
4. You've engaged the resume feature. Whether above or below the previously set speed, it blinks until you're within a few mph.

The slow flash is there to tell you that nothing is necessarily wrong, but that you're currently not at the set speed and/or the cruise isn't actively in control (either your foot is or gravity is, etc) but is still engaged.

The fast flash indicates a "stuck button" test has occurred as described above and the cruise is temporarily disabled until the problem has been corrected. The presumption that the button is stuck is for safety reasons (in case it really is stuck) because a computer can't distinguish if you're meaning to press the button or not. So if you press the brake at the same time as the button, the presumption is that the button is stuck and you're therefore accelerating and have reacted by pressing the brake. I hope that makes sense. I've never felt like I've been able to explain it well.

- Steven

ps. Me do it in half an hour? Well, my personal record is 22 minutes of actual install time. I'd say 40 is more typical. But when you factor in setup/tear-down/testing for installing on a single car, you can probably triple that figure. And then factor in that nobody on the planet has installed as many as me... well, I personally stand by shops that bill for 2 hours for the install. I'd say that's about right. That install session in WI was different because I had the luxury of doing one after another after another so it shouldn't be compared to that.

[Dickay1]

Thanks for the explination Steven. I'm not sure exactly what happened. I'll have to try to figure out what I am doing if/when it happens again. I know I had just left a construction zone with a 45 mph speed limit. I "think" I pushed the gas to speed up, and then pushed in the control to accept that new, faster speed. When I finished pushing, the cc was not picking up. Again, I know it is something I did, I'm just not sure what. I'll watch closely.

As to the cruise, I absolutely love it. I am so happy the Smart center in Cincy is installing them. Thanks for a great product!

Dick

[SmartieParts]

From your description, I think the most likely scenario is what John suggested... that you held the button longer than 0.5 seconds which then triggered the resume feature and you resumed to your previous (lower) speed and it was waiting for the car to decelerate to that speed.

Tapping button (less than 1/2 second): turns cruise on or off.
Press and hold > 1/2 second: resumes previous speed if cruise is off; accelerates if cruise is on

- Steven

[tabevan2052]

I got my 451 CC (from another member here in SCOA) in Dec and had to leave for a funeral in Seattle. I was able to get Car Toys Tukwullia to install ($240.00 took 45 min) , great guys and they deserve a attaboy! So here it is , ATTABOY!

It is within the manufacturers capability to build the CC into the ECU. I know as my 08 Dodge truck took ONE switch with a plug-in to get the CC installed (drive by wire system). On my 04 Pt Cruiser it took parts to ingrate with the ECU (again already programed in) to get CC working.

The Europeans have a CAST system that infers "you are task orientated and cannot work outside those boundaries". Hence , no PAPER repair manuals are available..... Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Hell the ability to be multi-task orientated is what has made this country the greatest on the PLANET! This and may other great folks with hard work and better ideas.....

[SmartieParts]

Originally Posted by tabevan2052

It is within the manufacturers capability to build the CC into the ECU. I know as my 08 Dodge truck took ONE switch with a plug-in to get the CC installed (drive by wire system). On my 04 Pt Cruiser it took parts to ingrate with the ECU (again already programed in) to get CC working.

And with your smart, it took an Area 451 cruise control. Of course the manufacturer (smart) COULD have included the program in the ECU. They didn't. Interestingly though... they used to. The older (450) smart just needed a factory cruise switch and a dealer to "turn it on". In Canada and other markets where cruise was never offered, it was frustrating because we knew the car could have it but the dealers had no way of turning it on. So we still relied on 3rd party cruise units. For the 451 though - smart did not include cruise in any market anywhere. They clearly thought about it... on the dash is an icon printed in the film for cruise. But obviously they decided against it after printing the film but prior to completing the electronics because the circuit board doesn't have the related surface mount LED. You don't save $0.03 per car unless you're sure you're not having that option

- Steven

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by SmartieParts

... on the dash is an icon printed in the film for cruise. But obviously they decided against it after printing the film but prior to completing the electronics because the circuit board doesn't have the related surface mount LED....

- Steven

OH, but SOME of do now, thanks to John_H

[SmartieParts]

Yes, of course!

(for clarification to people unfamiliar: John makes an excellent LED modification kit for the Area 451 cruise that allows you to light up the cruise icon in the dash)