Having got myself married at the weekend, I'm now ready to embark on my first car-related project! I want to retrofit cruise control to my mk1 octy vRS, and really want to have a crack at it myself. So far, I've studied this guide (http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/223636-diy-guide-for-fitting-cruise-control/), which makes it look doable, but a bit fiddly. From reading other threads, my main concern is that I'd plug the wires in incorrectly, but that I wouldn't realise my mistake until putting everything back together. My first question is:

 

does anyone know of a way to test if the cruise control works without having to put the car back together first for a test drive?

 

 

My other issue is that I'd end up spending a weekend messing up my car, when for £20 extra I could just take it to awesomeGTI to fit for £120 + £10 petrol (vs. £90 for cruise control kit on ebay, £20 for VCDS cable from http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VAGUSB.html). It appears that the correct cruise stalks crop up on ebay for £30 or so, but then I'd have to find the appropriate looms. So my second question is:

 

what's the cheapest way to get all the right parts for a cruise retrofit?

 

 

Finally, could someone explain this 'update' in the DIY guide in a little more detail? The threads I've found so far have just confused me (some mention drilling holes somewhere to fit a single loom).

 

 

Note: update 

This DIY guide is referencing 2 looms I used. 

More recently VW, Skoda and Seat have released a single loom kit for the 1.8t and other variants which would make the install slightly easier as you do not need to join as many cables however the principal of fitting the kit is the same so the guide is still usable to those who have the newer single loom kit.

 

 

Thanks in advance for any replies. All help is much appreciated, although please explain stuff as if you're talking to a complete car n00b so I stand a chance of understanding what you're on about!

 

 

P.S. If this works on my car, I've offered to fit it to my sister's golf. She's got a mk4 golf, but it had an engine replaced in 2007 (warranty job) - any feeling on if the cruise fit would still be the same as for my octy?

Where are you based? PSI Tuning in Stoke did mine for £99 fitted.

http://www.psituning.com/product.php?xProd=21411

I charge £180 to supply and fit CC.

i fitted cruise to my 19 tdi - the main difference between the two is that on the deisel the loom is already in the car from the plug box under the wipers to the ECU.  This means I just fitted toe loom into the plug box under the wipers (the loom pins are numbered, the plug sockets are  numbered...its hard to get it wrong to be honest).

On the petrol models (as I understand it) yopu have to fit the loom into the plug box and along to the ECU and fit it into the ECU plug (either 80 or 120 pin, think the VRS is 120) so it is a bit more difficlt.

It took me a day, going steady - you have to remove the steering wheel (take battery off at least 1/2 hour before to avoid airbag light), strip the dash in front of the driver to access the bottom of the plug box, change the wiper stalk, remove wipers and motor, and in your case fir the extra loom.

Then of course you have to get it switched on via VAGCOM or VDSC.

I did mine OK, but if I were you and you can get someone to fit it for a few quid more, and activate it, just pay them.

I got mine from VAG for £71 plus VAT, just for your info, but I have since been told its cheaper from a Skoda dealership.

I pretty much do everything on my cars myself, and this is one job (where i had the same predicament as you) as to whether i should pay someone to do it for a few quid more or spend a lot of time fitting. However having watched this done several times before i know its a fiddly job and that my time was worth more to me so instead i got Tech1e to do it for me. He can do a pro install having done hundreds before as a VAG mastertech much quicker and better than i ever could. (he also does a geat job btw and he isn't a million miles from you by the look of it).

 

The kits are now around 90ish on ebay, after speaking to the company on ebay who sell them (vwteeside), the vrs needs the additional loom too that vwteeside supply at an extra price iirc. That plus one of these pin removal tools (to make life much simpler http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tool-For-Specifically-Removing-Of-Terminal-Block-on-Volkswagen-Audi-vehicles-/181120912436?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2a2ba5cc34) means it really wasnt worth the effort/risk/grief!

 

I also have vag.com to activate it, if you don't you will need to get it in order to actually get it working once fitted.

 

A lot of work for not a lot of saving if you are near someone who can fit it for a good price imo!

Agree I would go techie evertime

Guys done more of these than I've had hot dinners legend

I fitted cruise control to my vRS only just yesterday.
Honest opinion? Id do it again! Long but relatively easy! (Im an aircraft engineer so my easy may not be so)
The only real problem i had was releasing the locking block from the fuse box, and i stabbed myself with a screwdriver doing it!
I used this guide > http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=359436 (few very minor differences i found) and i used this kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-1-8T-1-4-1-6-16v-Cruise-Control-Kit-/360619678271?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item53f69b9a3f (Could have probably got it cheaper elsewhere but it arrived the following day)

It literally took me less than 5 hours to do and i would recommend anyone to try it (provided they have the time/tools/patience/flexibility)

Of the 2 looms that came with the kit the one with the smaller pins on one end turned out to be for the 1.8t ECU

Just fitted a kit for member this morning.

1.5 hours including chatting etc. Used the genuine kit from Skoda just one single loom. The fuse box connector is a lot easier to remove with the correct release tool once the terminal locking bar is moved across.

Revive this,

 

How much would this be now to fit?

Where are you based Tech1e?

 

7 hours ago, billy2981 said:

Revive this,

 

How much would this be now to fit?

Where are you based Tech1e?

 

Mentioning @Tech1e so he sees the message.

7 hours ago, billy2981 said:

Revive this,

 

How much would this be now to fit?

Where are you based Tech1e?

 

Still £180, near Worcester.