DIY: Cruise Control Installation On My Fiat Abarth Urban Cross Avventura

[Raaj]

The procedure I followed below is on my Fiat Urban Cross Abarth which has 1.4 Tjet engine. But this would be same for Punto Abarth and Avventura Abarth too as all these three cars share same mechanical and electrical things except few cosmetic/suspension changes.

Prelude: Ever since I bought my UC Abarth, I was fascinated to install Cruise Control as it would be really comfortable on long drives. It also works as a good tool to control our adrenaline not to go over speeding and Yes, not to forget, good mileage too. As usual, Fiat provided the Cruise Control in their European models of Punto/Abarth, but not in India. So, thought of retrofitting it and the search was began.


With some search, I came to know the combination switch part number that could fit for Puntos/Abarths released worldwide. So, I imported genuine part from Italy. I thought it could be straight fit and when I opened the stock combination switch in my car, I found there was no harness for cruise control. I was still positive and opened the Body Computer module. Let the pictures speaks the rest of the story.

Euro-spec Punto Combination Switch with Cruise Control arrived from Italy with good packing












Stock Combination switch without CC Stalk




You can see there's no harness for the cruise control






Fiat India installed Linea BCM with 36 pins. In Europe, they had installed 60 pin BCM which is compatible with Cruise Control combination switch that I had mported.



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With the above experiment, I came to know, (For my horror), Fiat India have installed Linea Body computer in Indian Abarths. It was really shocking for me as I thought they would have provided everything on hand for the price we had paid. I cursed myself for not doing proper research/experiment before importing the international combination switch which become utter waste.

Disheartened and demotivated. Now What?

 

[Raaj]

Project Continued....!!!

Mr. Rajan Sir have installed Cruise Control in his Linea Tjet a long ago, but I wasn't sure whether it could be possible in Abarth as they might have changed the ECU and other things over the years. So, with the help of Rajan Sir through our Veterans Garage whatsapp group, I began to experiment on my ECU to know whether this ECU is already programmed for Cruise Control or not. I might be stupid or ambitious or mad, I had opened the connector of ECU and tested on the port number 85 by powering it with a wire from 7.5amp fuse with 330 ohms resister in between. When I started this experiment, the excitement at our Whatsapp group was no less than a T20 cricket match as I don't know what surprise Iam going to have again.

A few pics of my experiment on this:

ECU Connector (Left One, Bottom Side)



ECU Connector (Left One, Up Side. You can also see a protective lid )



330 ohms resister



Powered a wire with 330 ohms resister into ECU port number 85 and then configured with MES


And voila, the result.
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[Raaj]

Using MultiECUScan and AlfaOBD softwares, came to know the following things of my Car.

ECU:
Bosch ME7.9.10
Bosch Number: 0261S11343
Fiat Number: 55269849
Software Number: 555777

Body Computer aka BCM:
Fiat drawing number: 51966727
Hardware Number: BC323L.0100
Hardware Version: 03
Software Number: 04440004106
Software Version: F002


So,with the above experiment, I came to know Cruise Control can be done in my Abarth.

 

[Raaj]

Stalk Installation

The above experiment injected new energy in me and continued my project.

Now I have three options.

• Linea Combination Switch with Cruise Control Stalk: This would be a direct fit as the mechanism and body computer is the same. But you still need to make the harness to ECU to support it. But, the big flaw is you would loose the rear wiper control as the Linea Combiswitch doesn't have it. So, ruled out.

• Peugeot Cruise Control Stalk: This stalk is easily available at very affordable price in Aliexpress. But it isn’t a direct fit as we need to cut and open the stalk and then need to solder to meet the requirements of this car. The output could be cumbersome and may not be good in long term usage as the soldering should be done on magnetic strip which is vulnerable anytime. So, ruled out.

• Alfa 147 stalk: This is other alternative and the most stable fit for Indian Abarths. Still we need to do so much groundwork to fit this one. But, output will be good.


So, I rounded on Alfa 147 stalk and imported it from UK with the help of my fellow Abarth friend Mr. Naresh (A million thanks to him, without his support, this wouldn’t have happened) and then go ahead for the installation.

To install this Alfa147 Cruise stalk, we need few things as below.

• 5 different colored wires each of 2 meters with the size of 26 AWG. As I couldn't find them in local market, I have used 1 squire wires made by Minda, Finolex and Roots. If you want 26 AWG only, you may get something like this...https://www.aliexpress.com/item/50m-...742659002.html
• 4 TE MQS Connectors. I bought this... https://in.rsdelivers.com/product/te...-crimp/7121810
• 4 way connectors - 1 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/BENK...680924984.html
• 1 way connectors - 2 - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10-s...833552639.html
• 12v Fuse Adaptor (Mini Size) to get the power from Fuse box - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/12V-...809153521.html
• 2 Meters corrugated PVC tube (Any automotive electrical shop will have it. Preferably choose a black one as it looks good in engine bay)
• ELM 327 BT or ELM 327 USB OBD scanner (I used Vgate Bluetooth OBD II Scanner) - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Vgat...849704666.html
• MultiECUScan Software
• Some hand tools

Important: Before starting installation, we need to remove battery negative terminal and wait for 10 minutes.

Now, let the pictures speaks the installation part

This is how Alfa147 combination switch arrived. First, we have to dismantle the Cruise Control stalk from it.


CC Stalk dismantle process



After removing the stalk from Alfa147 Combibox


Corrugated PVC tube


1 Square cables and PVC pipe


Crimped and ready to install MQS connector wires



Fuse adapter



Important: The CC stalk wires represent as this.
Yellow - to get 12V power from fuse box in the cabin through an adaptor
Green - Goes to Pin number 61 in ECU - Representing Green wire in ECU (Resume)
Red- Goes to Pin number 84 in ECU - Representing Black wire in ECU (+ Signal, to increase speed)
Orange - Goes to Pin number 85 in ECU - Representing Light Green wire in ECU (On/Off)
Blue - Goes to Pin number 86 in ECU - Representing Red wire in ECU (- Signal, to decrease the speed)



PVC tube with wires going into cabin from the left corner (driver side)



CC wires passed from Engine Bay which were diverted to reach the CC stalk just below steering.



Fuse adaptor taking the power source from a 7.5amp



Then, you have to remove ECU left side connector to insert MQS pins in the connector. This picture is after installing the MQS pins at the slots of 61, 84,85 & 86 (Please note, you should remove the battery negative terminal and wait for 10 minutes, before doing this procedure)


This is how it looks after installing the MQS pins in ECU connector


Making hole to fit CC stalk on Steering trim plug



This is how it looks like after cutting extra plastic cladding to be able to fit on plug



Ready to install





Done.


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To be continued.....!!!
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[Raaj]

Activation of Cruise Control

Now that I installed stalk and wires in ECU, we can run the car with Cruise Control. But, CC light, On/Off signals won't be displayed in instrument panel. For that, we need to activate the Cruise Control in different modules such as Engine, Dashboard and Body modules.

First we need to insert the OBD2 device in OBD port and then put the key on MAR position. If OBD device wasn't already paired with your laptop, please do so. As I mentioned earlier, I had used VGate OBD2 bluetooth device. Alternatively, you can also use ELM 327 USB OBD device.

Now, you have to start Multi ECU Scan software in the laptop and connect to Fiat Idea 1.4 16V model and do the exact following steps as in the pictures

This procedure not necessarily needed. But it gives an affirmation to know whether all the options are working in right way or not.
















Proxy alignment is the most important step. Without this being completed, you cannot see the CC messages in the instrument panel.























After completion of Proxy Alignment process, turn off the car, wait for few seconds and then turn the key to MAR position. You can see the Cruise Control light. And when you switch on/off the CC Stalk, You would see the messages on instrumental panel like below.








Cruising comfortably at 95 speeds




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Now, every time you switch on the car, you can see CC light on control panel. Also whenever you switch On/Off the cruise stalk, you can see the CC ON/OFF messages on the panel.

Procedure to use the Cruise Control: Switch on the car and turn on CC. When car reaches speeds, say for example 60 in 4th/5th gear, set the desired speed by pressing + or - on the stalk and then leave it. This speed would be stored in the memory and would continue in that speed. Cruise Control would be deactivated when we press either clutch or brake pedals. You will have to press RES button to activate cruise control again. The stored memory will be erased once the car engine is off.
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[Raaj]

Conclusion

• The trauma I've gone through for this project is very painful, majorly because, Fiat India installed different BCM in Indian Abarths. It would have been nice if they had installed Eurospec Punto BCM version at least in Abarths or should have been offered Cruise Control as an option for some premium.

• I invested so much amount by importing Eurospec Punto Combination Switch which is not compatible in Indian Abarths/Puntos. I might lost my amount, but this experiment may save the money of other people, if they go through this thread.

• Like all's well that ends well, iam happy to complete this project atleast in other method.

• Cruise Control gives good comfort and mileage on long journeys. But please use it sensibly. Avoid setting higher speeds on Cruise Control. IMHO, cruise can be best enjoyed between 80 to 100 speeds and setting anything above is a kind of suicide on our roads.

• Use Cruise Control on highways only, especially when you see open roads. Don't use it in city/dense traffic.

• With this DIY, my car become the first ever Abarth in India with Cruise Control. As a matter of fact, first ever in Punto platform with Cruise Control.

• Last but not least, thanks a lot to Mr. Rajan Sir for his guidance through our Whatsapp group "Veterans Garage".

• Hope you like this DIY and any feedback would be appreciated.

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[350Z]

Note: Thread now live. Excellent thread. Thanks!

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[Nairrk]

Congratulations for successful installation of Cruise Control on your Abarth.

Excellent job.!

 

[Raaj]

Note: Thread now live. Excellent thread. Thanks!

Drive Safe,
350Z

Thanks very much Vibhor for your kind words and for moving the thread in right time, besides its Sunday. I really appreciate that.

Congratulations for successful installation of Cruise Control on your Abarth.
Excellent job.!

Thanks a lot Nairrk for your appreciating words.

 

[ppraveen576]

Good one, can you share the whatsapp group join link please

 

[Raaj]

Good one, can you share the whatsapp group join link please

Thank You. It's not an open group to publish the link here. Only like minded people are invited privately. If you are interested, you can send me your details on a private message.



Regards

 

[Raaj]

Thanks to Mod team

Thanks to the Moderator team for making this thread as front page news. Iam honored. Thanks for the support.

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[bhvm]

My my!
Hats off to you for such a complicated and delicate endeavor!
I believe you've had your fair share of nerve wracking moments too...

Tested the Cruise on highway yet?

 

[Raaj]

My my!
Hats off to you for such a complicated and delicate endeavor!
I believe you've had your fair share of nerve wracking moments too...

Tested the Cruise on highway yet?

Hi bhvm,

First of all sorry for the late reply. Secondly, thanks for your kind appreciation.

Yes, had some spine chilling moments when experimenting. There are few people done CC projects previously on their Tjets, but I being the first one experimenting on Abarth and you never know what Fiat installs on their cars. But, like all ends that ends well, now all those memories are really nice.

Yes, did few highway trips already. Believe me, it gives great comfort and relax and not to forget, awesome mileage too, if you drive in sane speeds.

Thanks & Regards,
Raaj.

 

[syedzainul]

Hello all, Can anyone have the contact details of Raaj