texasedition

I bought the new switches for my cruise control on my steering wheel. Anyone ever changed them? 01 F150

torkum

Gotta remove the airbag to get to them

BlueSmoke

Are the original ones defective? I've read online of trucks burning to the ground because of cruise control. I've never used mine for fear of this. Can anyone elaborate.

texasedition

Ya. I found out how to test the cruise control at work. My on button feels really funny. So I narrowed it down to the button cause when I press on it won't come on but the system is working proper. As far as the system catching on fire. Stop by your local ford dealer and have them check your vin and see if the recall has been performed. My truck was never under the recall.

texasedition

If anyone knows where to find a chart for it let me know.

Fordtrucktexan

It's pretty easy really... find a set on ebay but remember 97-98 F150's have blue lighting and 99-03 have green. Not sure if the wiring is different between the two. Anyway... disconnect the negative battery terminal and flash the headlights to discharge the electrical system. On the backside of the steering wheel there's two small round plastic covers. Pop them off and behind each one is (I think) an 8mm bolt. Might be 9mm. Either way, remove the bolts and the airbag will come off the steering wheel. Carefully unhook the airbag electrical connectors and set it face down on the passenger seat or somewhere where it won't get touched. Supposedly it can be set off just from static electricity. I've never tested the theory. With the airbag off, disconnect the remaining electrical connectors, there should be two. In the middle of the steering wheel you'll see a large torx head screw, loosen it to there's about a 1/2" of space between the head and the aluminum frame of the steering wheel. Take a universal 3 jaw puller (available at most parts stores and harbor freight) and line up the jaws around the aluminum steering wheel frame, with the center screw of the puller set directly on the head of the torx steering wheel screw. Tighten the puller until the steering wheel pops off the column. Remove the puller and remove the torx screw. Remove the steering wheel. Flip it over and inside the two small bolt holes (the ones you removed the plastic covers to) you'll see a smaller torx screw inside, it holds the back plastic cover to the steering wheel. Remove those screws and remove the back plastic cover. Remove the zip ties holding the wiring to the steering wheel frame, and check for any bolts holding the back of the switches to the frame. I've heard of some having bolts but every F150 steering wheel I've ever seen, the switches are simply pressed in. Once bolts are removed, simply (and very gently, especially if you have a leather wrapped wheel) pry out the switches and install the new ones. Re-installation is reverse of removal.

Also, if it's a concern, there's no way to mis-align the steering wheel on the column, it only goes on one way.