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Can Cruise Control Get Stuck & What to Do if it Gets Stuck

What To Do If Cruise Control Gets Stuck

Cruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a vehicle. The system uses sensors to detect the speed of the vehicle and then adjusts the throttle to maintain a constant speed. Cruise control can be used in both manual and automatic transmissions.

If you’re one of the many Americans who enjoy taking road trips, you know how important it is to have a reliable car. But what happens when your car’s cruise control gets stuck and won’t turn off? You may be in for a long and frustrating journey. In this article, we’ll explore whether or not the cruise control gets stuck, what causes it, and what you can do to fix it.

Related Post : Cruise Control Symbol On Dashboard: Standard Symbol

Can Cruise Control Get Stuck

Cruise Control

Cruise control is a feature found on many modern cars that allows the driver to set a consistent speed for extended periods of time.  It is generally considered a safe and convenient feature, but there are some potential dangers associated with its use.  One such danger is that cruise control can become stuck, causing the car to continue traveling at the same speed even when the driver wants to slow down or stop.

If the cruise control system in a car is malfunctioning, it is possible for it to become stuck in the on position. This can cause the car to continue traveling at the same speed, even if the driver wants to slow down or stop. This can be dangerous, as it can lead to accidents. If you suspect that your cruise control system is not working properly, you should take it to a qualified mechanic for repair.

There are several potential causes of cruise control getting stuck. One possibility is a problem with the cruise control system itself, such as a faulty sensor or actuator or there could be something blocking the Cruise Control vacuum modulator. Another possibility is that there is something interfering with the proper operation of the system, such as a build-up of dirt or debris. Finally, it is also possible that the cruise control system is not receiving the correct input from the vehicle’s speedometer, which can cause it to become stuck.

What To Do If Cruise Control Gets Stuck

Does Cruise Control Save Gas On Hills

Cruise control faults are a possibility, just like with any other feature. The likelihood is minimal for cars that have routine maintenance and inspection, though. In the event that a car’s cruise control fails, other drivers and passengers may also be put at risk. For this reason, even when using cruise control, drivers should proceed cautiously.

Here is a list of recommendations for what to do if your cruise control stops working. You must respond appropriately to the various events, or you might say varieties of cruise control issues.

  • First, focus on yourself and calm your nerves.
  • Typically, broken cruise control on a car just turns off. The driver only needs to depress the cruise control button at that point to regain control of the vehicle.
  • You can manually switch off the feature and continue driving normally if the cruise control does not turn off when you press the brake.
  • Keep holding the set button down for a while if you try to manually switch off the cruise control and it doesn’t work. Until you let go of it, the speed can slow down. Once the car’s speed is within control, the cruise control will turn off.

If none of the methods mentioned above work put your car in neutral. Whether your vehicle has an automatic or manual transmission, turn it off and drive. Your car should be driven slowly.

Failure of the cruise control in an automobile can be brought on by numerous circumstances. Inadequate brake lights, blown fuses, broken speed sensors, blinking check engine lights, faulty vacuum actuators, various electrical problems, and defective mechanical parts are some of these contributing factors.

Related Post: How Does Cruise Control Work: We Have The Best Answer

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Troubleshooting cruise control issues: common causes and faqs.

cruise control problem solutions

To troubleshoot cruise control issues effectively, start by checking for blown fuses related to the system. Assess the condition of the brake pedal and throttle body as they can impact cruise control function.

Use a scanner to identify underlying problems and verify the speed sensor ‘s operation. Inspect vacuum lines for leaks and confirm proper functionality of the cruise servo .

Examine the brake light, spiral cable, and steering wheel controls for faults. Investigate OBD2 error codes and key components like the brake light switch.

Identifying and addressing these common causes systematically can help resolve cruise control malfunctions. Explore further for detailed guidance.

Key Takeaways

  • Check for blown fuses in the cruise control system to ensure power supply is intact.
  • Verify functionality of the brake pedal sensor for proper engagement of cruise control.
  • Inspect throttle body for malfunctions that may disrupt communication with cruise control.
  • Address issues with PRNDL or shifter position switch that can affect gear detection.
  • Investigate various components like speed sensors and wiring for cruise control problems.

Common Causes of Cruise Control Malfunctions

cruise control malfunction causes

If you’re experiencing cruise control malfunctions , the first step is to check for blown fuses as they’re a common culprit. Start by locating the fuse box in your vehicle.

Look for any fuses related to the cruise control system . A blown fuse can disrupt the power supply to essential components like the cruise control switch and the Speed Sensor (VSS), causing the system to malfunction.

If you find a blown fuse, replace it with a fuse of the same rating and test the cruise control again.

Another potential cause of cruise control issues could be a faulty brake pedal . Problems with the brake pedal position sensor or its wiring can prevent the cruise control from engaging properly.

Make sure that the brake pedal isn’t sticking and that the sensor is functioning correctly.

Also, issues with the throttle body can also lead to cruise control malfunctions. Check for any obstructions or damage to the throttle body that could be affecting its operation.

By addressing these common causes systematically, you can troubleshoot cruise control problems effectively.

Diagnosing Cruise Control Problems

To effectively diagnose cruise control problems, begin by utilizing a scanner or traditional methods to pinpoint the underlying issues.

Check to see if any fuses related to the cruise control system are blown, as this can often cause malfunctions.

Inspect the vacuum lines for any leaks or dislodgement, as these can disrupt the proper functioning of the cruise control.

Make sure that the Vehicle Speed Sensor is in good working condition, as it plays an important role in regulating the speed control function.

Furthermore, testing the cruise servo for proper operation and free movement is essential in diagnosing any potential issues with the system.

Verify the vacuum supply and dump hose functions to guarantee that the cruise control operates correctly.

By methodically examining these components using a scanner or manual checks, you can effectively diagnose and address cruise control problems, restoring efficient functionality to your vehicle.

Troubleshooting Cruise Control Faults

addressing cruise control issues

Begin by utilizing a scanner or traditional methods to effectively diagnose cruise control faults. When troubleshooting cruise control issues, focus on the following key areas:

  • Check Steering Wheel Controls : Make sure that the buttons on the steering wheel are functioning correctly and aren’t causing any interference with the cruise control system’s operation.

Then, examine the spiral cable connecting the steering wheel to the Engine Control Module for any signs of wear or damage.

This tool can provide valuable information about potential malfunctions within the system, helping you pinpoint the root cause of the issue efficiently.

Common Cruise Control Issues Explained

Check for blown fuses , brake pedal position sensor issues, throttle body malfunctions , and PRNDL/shifter position switch problems as common culprits behind cruise control issues.

Blown fuses can disrupt the power supply to the cruise control systems, causing them to malfunction.

Issues with the brake pedal position sensor or wiring harness can prevent the cruise control from engaging when needed.

Problems with the throttle body can lead to irregularities in maintaining the set speed.

Then, faults in the PRNDL/shifter position switch may interfere with the cruise control’s ability to function correctly.

Keep an eye out for any abnormalities in the brake lights , as they can indicate underlying problems affecting the cruise control system.

Speed sensors and wiring in the steering column are also key areas to inspect when troubleshooting cruise control issues.

Cruise Control Failure: Top Reasons

cruise control failure causes

Investigate common culprits behind cruise control failure to pinpoint the root cause of the issue effectively. When facing cruise control issues, several components could be at fault. Here are the top reasons for cruise control failure:

  • Throttle Body : A malfunctioning throttle body can disrupt the communication between the engine and the cruise control system, leading to erratic behavior or complete failure.
  • Brake Pedal Sensor : Problems with the brake pedal sensor or its wiring can prevent the cruise control from engaging or cause it to disengage unexpectedly, affecting its functionality.
  • PRNDL Switch : Issues with the PRNDL or shifter position switch can interfere with the cruise control system’s ability to accurately detect the vehicle’s gear position, resulting in failure to maintain a set speed.

Can a Faulty Gear Shift Indicator Affect Cruise Control?

Yes, common gear shift indicator issues can indeed affect cruise control. If the indicator is faulty and not providing accurate information to the vehicle’s control system, it can impact the cruise control’s ability to function properly. Therefore, it’s important to address any issues with the gear shift indicator to ensure the overall performance of the vehicle.

FAQs on Cruise Control Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting cruise control issues, understanding frequently asked questions can help you effectively diagnose and resolve common problems.

If your cruise control works sometimes and the CRUISE light doesn’t illuminate, you may need to check the fuse related to the cruise control system.

One of the common reasons for cruise control failure is a blown fuse , so make sure to inspect and replace any blown fuses.

If you have a manual transmission vehicle, make certain that the clutch switch is functioning correctly as it can prevent the cruise control from engaging.

Then, if your cruise control only works sporadically, you might need to inspect the wiring connections to ensure there are no loose or damaged wires disrupting the system’s operation.

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The Motor Guy

The Motor Guy is a passionate car enthusiast with a love for troubleshooting and diagnosing all sorts of vehicle problems.

With years of experience in OBD diagnostics, he has become an expert in identifying and solving complex automotive issues.

Through TheMotorGuy.com, he shares his knowledge and expertise with others, providing valuable insights and tips on how to keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Qualifications: - 12 years experience in the automotive industry - ASE Master Automobile Technician - A Series: Automobile and Light Truck Certification, A9 Light Vehicle Diesel Engine Certification - Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems

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Why Your Cruise Control Isn't Working

Last Updated: June 10, 2024 Fact Checked

Cruise Control Failure: Causes & Solutions

What happens if cruise control stops working.

This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure . Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,594 times.

Cruise control allows you to take your foot off of the gas pedal while maintaining a set speed so that your foot can get a break when you’re on long stretches of road with no traffic. However, there are a few common (and usually minor) automotive issues that can keep cruise control from functioning correctly. In this article, we’ll break down what might be going on so that you can fix the issue and get back to cruising comfortably.

Why Would Cruise Control Stop Working?

In most cases, cruise control stops working because of a blown fuse, faulty brake light, or bad brake switch. However, a check engine light or an engine-related issue could prevent your cruise control from working.

Step 1 Blown cruise control fuse

  • Diagnosing this problem: Refer to your manual to locate the fuse box in your engine bay. With a cold car, pop the fuse box and remove the fuse dedicated to the cruise control. Either test the fuse with a multimeter or hold it up to a light source and inspect the wire inside to see if it is broken.
  • Fixing the issue: Either see a mechanic or purchase a replacement fuse for your make and model. Insert the new fuse into the slot for the cruise control system and you’re good to go.
  • Potential cost of repair: A new fuse shouldn’t run more than $10-30 unless you drive an exotic car. A mechanic will probably charge $100-200.

Step 2 Faulty brake lights

  • Diagnosing this problem: Have a friend sit in your driver’s seat and press the brake pedal. Walk around your car and confirm the brake lights are working.
  • Fixing the issue: If any of the brake lights are out, replace the bulbs . Your cruise control should come back on.
  • Potential cost of repair: Seeing a mechanic for this will run $100 or so, plus the cost of the bulb. If you replace the light yourself, it shouldn’t cost more than $5-20 for the bulb.

Step 3 Faulty brake switch

  • Diagnosing this problem: Have a friend sit behind the wheel and press the brake pedal to see what happens. If none of the lights come on—even after changing the bulbs—your brake switch is likely bad.
  • Fixing the issue: A brake switch repair requires a professional mechanic, so take your vehicle to an automotive pro.
  • Potential cost of repair: Luckily, brake switches are cheap and the repair is easy for a professional. Expect to pay roughly $75-100 depending on the shop minimum.

Step 4 Damaged speed sensor

  • Diagnosing this problem: Check your speedometer while you drive. If it isn’t working properly, the speed sensor is bad.
  • Fixing the issue: See a mechanic to have the speed sensor replaced.
  • Potential cost of repair: It depends on whether your speed sensor is embedded in the transmission or not. If it is, the repair may run up to $1,000. If it’s tucked behind your dashboard, it should only cost $100 or so.

Step 5 Illuminated check engine light

  • Diagnosing this problem: If your check engine light is on, it’s likely what’s keeping your cruise control off. Diagnose the issue by plugging in an OBD2 scan tool in your vehicle’s OBD port and running a scan to determine what the issue is.
  • Fixing the issue: See a mechanic to have the underlying problem addressed (and the issue diagnosed, if needed).
  • Potential cost of repair: The cost depends on the underlying problem. Something as simple as a new gas cap may only cost the shop minimum, but new spark plugs, engine damage, crankshaft failure, and other issues will cost much more.

Step 6 Bad vacuum actuator

  • Diagnosing this problem: This is a tough issue to diagnose, but it will usually pop up in the error codes if you run an OBD2 scan .
  • Fixing the issue: See a professional auto mechanic to have the vacuum actuator replaced.
  • Potential cost of repair: The cost of the repair depends on the design of your actuator and whether it can be salvaged or not. It may cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000.

Step 7 ECU/ICM errors

  • Diagnosing this problem: Run an OBD2 scan to see if the ECU or ICM are throwing error codes.
  • Fixing the issue: This is one of the more complicated issues you can run into, so see a mechanic to have them rewire a new ECU or ICM.
  • Potential cost of repair: You’re probably looking at a $300-800 repair, but it can vary depending on the make and model of your car.

Step 8 Broken cruise control button

  • Diagnosing this problem: You should be able to tell if this is the problem just by testing the pressure of the button.
  • Fixing the issue: You can normally pop off the cruise control button with a flathead screwdriver and then clean it or replace it.
  • Potential cost of repair: A new cruise control button shouldn’t run more than a few dollars.

Your car will simply coast as it normally would.

Expert Q&A

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  • ↑ https://www.hancockclarion.com/2020/08/26/cobalts-are-just-weird/
  • ↑ https://mycardoeswhat.org/deeper-learning/adaptive-cruise-control/
  • ↑ https://www.customcompleteautomotive.com/blog/5-reasons-why-your-cruise-control-is-not-working
  • ↑ https://klifex.ua/en/zaglushki-vihrevyh-zaslonok-i-komplekty-egr-egr/vakuumnyye-aktuatory
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/49SjHjnnVn4?t=38

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car stuck in cruise control

5 Reasons Why Your Cruise Control Stopped Working

Magnus Sellén

  • Updated: March 15, 2023

Cruise Control Not Working

It would be difficult to find a vehicle on the road today without cruise control. This invaluable feature makes driving long distances easier but can also cause trouble when it malfunctions. Understanding the reasons your cruise control stopped working ensures that you can get the problem fixed quickly for a more enjoyable ride. 

While this fault can cause issues with the cruise control system itself, there could also be an effect on the acceleration of your vehicle. That’s why you want to have it looked at as soon as you notice a problem. Let’s take a quick look at the reasons your cruise control may have stopped working.

Reasons Why Your Cruise Control Stopped Working

The most common reason a cruise control stops working is due to a blown fuse or a defective brake pedal switch . It can also be caused by issues with the throttle control system or the ABS. In older cruise control systems, it can be caused by a broken vacuum line.

Here is a more detailed list of the possible reasons your cruise control is not working:

1. Blown Fuse

broken fuse

All electrical systems in the vehicle are controlled by fuses. Your cruise control system is attached to a fuse that can blow if there is a short circuit or fault. Without a good fuse, the cruise control system can’t work at all.

Thankfully, it’s not difficult to find and replace a blown fuse. Look in the owner’s manual to find the fuse that corresponds with the cruise control technology. 

2. Defective Brake Pedal Switch

push brake pedal

The brake pedal switch is responsible for turning the brake lights on and off based on the pedal position. Cruise control systems are designed to disengage whenever your brake pedal gets pressed. 

Because the cruise control is wired into the brake pedal switch, any fault can cause it to stop working. When the brake pedal switch malfunctions, the car believes the brakes are engaged, causing the system to turn off automatically. Not only that, but your car’s brake light might also be stuck on, leaving confused drivers in your wake. 

3. Malfunctioning Speed Sensor

abs sensor close

Speed sensors are located on every wheel or differential. The purpose of these sensors is to monitor the speed of the wheels to determine if traction control is needed. 

The speed sensors are also part of the cruise control system. When a sensor fails, the cruise control can stop working and the speedometer might act strange as well. 

If there is an issue with a speed sensor, it will often show with an ABS warning light or a check engine light on the dashboard.

RELATED: 3 Symptoms of a Bad ABS Wheel Speed Sensor

4. Electrical Issues

cruise control buttons

The cruise control system is electronic, with many components working together to make the system operate. If the cruise control fails to work, you want to check the wiring harness and associated connectors for a fault.

You also need to ensure that the voltage source is supplying enough power to the system. Even the smallest fault can cause defects with the cruise control. In many cases, there can be an issue with the cruise control lever or buttons causing the cruise control to not engage.

If your cruise control buttons are located on the steering wheel it could also be caused by a bad clock spring, which is located behind the steering wheel.

Check the system with an OBD2 scanner to look for any trouble codes related to the cruise control.

RELATED: 5 Symptoms of a Broken Clock Spring, Location & Replacement Cost

5. Damaged Vacuum Actuator, Hoses or Cable (Older cruise control)

If you drive an older vehicle with cruise control, you might have an issue with the vacuum actuator or the cable that connects to the throttle. If there has been damage done to the vacuum hoses or the actuator, the cruise control will stop working altogether.

Additionally, the cable linking the actuator to the throttle must be in good shape. If it has been broken, the cruise control will fail. 

What is Cruise Control?

Cruise control is a feature that is used when you are traveling at a consistent speed. Cruise control was first introduced for automobiles in the 1950s. However, it took many years before it became a staple in the modern vehicle.

This electrical system allows you to set a predetermined speed and take your foot off of the gas pedal. If you are on a long drive, there is less fatigue because you don’t have to try to maintain your speed. Cruise control can also benefit fuel economy because the vehicle uses less fuel when traveling steadily. 

In newer cars, you might be able to find adaptive cruise control , which is a smart technology. Adaptive cruise control allows you to travel at a predetermined speed, but it also helps to maintain a safe distance from the vehicles in front of you with the help of sensors. With conventional cruise control, you need to take over when the car in front of you slows down, but that’s not the case with adaptive cruise control. 

There are also vehicles nowadays with not only cruise control, but fully self-driving vehicles . We will most likely see much more of this in the future.

Cruise Control Repair Cost

The cost to repair your cruise control system depends on what caused it to fail. If you need to replace a cruise control or brake switch, you might spend between $125 and $350, including parts and labor. However, the cost to change a fuse is only a few dollars and you can perform the replacement yourself in just a matter of seconds. 

On the other hand, when something major fails, such as the actuator, you could be looking at a much higher repair bill. In some vehicles, the cost to replace a cruise control actuator can cost more than $700. These costs rise if you drive a luxury vehicle or one that is difficult to get parts for. 

It might not seem immediately important for you to fix the broken cruise control, but this defective system can affect other performance aspects. You could start to notice issues with acceleration or have trouble with the speedometer. To play it safe, it’s always best to have the cruise control repaired as soon as you notice a problem.

Is there a fuse for the cruise control?

Yes. If the cruise control is installed from the factory, you should check your car’s owner’s manual for the fuse location. If it’s an aftermarket cruise control, you’ll need to follow the wires to find the fuse.

Does the brake switch affect the cruise control system?

Yes. The brake switch affects the cruise control system. The brake switch sends a signal to the cruise control system to let it know when the brakes are being applied for the engine to know when it should stop accelerating.

Will the cruise control work if the check engine light is on?

The cruise control function will be disabled when the check engine light is on in most car models, even if the cause of the check engine light is not the cruise control itself. This is mainly due to safety reasons.

Can a vacuum leak affect cruise control?

Older vehicles use vacuum to control the throttle for the cruise control, and in this case a vacuum leak can heavily affect the cruise control. However, modern cruise controls are fully electric and in most cases will not be affected by a vacuum leak if the check engine light is not illuminated.

Although many people may think that the cruise control system is unimportant and not worth spending money to repair, the problem can be caused by a faulty part that will affect the engine’s performance or durability. Therefore, it is best not to ignore the problem if your cruise control is not working without first diagnosing the car properly.

If your cruise control still isn’t working after trying all the tips in this article, it’s probably time to take it in for a professional opinion from a mechanic. It may be a more serious problem that requires replacement parts or repairs. In the meantime, drive safe and enjoy the open road!

Learn more:

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Ran When Parked - Car, Vehicle & Truck Guides and Repair Journals.

Cruise Control Not Working: Reasons and Quick Fixes

JUMP TO TOPIC

  • 0.1 How To Identify and Fix Issues With Cruise Control?
  • 0.2 1. Blown Fuse
  • 0.3 2. Faulty Brake Switch
  • 0.4 3. Malfunctioning Speed Sensor
  • 0.5 4. Broken Cruise Control Switch
  • 0.6 5. Vacuum Leak
  • 0.7 6. Wiring Issues
  • 0.8 7. Throttle Actuator Failure
  • 1 Can a Faulty Cruise Control System Cause the Toyota Camry Alarm to Go Off?
  • 2 Conclusion

How To Identify and Fix Issues With Cruise Control?

1. blown fuse, 2. faulty brake switch.

3. Malfunctioning Speed Sensor

4. broken cruise control switch, 5. vacuum leak, 6. wiring issues, 7. throttle actuator failure, can a faulty cruise control system cause the toyota camry alarm to go off.

A faulty cruise control system can indeed trigger the Toyota Camry alarm. To address this issue, consider some toyota camry alarm troubleshooting tips . First, check if the cruise control switch is stuck or malfunctioning, as this might cause the alarm to go off unexpectedly. Additionally, inspect the vehicle’s wiring and connections related to cruise control. Ensuring proper functioning of these components can help prevent the alarm from being triggered unnecessarily.

  • Blown fuses are a common culprit for cruise control failure, and locating and replacing them is relatively easy.
  • The brake switch and speed sensor can also cause issues with cruise control, and replacing them requires some expertise.
  • A broken cruise control switch can be easily located and replaced, but it’s crucial to ensure compatibility with your vehicle’s system.
  • Checking the vacuum system is another critical step in diagnosing cruise control issues , and damaged vacuum lines can be replaced with new ones.
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car stuck in cruise control

Cruise Control not Working (Diagnosis and Troubleshooting)

What makes cruise control not work.

Bad brake pedal/light switch — This means communication between you, cruise control and the car is interrupted, and you can’t have immediate manual control of the car.

Bad fuse — Fuses blow to protect the electrical system. Cruise control fuses will do the same, to protect the system and circuits in your car the fuse will break and then need repairing.

Failing speed sensor — Speed sensors are important in cruise control because your car needs to remain at the same speed consistently. Broken speed sensors will affect more than cruise control and need to be serviced urgently

Bad actuator vacuum, hose, or cable –The actuator vacuum is what connects and activates the throttle control. The fault may be with the hoses in the vacuum actuator or the cable linking the system together.

car stuck in cruise control

Symptoms of bad cruise control switch

  • Symptom 1 — brake pedal does not disengage cruise control

There’s a switch fixed to the bases of the brake pedal and if cruise control does not deactivate when braking then it’s a sign that this switch is faulty.

  • Symptom 2 — Hissing noises are heard from under the dash.

The cruise control switch is a vacuum system and for some vehicles, it is mounted near the brake pedals under the dash. If you can hear hissing, it could indicate that the switch or one of the switch’s vacuum hoses is broken.

  • Symptom 3 — The cruise control switch/button itself does not work

When trying to turn on the function or while cruising it turns off, this is an indicator of a faulty switch and can be related to wiring issues or the above (1-2) symptoms

  • Symptom 4 — A blown fuse

A blown fuse could be a simple error and fix. The switch circuit or fuse may just need to be replaced for the problem to resolve.

car stuck in cruise control

Possible Cruise control failure Scenarios

1. Cruise control not working after battery change

  • Possible cause — This differs from vehicle to vehicle and among brands. Some drivers’ cruise control malfunctions after jump-starting their battery, and this is because the battery is still discharged. Newer cars have many electronic systems, and most are powered by the battery. So, if the battery is discharged or low-powered, the electrical cruise control system can be affected.
  • Solution — Putting your battery on a trickle charger (2-5 amp) for 12 hours or driving on cruise for a couple of hours may resolve this issue.

2. Cruise control turns off while driving

  • Possible cause — Damaged speed sensor or actuator, these two could be internally malfunctioning and causing the cruise control to disengage without input from you.
  • Solution — Have a technician or mechanic run a diagnostic with the speed sensor and check the actuator hoses and cables.

3. Cruise control works intermittently

  • Possible cause — this may relate to the brake pedal switch. If cruise control is intermittently disengaging, it could be a wiring issue with the switch.
  • Solution — Have the brake pedal to cruise control switch investigated by a mechanic or technician and determine if there is a faulty wire to blame. You may need to have the switch or some of its parts replaced.

4. Cruise control turns on but will not set

  • Possible cause — The brake pedal switch may be the issue. The brake pedal deactivates cruise control and if it is stuck in the open position, it may cause the cruise control to not engage or set properly.
  • Solution — Ask your mechanic or technician to check for this issue specifically in their diagnostic and service.

5. Cruise control turns on by itself

  • Possible cause — There may be a failure with the Electronic Control Module (ECM) which manages the actuators or Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which controls the speed in your cruise control
  • Solution — You could attempt to reprogram the ECU and ECM if you have the computer tools, otherwise take it into a trusted mechanic or technician.

There are many helpful forums run by mechanics and amateurs:  These are always great for solving those specific problems you might experience.

When CC does not set: https://mechanics.stackexchange.com/questions/34795/cruise-control-will-not-turn-on-cannot-be-enabled-nor-set

When CC is faulty after battery change: https://www.vwvortex.com/threads/help-cruise-control-not-working-after-dead-battery.4464553/

For cruise control and other general repairs, watch this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf2f4MeZzSksVMe1z3Lp3hw

Can cruise control cause check engine light?

When the check engine light or MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) is on, the cruise control light may blink to signal that cruise control has been disabled. This is a safety control as the vehicle is programmed to not go on ‘autopilot’ should the engine or mechanical issue relate to the cruise control systems. If the error or fault is with the cruise control systems, then the MIL may be lit for that as well.

How much does it cost to fix cruise control malfunctions?

  • For switch repair (parts and labour) it’s estimated at $125- $350
  • For fuse repairs, it could be up to $10 to buy the fuse and replace it yourself in a few minutes — there are many helpful YouTube tutorials on simple car repairs like this one.
  • For actuator repairs, some cost more than $700
  • Therefore, it’s important to know WHAT the issue is to get an idea of HOW MUCH it will cost you.

Does cruise control malfunction trigger the check engine light?

The function of a check engine light or MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) is to communicate engine or mechanical failures in your vehicle to prevent an accident on the road. The MIL can be lit for simple reasons like the gas cap is loose. Should your CC system fail or run incorrectly, the MIL could light up. Often when there are other failures or engine faults, the MIL will light and the cruise control with a flicker to signal it has been disabled for safety reasons. Once the cruise control or other issues are fixed, all the lights should go back to being turned off.

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Cruise control not working — causes and fixes

Troubleshoot and fix non-functioning cruise control in your vehicle..

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Cruise control is one of the most useful modern driving features which makes every longer journey easier. It lets you travel at a constant speed and reduces the pressure on your foot caused by frequent gas pedal pressing.

However, in case of the cruise control not working , it’s important to deal with the problem right away. If you turn the system on while it malfunctions, you might not be able to turn it off during the drive. So, you can follow this guide to get all the information about the most common reasons for failing cruise control and get advice on how to fix it.

What’s cruise control and how does it work?

car stuck in cruise control

To get a better understanding of possible reasons behind malfunctioning cruise control, it’s time to deal with the basics behind the system. Cruise control is an electronic system that helps you maintain a certain speed level for extended periods without holding your foot on the gas pedal.

While driving regularly, the pressure with which you push the gas pedal is transmitted to the throttle position sensor which controls the throttle valve. If you press the pedal further down, the valve gets open, and more air flows into the engine.

On the other hand, if you apply less pressure, the valve is nearly closed, slightly letting air in. The engine control unit (ECU) uses these measurements to calculate fuel injection and translate the pressure into driving power and speed.

The modern cruise control system controls the throttle position sensor and other sensors and electronically simulates the pressure on the gas pedal. Even some older vehicles have cruise control, but in these cars, cruise control used a cable that physically maintained pressure on the accelerator.

With modern improvements, there’s also the introduction of adaptive cruise control which uses several drive assist systems to maintain your speed. These include lane assist and the possibility to increase and lower the speed by pressing the button.

Modern cruise control also measures the speed of the car in front of you in the lane to maintain a safe distance. If you are a car guy, you probably enjoy having control over the machine yourself. However, cruise control is extremely useful during a long highway ride, since it reduces the fatigue and pain of pressing hte4 accelerator for hours.

Reasons behind cruise control not working

car stuck in cruise control

Now that you know how the cruise control system works, it’s time to dig deep into the possible reasons behind its malfunction. First, we come by electrical issues since this is an electrical feature after all. However, there are also other possible reasons, so let’s take a look at a few of the most common ones:

  • Problems with the throttle body
  • Malfunctioning sensors
  • Blown fuse and electrical issues
  • Faulty brake pedal switch
  • Bad mechanical cruise control cable

All of these reasons can make your cruise control ineffective and the worst thing is if it malfunctions while you are using it. It’s also a bad thing since cruise control saves gas while on long journeys down the highway, so you’ll want to fix the problem based on the listed reasons as soon as possible.

How do throttle body issues affect cruise control?

In case the throttle body valve gets stuck, or the throttle body gets clogged, you’ll have a hard time using your cruise control system. The worst thing that could happen in this case is if the gas pedal gets stuck in position, which also affects your driving regardless of the cruise control.

You can clean your throttle body with specific products to be able to use cruise control again and to ensure proper air intake into your engine. Modern cruise control systems lock the throttle valve in a position to ensure even air intake, so if the valve malfunctions, you won’t be able to use it.

Bad or malfunctioning sensors

As mentioned, cruise control is an electrical system and it uses the readings of multiple sensors to adjust and maintain your driving speed. Out of these sensors, the throttle position sensor and the speed sensor are most relevant for the system’s operation.

We already mentioned how the throttle position sensor affects the control of the throttle valve, and the speed sensor monitors the driving speed. It sends information to the ECU regarding the traction control system by the speed readings. If the sensor fails, you’ll likely experience some strange speedometer action and an anti-lock braking system ( ABS ) warning light on the dashboard .

So, the cruise control system might also fail, as it uses the readings of these sensors as well as the data of the ECU regarding traction control and ABS usage.

Blown fuse or electrical issues

One of the easiest fixes for a bad cruise control system is to just replace a blown fuse. If this happens, you can just take a look at the fuse box by referring to the owner’s manual of your vehicle for the exact location. Usually, there’s a fuse box under the hood or just the left of the steering wheel in the car’s interior.

If there’s a circuit short, the fuse might blow, and simply replacing it will bring the system back on again. Also, other electrical issues can occur such as a bad connection with the control buttons on the steering wheel or electrical connections

Bad brake pedal switch

The cruise control system in your car is connected to the brake pedal switch. It’s the switch that communicates with your tail lights and turns them on as you press the brake pedal. If the switch goes bad, the signal gets interrupted, and it can reflect on your cruise control system as well.

Most cruise control systems are designed to disengage as you press the brake. So, if the computer believes the brakes are pressed due to a faulty switch, it will turn off the cruise control system.

Worn mechanical cable for older cruise control systems

As mentioned, old cars with cruise control often use a cable that locks the accelerator in place as you activate the system. This ensures that the accelerator pressure stays the same during the time the system is active.

The mechanical system also uses an actuator and hoses, and these could all wear off due to frequent usage. So, if any of the mechanical components malfunction, you won’t be able to use the cruise control system.

Fixing a failed cruise control system

If your cruise control system works on some occasions, while it fails on others, don’t use it while driving. It’s not safe and the best thing you can do is inspect the system based on the reasons behind a malfunctioning cruise control.

You can do some repairs yourself, including testing and replacing a blown fuse. On the other hand, you’ll need the help of the mechanic to replace a bad actuator in mechanical systems or to fix the brake pedal switch.

Overall, if you spot your cruise control not working, you shouldn’t use it while driving until you make the repairs. Some systems will fail on some occasions, while you’ll sometimes be able to use them regularly. It’s still better to inspect the system based on the common reasons behind its failure listed in this guide and make proper repairs.

This way, you can save yourself some trouble, along with gas and effort while driving with the cruise control system active.

What could cause the cruise control to stop working?

A blown fuse or a faulty brake pedal switch could cause the cruise control to stop working, along with malfunctioning sensors.

How do I know if my cruise control fuse is blown?

You can know if your cruise control fuse is blown by taking a look at the fuse box, and you can find the fuse box location in the owner’s manual.

Where is the fuse for the cruise control?

The fuse for cruise control is located within the fuse box under the hood or at the left of the steering wheel.

How much money does it cost to fix cruise control?

It costs anywhere from $10 for a replacement fuse, to $500 for the actuator or the throttle body repair to fix the cruise control system.

Filip Gromovic

Filip is a lifelong car enthusiast with over 3 years of experience writing about cars and had worked as a mechanic apprentice for over 5 years, gaining hands-on expertise in automotive mechanics. At REREV, he combines his passion for cars with his comprehensive knowledge to provide readers with a unique blend of technical insight and engaging storytelling that sets the bar high for automotive content.

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Fixing Faulty Cruise Control

Alarmingly, the speedometer needle steadily winds down from 75 mph toward 50. Just as you uncurl your feet and try to accelerate back to traffic speeds, the vehicle downshifts with a lurch and abruptly climbs back to over 80 mph. So you tap the brakes and disengage the cruise control to avoid a conversation with one of the many law enforcement officers lurking behind every other billboard. Toggling the Resume switch settles things down, holding to a legal speed on both the uphill and downhill sections of the interstate. The kids in the back seat have stopped threatening to throw up, too. Then you look in your mirror 20 miles later and see the lights. Red and blue flashing lights. You're doing over 85 mph and, odds are, Smokey isn't going to believe you have the cruise set to 70. Time to find out why your cruise control has a mind of its own.

IT'S NOT A BUG, IT'S A FEATURE Does your cruise control fall out of engagement partway up steep hills? Actually, it will normally drop out if the engine has to work too hard, mainly because after a while there isn't enough vacuum left to pull in the servo after sustained near-wide-open-throttle. You'll just have to put your foot into it. Downshifting helps.

Does your Japanese car not remember the set speed after tollbooths? Unlike most American and European cars, some Toyotas and Hondas are designed not to remember their set speed if the vehicle speed falls below 25 mph, and you're supposed to accelerate the vehicle to your set speed and hit the Set button again. Annoying, but that's the way they were designed.

Do you have to ride the brakes on longer downhills to keep from building up excess speed? That's normal too. The cruise control only has authority to reduce engine speed to idle. It doesn't activate the brakes. Modern cars, in an attempt to improve mileage, have very tall gear ratios, low-friction engine designs, low-rolling-resistance tires and optimized aerodynamics. That long downgrade outside of town may have accelerated your '60s-era Pontiac to only a couple of miles per hour above legal. But, it may well propel your new economy car to blatantly illegal velocities unless you intervene by braking or downshifting.

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WHAT'S THAT HISS?: Most common cause of erratic cruise control? Vacuum leaks caused by deteriorated hoses.

SMOOTH AND STEADY Cruise control on your vehicle is a terrific device. It substantially reduces the driver's workload on longer trips, and can save substantial amounts of fuel and expense over the life of the vehicle--until it stops working.

We'll get to the scenario of not holding a steady speed later, but here are a couple of things to check immediately if the cruise control is on strike.

Does the Cruise icon on the dash light up when you turn the switch on? Duh. Check the fuse. You may need to look in the owner's manual to see which one if it's not tagged on the fuse box cover. An aftermarket cruise may have an inline fuse holder in the wiring to the controller.

If there is power to the system, the next check is the brake lights. Brake lights? Yup, cruise controls have a switch to toggle them off when you touch the brake pedal, and many use the same switch as the brake lights. If one of the brake lights has failed, the cruise control thinks the brakes are on all the time and won't come on. Same result if the switch is incorrectly adjusted or broken or jammed. Wait, there's more--if your vehicle has a manual transmission, there's a similar switch on the clutch pedal. You may need to break out a test light or multimeter to verify the function of this array of switches. These switches usually are normally closed switches, and close their contacts when the pedal is depressed. We've seen several cases of intermittent cruise control dropout caused by a brake light switch that was adjusted very tight. Any small bump would jiggle the brake pedal down far enough to toggle the brake lights on for a brief instant--long enough to shut down the cruise. Adjusting the switch to specs (usually so the brake lights come on after the pedal travels 1/2 in.) fixed it.

Once you verify all of these things, it's time to look for more subtle causes. Check underhood. Inspect the linkage between the cruise control actuator and the throttle. It may be as simple as a toilet-tank bead chain or a separate throttle cable with its own actuator cam to the throttle body. Look for disconnected or damaged wiring to the controller or actuator, particu-larly if it's an aftermarket system, which may have been installed by someone with poor mechanical skills.

Another obvious failure point is the vacuum line to the actuator. If it has fallen off, there's no vacuum to the actuator and no force can be applied to the throttle. We'll get ahead of ourselves here and mention that a vacuum line that looks fine may have a subtle leak caused by aging, brittle rubber or connections that don't seal well. A lot of the cruise controls we've seen with issues in regulating their speed correctly are fixed by simply replacing all the vacuum lines between the servo, vacuum reservoir (if there is one) and the intake manifold vacuum supply.

WHOA, NELLIE!: If your brake light switch is incorrectly adjusted, your cruise control may not lock in. A burned-out brake light can do the same.

WHAT'S THIS THING?: The cruise control servo motor could be anywhere in the engine compartment.

CONTROL ISSUE WITH YOUR SERVO There are two main components of the cruise control system: the controller and the servo.

The controller integrates all the inputs and tells the servo how far to actuate the throttle plates. Normally, there is no way you can service this item, so if you trace a problem to the controller, you'll have to buy a new one. A bad controller probably will require a service manual for specific diagnostics. You'll also need a scan tool to access any computer trouble codes to boot.

The servo does the work of moving the throttle blades to speed up the vehicle. Conventional systems are actuated by manifold vacuum. Check the linkage from the servo to the throttle to ensure it's properly hooked up and not binding or sticky. Inside the servo is a diaphragm that moves to pull on the linkage. Some older systems, used on cars or trucks that don't have throttle-position sensors, may have a rod that moves in and out of a magnetic coil to tell the controller the throttle position. There are also two electrically operated solenoid valves. One valve admits vacuum to the diaphragm chamber to add more throttle. The other bleeds air back into the chamber to reduce throttle. Normally, they will never be open at the same time, so if one is sticky or leaking, cruise control operation will be erratic at best. Check for leakage with a handheld vacuum pump. A leaky valve may benefit from a quick shot of silicone spray.

Diesels and some late models may use a servo that is completely electrical. These usually are mounted on the fenderwell or firewall, and are connected to the throttle by a second throttle cable. Other than keeping the cable lubricated and properly adjusted, there's not much to fiddle with. As always, check the shop manual for specifics on your vehicle.

Many late-model cars have throttle plates connected directly to an actuator controlled by the engine management computer. There is no physical connection between your right foot and the throttle blades (Scary, eh?), and there may or may not be a separate cruise control servo or controller.

HOW FAST WAS I GOING, OFFICER? If you still have no engagement, there may be an issue with the cruise control's speed input. Modern cars use information from the ABS's vehicle speed sensor (VSS) because the engine-management computer needs to know road speed. If your Check Engine light is on, the cruise may not work, especially if the VSS is malfunctioning. Older vehicles may use speed information from the speedometer. Aftermarket systems may resort to a ring of magnets clamped to a driveshaft or axle shaft, with a magnetic coil positioned nearby. If the magnets have fallen off or the coil has been smashed by a rock or road debris, there's no speed data for the controller.

URBAN LEGEND The legend has been related to us by all manner of people, including a couple of state police officers. Using the cruise control in rainy or slick conditions will make your car speed up uncontrollably, until you lose control and crash. It's a myth. Engaging the cruise will not make the car speed up. The cruise will attempt to maintain a steady speed. If the wheels lose traction and the car starts to slow down, the cruise will speed up the engine to attempt to accelerate back to the set speed. This will make the drivewheels spin more briskly. The vehicle speed will go slower, regardless of how furiously the wheels spin. If you have a rear-wheel-drive car, the effect is to destabilize the vehicle, and you probably will spin out unless the vehicle regains traction in a reasonable length of time. A front-wheel-drive car with spinning tires will attempt to continue in a more or less straight line--which will make steering control dodgy at best.

Heavy rain or snow makes use of the cruise control inadvisable, but such conditions certainly won't make your car accelerate to ludicrous speeds while you hang on for dear life. If the cruise is engaged and you perceive a loss of traction, the best bet is to tap the brake to disengage the system, and then add just enough throttle to maintain steering until the vehicle slows down to a more appropriate speed.

WHERE'S THIS THING?: Speed sensor may be buried under the dash near speedo head.

SUCK IT UP: The vacuum reservoir provides an added source of vacuum for those long uphill grades.

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Cruise Control Not Working? 9 Potential Causes

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Cruise control reduces stress and fatigue on long drives, but if the system isn't working properly, it can become dangerous. If your vehicle's cruise control isn't working, one of the following nine issues may be the root cause.

How Cruise Control Works

Cruise control is a system to maintain vehicle speed without direct driver input. When you want to engage cruise control, you first turn the system “On” with a button or switch. However, this alone does not start the cruise control. When you “Set” cruising speed, the cruise control module (CCM) records the current speed, then takes control of the throttle body to maintain vehicle speed. When vehicle speed increases or decreases (due to wind or hills, for example), the CCM decreases or increases throttle body opening accordingly.

By modulating engine speed, the CCM can maintain your desired cruising speed on the highway. You can increase or decrease cruise speed by tapping a button or lever, and you can cancel cruise control by hitting the “Cancel” or “Off” buttons or stepping on the brake.

Throttle body control has changed over the years. Early systems used a vacuum motor and cable, but these eventually changed over to electric motors. Most recently, with the development of drive-by-wire or electronic throttle control systems (ETCS), cruise control is built into the engine control module (ECM), which controls the throttle body electronically.

Basic cruise control systems still require the driver to pay attention to changing road and traffic conditions. Adaptive cruise control systems, sometimes called "smart" cruise, use radar or laser detection to maintain safe distances from vehicles ahead. Some adaptive cruise control systems merely reduce engine speed to maintain distance, but some of the newest adaptive cruise control systems can also engage the brakes to slow or stop the vehicle. Still, even with adaptive cruise control, it's important that drivers never take their eyes off the road.

Why Is My Cruise Control Not Working?

There are a few basic ways that cruise control can fail, depending on how the system is designed. You may not be able to do much about ETCS cruise control systems, but there are a few things you can check:

Brake Light Switch – As cruise control is automatically cancelled by depressing the brake, some vehicles may disengage cruise control if it cannot detect the brake light switch.

Brake Lights – In some systems, cruise control is disabled when a brake light is blown. Aftermarket lighting, such as LED brake light conversion, might trick the CCM into thinking a brake light is blown, as LED bulbs draw less current than incandescent bulbs.

Fuses and Relays – On some vehicles, fuses and relays are used to protect the cruise control actuator circuit . If the fuse is blown or the relay is faulty, the system won’t work.

Spiral Cable – Many vehicles mount the cruise control switch on the steering wheel. A faulty spiral cable may have an open circuit, preventing the switch from contacting the CCM.

Control Switch – If the internal contacts wear out, the cruise control switch may not be able to contact the CCM. This might disable cruise control completely, or it might not react to the cancel or accelerate functions.

Check Engine Light – On some modern vehicles, particularly those equipped with ETCS, cruise control may be disabled if there is an engine or transmission problem .

Vacuum Leak – Some older vehicles used vacuum actuators to control the throttle body during cruise control operation. If there is a leak, such as a cracked hose or tube, the system won’t work. A vacuum leak might cause the engine to idler higher or set a fuel trim code.

Vehicle Speed Sensor – There are usually multiple vehicle speed sensors (VSS) on any given vehicle. The CCM might use a VSS feed from the ECM, instrument cluster, or transmission. If that signal is lost, the CCM can’t detect vehicle speed, disabling cruise control.

Electrical Problems – As most cruise control systems use electrical or electronic components, any diagnosis should include a thorough check of source voltage, wiring harnesses, and connectors. Anything loose or broken could disable the system entirely.

If your cruise control isn’t working properly, avoid using it until it is repaired. A faulty cruise control system may not cancel on demand, which will create a safety hazard for you and those around you. After assessing your cruise control yourself, take your vehicle to a trusted mechanic for a check or a couple diagnosis and repair.

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Why Is My Cruise Control Not Working? Causes & Cost to Fix

CarPart  ·  April 6, 2023

Why Is My Cruise Control Not Working? Causes & Cost to Fix

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  • cruise control failing

The cruise control feature is especially helpful and convenient on long drives. The system keeps the vehicle moving at a steady speed without you minding the accelerator the entire time. Considering how it’s such a straightforward feature, why would it stop working?

A cruise control system can stop working due to (1) a mechanical problem (2) a blown fuse (3) a damaged speed sensor (4) a faulty brake pedal switch or (5) electrical problems. Repair costs can start at $100 and go beyond $500, depending on the affected part, labour costs, and the car brand and model.

Finding your cruise control not working isn’t the end of the world, but it’s undoubtedly something you’d want to fix sooner rather than later. Learn about the possible reasons for a failed cruise control and what you need to fix them.

How Do Cruise Control Systems Work?

You’ll be better equipped in diagnosing or fixing cruise control failure if you understand how it is supposed to work. Let's quickly recap what cruise control systems are and how they function.

Cruise control is a driver-assist feature that maintains your vehicle’s speed even when you take your foot off the accelerator. That’s a helpful feature, especially when driving long distances, as it gives your leg a break from holding the pedal down continuously.

Despite its presence in the market for decades now, few vehicles have it as a standard feature. The few models that come with it have one of three types, i.e.:

  • Some have conventional speed limiters.
  • Others are smarter with adaptive cruise control. 
  • Still others have semi-autonomous versions.

You can learn more about how cruise control systems work by reading our in-depth guide here.

For now, though, we’re focusing on when cruise control systems stop working. You’ll know your car has that problem when you experience any of these symptoms:

  • The cruise control system doesn’t engage at all.
  • The system doesn’t maintain a consistent speed.
  • The cruise control warning light is on or flashing.
  • The onboard diagnostics system shows a cruise control fault code.

Experiencing one or more of the above means your cruise control system is faulty or has failed. You’ll want to have a technician troubleshoot it for you.

Why Isn’t My Cruise Control Working?

When you find your cruise control not working, the root cause is one of the following:

1. Mechanical Problems

The first reason your cruise control stops working is a mechanical problem. Although newer cruise control systems are heavily computerised, they still use mechanical parts to function correctly.

That’s especially true with older vehicles relying more on mechanical than electronic parts.

For example, there might be a faulty actuator or a damaged cable (linking the actuator to the throttle). Besides that, the system might also have a leaking or damaged hose.

Mechanical faults are typically fixed by replacing the affected part with a new one.

2. Blown Fuse

Cruise control systems require electrical power to function correctly. So, if the system stops working despite its components being in excellent condition, the problem could be a blown fuse .

When a fuse blows, it prevents electrical current from flowing to the cruise control system’s circuit. That’s why you’ll experience problems like the system not engaging or the warning light appearing on your dashboard.

You’ll find the cruise control fuse inside the fuse box, along with all the others your car relies on. Replace it with an identical fuse to restore power to the circuit and get it working again.

3. Damaged Speed Sensor

You might already know that your car has several speed sensors on its wheels or differentials. Those sensors are designed to measure the speed of each wheel and feed that information to the car's onboard computer.

That wheel speed data is used to inform the traction control system. However, the cruise control system also uses that data for its operations.

A damaged speed sensor will send the wrong data about wheel speed, assuming it sends any data at all. Unfortunately, that will also disrupt the cruise control system and stop it from working correctly.

A failed speed sensor needs troubleshooting to find the correct solution. For example, the issue could be a loose or cut wire connection, or you might need to replace the affected sensor with a new one.

4. Faulty Brake Pedal Switch

A faulty brake pedal switch could also be the reason for a cruise control system that isn't working.

The primary purpose of the brake pedal switch is to turn on your brake lights when you step on the pedal. That way, drivers behind you will know your vehicle is slowing down or going to stop.

You might think that one doesn’t have anything to do with the other, but think again, because the brake pedal switch and cruise control are directly connected.

Your cruise control system is designed to deactivate when you step on the brake pedal. The system knows you’re doing that because it’s connected to the brake pedal switch.

As a result, a stuck or faulty brake pedal switch can continuously deactivate your cruise control system and prevent it from working correctly.

Fixing that problem will require you to replace the brake pedal switch.

5. Other Electrical Issues

Last but certainly not least, your cruise control system can stop working due to other electrical issues. That’s because the system requires electrical power to function, so the lack of it will stop the system from working.

For example, a burnt or damaged wire could have stopped supplying power to the system. Alternatively, an electrical fault like a power surge or short circuit could have also damaged the system.

Fixing that problem will require a thorough electrical system diagnosis and repair by a trained technician.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix My Cruise Control?

The price to fix your cruise control varies greatly. For example, the price you pay when you have a Toyota cruise control not working will differ from the repair cost of a Renault Trafic cruise control.

The price will depend on a few different factors, such as:

  • Car brand and model
  • Replacement part costs
  • Labour costs

A minor repair (e.g. replacing a faulty brake switch) could be roughly $100 to $400, while something more intensive could go above $500. Remember that these costs are typically higher for imported or luxury vehicles, as most repairs usually are.

The best thing you can do is call a few workshops and get a precise quotation for your particular vehicle. That way, you’ll know exactly how much to pay to fix your cruise control problems.

Start by using the Directory at CarpartAU to find the nearest workshops in your area. Then, use the contact details on the Directory to call them and get estimates for your cruise control repairs.

Once you find the best deal, bring in your and have them resolve the problem for you.

By Ray Hasbollah

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FCA Issues Massive Recall for Cruise Control Issue

Jodi Lai

FCA is recalling 4.8 million vehicles in the U.S. that could get stuck in cruise control.

Although FCA says the sequence of events that could cause a car to get stuck in cruise control is unlikely, it will update the necessary software as a precaution. FCA is unaware of any injuries or collisions with the affected vehicles involved. Still, FCA is advising the affected customers to refrain from using cruise control until the software is updated.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 Cars with the Lowest Recall Rates

FCA explains the issue in a recall bulletin: “In response to driving conditions such as varying road grades, cruise control systems automatically initiate acceleration, as needed, to help vehicles maintain driver-selected speeds.

In certain vehicles, if such an acceleration were to occur simultaneously with a short-circuit in a specific electrical network, a driver could be unable to cancel cruise-control. However, if this sequence of events were to occur, cruise-control acceleration can be overpowered by the vehicle’s brakes.

The vehicle may also be stopped by shifting it into neutral and braking accordingly. Regardless of the mitigation strategy, the vehicle may be placed in park once it has stopped, at which point cruise-control is canceled.”

FCA is contacting customers as early as next week to schedule service appointments. but drivers with questions can call FCA US Recall Information Center at 866-220-6747.

The affected vehicles are all equipped with automatic transmissions and gas-powered engines and include:

-2015-17 Chrysler 200 sedan

-2014-18 Chrysler 300 sedan

-2017-18 Chrysler Pacifica minivan

-2015-18 Dodge Challenger

-2014-18 Dodge Charger sedan

-2014-18 Dodge Journey CUV

-2014-18 Dodge Durango SUV

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-2018 Jeep Wrangler

-2014-19 Ram 1500 pickup

-2014-18 Ram 2500 pickup

-2014-18 Ram 3500 pickup

-2014-18 Ram 3500 cab chassis

-2014-18 Ram 4500/5500 cab chassis

Jodi Lai

Jodi has been obsessed with cars since she was little and has been an automotive journalist for the past 12 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and a jury member for the prestigious North American Car/Truck/Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY). Besides hosting videos, and writing news, reviews and features, Jodi is the Editor-in-Chief of AutoGuide.com and takes care of the site's day-to-day operations.

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Fiat Chrysler recalls nearly 5 million vehicles that could get stuck in cruise control

Check the list and don’t use cruise control until you get your car serviced, fca says.

By Sean O'Kane

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car stuck in cruise control

Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has announced a massive recall of 4.8 million vehicles in the United States over concerns that they could get stuck in cruise control, the company announced today. FCA is urging customers with affected vehicles to avoid using cruise control until they visit a service center to have the car’s software upgraded. Fiat Chrysler says it is “unaware of any related injuries or accidents involving the affected vehicles.”

The problem in question can arise when, while using cruise control, these vehicles accelerate to maintain the set speed. While unlikely, FCA says, there’s a chance that this could happen at the same time as a short circuit in a “specific electrical network” in the car, which could leave the car stuck in cruise control.

In this situation, it apparently wouldn’t be possible to cancel cruise control by tapping the brakes or using the buttons on the car’s steering wheel. Cruise control could still be “overpowered by the vehicle’s brakes” or stopped by “shifting into neutral and braking accordingly,” FCA says.

FCA says it will alert affected customers starting next week, and it will upgrade the software on these cars to fix the potential issue free of charge. The company is working with the North American Free Trade Agreement’s vehicle safety and regulatory compliance office to handle an unidentified number of additional affected vehicles in Canada, Mexico, and “certain markets outside the NAFTA region.” Concerned customers can call 866-220-6747 or their dealers for more information. Here’s a list of affected vehicles:

  • 2015-17 Chrysler 200 sedan
  • 2014-18 Chrysler 300 sedan
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  • 2015-18 Dodge Challenger coupe
  • 2014-18 Dodge Charger sedan
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Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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250+ Club

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

5,000+ Club

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

RachelG

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

  • 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

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Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

greygypsy

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991

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Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991 #11015173

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RE: Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991 #11015729

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RE: Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991 #11015757

Re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015787, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015791, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015827.

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RE: Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991 #11015851

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RE: Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991 #11015855

Re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015863.

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RE: Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991 #11015871

Re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015881, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015887, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015889, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015913, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11015923, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11017935, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018715, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018717, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018723, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018725, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018729, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018733, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018735, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018739, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018747, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018777, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018787, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018795, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018799, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018803, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018845, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018895, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018901, re: interflug a310 incident, moscow, 1991 #11018907.

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  1. ITV News Australia Car Gets Stuck in Cruise Control

    car stuck in cruise control

  2. Can Cruise Control Get Stuck & What to Do if it Gets Stuck

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  3. Watch: Car was stuck on 100km/h cruise control on Australian motorway

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  4. Can Cruise Control Get Stuck & What to Do if it Gets Stuck

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  5. Audio released of 000 call made by driver of car stuck in cruise

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  6. Police Chases Ford Driver Stuck in Cruise Control

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VIDEO

  1. cruise control in car #technology #youtubeshorts #car #shorts

  2. Three months into their global cruise, they've not left Belfast

  3. car stuck in a flooded area #atrangicarkur #automobile #rain #carmodificationinindia #ytshorts

  4. Cruise Ship Stuck for 3 Months! Passengers Find Surprising Ways to Cope 🚢😲 #CruiseFail #TravelDelays

  5. 2007 Ford Freestar Cruise Control Stopped Working

  6. Car Stuck in Snow from Blizzard

COMMENTS

  1. Can Cruise Control Get Stuck & What to Do if it Gets Stuck

    There are several potential causes of cruise control getting stuck. One possibility is a problem with the cruise control system itself, such as a faulty sensor or actuator or there could be something blocking the Cruise Control vacuum modulator. Another possibility is that there is something interfering with the proper operation of the system ...

  2. Troubleshooting Cruise Control Issues: Common Causes and FAQs

    To troubleshoot cruise control issues effectively, start by checking for blown fuses related to the system. Assess the condition of the brake pedal and throttle body as they can impact cruise control function. Use a scanner to identify underlying problems and verify the speed sensor 's operation. Inspect vacuum lines for leaks and confirm ...

  3. Cruise Control Not Working? 8 Causes & Fixes

    Blown cruise control fuse Cruise control is an electrical system, which means there's a dedicated fuse for it in your car's fuse box. If that fuse has been blown, your cruise control button won't do anything. Diagnosing this problem: Refer to your manual to locate the fuse box in your engine bay. With a cold car, pop the fuse box and remove the fuse dedicated to the cruise control.

  4. 5 Reasons Why Your Cruise Control Stopped Working

    It can also be caused by issues with the throttle control system or the ABS. In older cruise control systems, it can be caused by a broken vacuum line. Here is a more detailed list of the possible reasons your cruise control is not working: 1. Blown Fuse. All electrical systems in the vehicle are controlled by fuses.

  5. Cruise Control Not Working: Reasons and Quick Fixes

    The first step is to locate the fuse box in your car, typically under the dashboard or in the engine compartment. Once you've found the fuse box, ... First, check if the cruise control switch is stuck or malfunctioning, as this might cause the alarm to go off unexpectedly. Additionally, inspect the vehicle's wiring and connections related ...

  6. Cruise Control Repair

    Cruise control not working in your vehicle? Today we're going over three main components of the cruise control system - The Cruise Control Main Switch, Cruse...

  7. Cruise Control not Working (Diagnosis and Troubleshooting)

    Symptom 1 — brake pedal does not disengage cruise control. There's a switch fixed to the bases of the brake pedal and if cruise control does not deactivate when braking then it's a sign that this switch is faulty. Symptom 2 — Hissing noises are heard from under the dash. The cruise control switch is a vacuum system and for some vehicles ...

  8. 7 Reasons Cruise Control Stopped Working & How to Fix It

    The Fix. Cut half an inch off the end and reconnect the hose. Cut out the damaged area and connect the two pieces together. 6. Electrical Issues. Many different parts go into making the cruise control system work so it's always good to check all of these if there is ever a fault with the system itself. The Fix.

  9. Cruise control not working

    Modern cruise control also measures the speed of the car in front of you in the lane to maintain a safe distance. If you are a car guy, you probably enjoy having control over the machine yourself. However, cruise control is extremely useful during a long highway ride, since it reduces the fatigue and pain of pressing hte4 accelerator for hours.

  10. Fixing Faulty Cruise Control

    Fixing Faulty Cruise Control. Alarmingly, the speedometer needle steadily winds down from 75 mph toward 50. Just as you uncurl your feet and try to accelerate back to traffic speeds, the vehicle ...

  11. Cruise Control Not Working? 9 Potential Causes

    Brake Light Switch - As cruise control is automatically cancelled by depressing the brake, some vehicles may disengage cruise control if it cannot detect the brake light switch. Brake Lights - In some systems, cruise control is disabled when a brake light is blown. Aftermarket lighting, such as LED brake light conversion, might trick the ...

  12. Why Is My Cruise Control Not Working? Causes & Cost to Fix

    A cruise control system can stop working due to (1) a mechanical problem (2) a blown fuse (3) a damaged speed sensor (4) a faulty brake pedal switch or (5) electrical problems. Repair costs can start at $100 and go beyond $500, depending on the affected part, labour costs, and the car brand and model. Finding your cruise control not working isn ...

  13. STUCK OR BROKEN CRUISE CONTROL? DIY fix Cruise Control FIX in ...

    Today I'll be showing you how to fix a car with cruise control that doesn't work. It's a very easy fix and takes only a couple of minutes. I'm demonstrating ...

  14. Car Electronix

    We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us.

  15. FCA Issues Massive Recall for Cruise Control Issue

    FCA is recalling 4.8 million vehicles in the U.S. that could get stuck in cruise control. Although FCA says the sequence of events that could cause a car to get stuck in cruise control is unlikely ...

  16. Fiat Chrysler recalls nearly 5 million vehicles that could get stuck in

    Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has announced a massive recall of 4.8 million vehicles in the United States over concerns that they could get stuck in cruise control, the company announced today. FCA is ...

  17. Cruise Control

    More modern cars may use adaptive cruise control (ACC). This is like a more advanced version of cruise control which users lasers, sensors or radar at the front of the car to detect other cars. These can tell how far away the car in front is. ACC will match the speed of the car in front of you (as long as it's within the speed you've set).

  18. LIFE SAVING TIPS to come out of a LOCKED CRUISE CONTROL

    Based on some incidents in which the cruise control mode would not disable itself upon braking, get to know the various ways in which you can get your car sa...

  19. Module Master

    Get in touch with us. 2006 S Main St. Moscow, Idaho 83843. USA. Mon - Thurs, 8am - 4pm PST. (208) 892-0764. Module rebuilds for darn near everything: ABS Modules, Climate Control Modules, Instrument Clusters, Power Accessories, Powertrain modules and more.

  20. Best of Moscow by high speed train

    Sure would appreciate someone who has taken Best of Moscow by high speed train from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day. Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also wha...

  21. Drew Taylor

    We think of ways to fill out our time during a 20 hour layover in Russia.Subscribe for more Storror!- http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Sto...

  22. Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991

    RE: Interflug A310 Incident, Moscow, 1991 #11018729. BY mandala499 - Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:51 pm. Quoting kimon (Reply 31): "The controls suddenly feel completely different to the pilot," says flight expert Hüttig. The sheer complexity of the Airbus' systems makes it difficult to control in critical phases of the flight.