Cruise Control inop!

[VICIOUS]

Ok here is the deal I have a 1997 E150 with a 5.4 in it. So roughly 2 years ago I noticed that the cruise control was inoperative, unfortunatley we were on a 800 mile trip. So I had no tools or time to troubleshoot it (I did however replace the cruise control pressure switch). Now with that being said when we got back into town it kinda got put off to the back burner. Here we are almost 2 years later and we are set to take another long trip, so I would like to get that cruise going again. Today I tried replacing the cruise actuator with a known good unit and it did not fix my problem. I have checked fuses and verified that there was power in at least one of the pins at the actuator. I am stumped!!! I have a connect with a technician at ford however he will not be able to get me the pinpoint testing until Monday. So any help or insight I can get now would be most greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

-Josh

[YoGeorge]

Originally Posted by VICIOUS

Ok here is the deal I have a 1997 E150 with a 5.4 in it. So roughly 2 years ago I noticed that the cruise control was inoperative, unfortunatley we were on a 800 mile trip. So I had no tools or time to troubleshoot it (I did however replace the cruise control pressure switch). Now with that being said when we got back into town it kinda got put off to the back burner. Here we are almost 2 years later and we are set to take another long trip, so I would like to get that cruise going again. Today I tried replacing the cruise actuator with a known good unit and it did not fix my problem. I have checked fuses and verified that there was power in at least one of the pins at the actuator. I am stumped!!! I have a connect with a technician at ford however he will not be able to get me the pinpoint testing until Monday. So any help or insight I can get now would be most greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

-Josh

Not a lot of time--I'm out the door right now, but I was able to troubleshoot my wife's '98 Sable cruise control a couple years ago using a clever self-test process. I just did a quick internet search on Ford cruise control troubleshooting and this is not the page that I used, but it sounds really similar--it's for a '98 Windstar. It simply involves pressing the buttons in sequence:

Ford Windstar Cruise Control In-op

If this procedure doesn't work, just google search the above phrase. I think I found the instructions for her Sable on the SHO Taurus page, but I suspect all the cruise circuitry is similar.

Good luck
George

[VICIOUS]

Well there is a problem with that. As far back as my wife and I can remember there has never been a cruise indicator in the cluster at all. I did however do some more searching on this forum and found that there has to be power at the brake pressure switch. I have no voltage on either side of that plug with it disconnected from the switch. So I guess I need to find a schematic of that circuit. Man what a headache this has turned out to be. Once I have all the information I need I am sure I can breeze through it.

Thanks for your help George

-Josh

[YoGeorge]

...sorry 'bout that....I did find a quick link re 1997 Econoline cruise inop, and it does indicate two fuses, and a couple ideas...probably won't save the day but might not hurt to give it a quick read. Among the possible probs is a burned out 3rd brake light bulb(!?) Good luck,

Ford E-150 Cruise Control Inop


George

ps...the guy with the million mile Ford van (check out this website: Millionmilevan does NOT have a cruise control...my right ankle hurts just thinking about that. I did lots of 1000-1500 mile trips in my 20's without cruise, and two years ago brought back a '97 BMW 318ti for my son from NC--about 800 miles--with no cruise. My right shin was REALLY cramping on that trip. Not nearly as much fun in my 50's to drive w/o cruise.

[VICIOUS]

We are on the same page here, I found that same link and checked those fuses. Which I am sure that I had before, but at this point I am willing to try anything to get it working.

Thanks again George

-Josh

[80broncoman]

If all else fails look for the biggest safty circuit has to to the brake light switch. You might even look to make sure ford didn't use a extra seperate switch for the cruise.

[VICIOUS]

No separate switch, brake lights work fine. I checked fuses 6 and 11 both are good, and all brake light bulbs are operative. And still I have no power at the connector for the brake pressure switch. Oh and also I had a motor go out on the drivers power seat (front up/down motor) if anyone has replaced there seat rail and have there old one laying around I would like to purchase that motor.

Thanks for the help so far guys,

-Josh

[VICIOUS]

Gonna dig into it further today since the weather has broke.....yay for sunshine.

-Josh