Hello everyone,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
I'm new to this forum but have used one very similar for questions associated with my Goldwing Motorcycle. I tried searching for this answer but nothing matching my problem came up.<o></o>
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I have a 2003 F-150 automatic with the 5.2 Liter Gasoline engine. It is a four door with the short bed. It is a lariat edition 4x4 with the FX4 package and trailer towing package. Hopefully this is enough information for you to help me with the following question:<o></o>
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Recently my cruise control started acting up. When I first noticed the problem, the cruise would not engage. After tuning on the cruise control, I pushed the set button, the cruise light on the dash flashed on and immediately back off. The cruise would not engage. The next day, it engaged on the first try. Later in the day, it acted up again... Cruise light flashing on and back off.<o></o>
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Over a couple of days, the cruise acted the same way. Sometimes if I kept pushing the set button over and over, eventually the light would stay lit and the cruise would engage.<o></o>
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The peddles are adjustable on this truck so I thought the brake cutout switch would be a likely source of the problem. While I held the brake pedal part way down and attempted to set the cruise, the cruise light would not light at all. Since the symptoms do not match the results from this quick test, I do not believe it is a problem with the brake pedal switch. <o></o>
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Any ideas where I should start?<o></o>
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Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.<o></o>

 

Has the truck had the cruise control recall performed?

 

The cruise control mod has not been performed. When I read the recall, it did not apply to this truck. I may be wrong. In any case, my understanding, which again may be wrong is that the mod installed a fuse. I'm not sure how this would play into this issue. If I'm all messed up, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

The recall has recently been expanded.

The change is a redesigned brake pressure switch and a fused wiring harness.

The brake pressure switch develops brake fluid leaks that cause the switch to malfunction. The brake fluid is flamable, so when the switch fails and shorts out, it tends to set the truck on fire.

My wife's 01 Windstar was not included in the recall until the most recent update, but had the classic pressure switch failure about a year ago.

If I recall, the mod kit was only $30 or $40 when I had to pay for it.
Now I'm searching for the receipts so I can try to get reimbursed for the parts....

 

It sounds reasonable that brake fluid leaking into the hydraulic pressure cruise cutout switch could cause intermittent operation. Is there any way to check this before I go for full replacement?

In any case, if the parts are less than $50.00. It really isn't worth messing with for very long.

Any other thoughts on what the problem might be?

 

I checked under the hood. The cruise control modification is already installed. They installed a fused wire going to the potentilly faulty switch.

Now what?

 

Does the horn work? Might be the clock spring in the steering wheel going bad. I have had that problem on two of my cars with cruise control switches on the steering wheel and the cruise working intermittently was soon followed with not working at all with the horn following. One of them the airbag light came on until the switch was changed.

 

The horn still works. In addition, the on/off switch for the cruise still works.