I have a 2000 Excursion/7.3L with a cruise control problem that his plagued me for about 2 years.

I can't say this happens every time, but generally the cruise will not activate until I've been driving for about 20 mins. I'm sure the length of time has no direct bearing, rather heat, motion, vibration, steering wheel rotation, etc..
At about 20mins it will activate and appears to work normally. However, for about the next hour it will shut-off unexpectedly (cruise light goes out). I can usually reset it after a few times. On trips longer than an hour it tends to start working a little better.

Lately, however, the problem is getting worse. It takes longer before I can activate it and it stays on less time before shutting off.

I attempted to run the self-test today, but I can't get into the diagnostic mode as the cruise light will not come on for the test.

All other functions on the steering wheel work fine. The master cylinder is modified with the recall fuse and this was a problem about 5 years ago. I ended up replacing the sensor on the brake master cylinder (and the blown fuse), then the cruise starting working fine....until it didn't 2 years ago.

I'm guessing the next thing is removing the brake switch and attempting to bench test it?

It could be the steering wheel slider switch, but that would be heck to test.

Anyone have a problem like this and it was the On/Off steering wheel switch?

thanks for any insight,
Greg

 

Electrical gremlins are the worst.

My CC doesn't activate/work either. The buttons are completely unresponsive.

I was going to start with checking the fuse. I did a quick google search and there seems to be a few things that can be the issue.

Once you get used to CC, it's hard to live without.

Good luck!

 

That's interesting. Mine behaves just opposite of yours.

About 2 years ago I replaced the cutoff switch coming from the master cylinder and it operated just fine.

A year ago I had rear brakes, rotors, and calipers installed. The rear seals were leaking so they were replaced, too. Now when she gets on the road the cruise will work until it's disengaged. Then it's iffy. If the cruise reengages that'll be the last time until the Ex sits for an hour or so and everything cools.

The weirdness in our Excursions certainly does make them all unique!

 

yes intermittent problems do suck. Last night I drove the family around a bit. The cruise acted completely normal; no failures. At the end of the night I parked it in the driveway and attempted to accomplish the self-test. It still will not enter the self-test mode?? Any thoughts on that? I live with cruise. Pulling a camper in a few weeks and would like it to work....ugh.

 

My Ex is a 2000 6.8L. I've never been able to run the self-test and have been told that the 2000s didn't have one built in. (Maybe someone here can verify that or tell us what we're doing wrong.)

 

Thanks, that does help me some. I've been wondering if there was a TSB or Manual change that I don't have.

Anyone else have a 2000 model Excursion with a working cruise control and that won't self-test?

 

I think my problem is resolved. I replaced both the brake deactivation switch (mounted on the brake master cylinder) and the brake switch (mounted on the brake pedal).

While both switches appeared to work, one must have been intermittently failing. I replaced both switches with OEM Motorcraft parts. I've driven it several times. so far so good....