cruise control fires
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: MI
cruise control fires
does anyone have any info on these fires that Ford trucks have been having due to the cruise control tap at the master cylinder? there have been stories in the news about this but only a recall from Ford for certain years that had more? fires than the rest. I have the "red" colored part the reporters & suppliers say is the bad type. I have 88,000 on a 99 F350 with a V10 & no problems but these stories are getting me worried & there is a lot of them on the news, a few people had their house burn down after the truck fire spread to it. whats the scoop? is this a cover up or just a small problem?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
I have no idea what the percentage of problem vehicles is, but I read that Ford was disconnecting the switch, which disables the cruise control.
If you're really worried, disconnect the switch. But you lose the cruise control.
Personally, I only use it on long highways where I'm not paying attention to the speedo, to avoid getting a speeding ticket.
If you're really worried, disconnect the switch. But you lose the cruise control.
Personally, I only use it on long highways where I'm not paying attention to the speedo, to avoid getting a speeding ticket.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: South Dakota
You have nothing to worry about, its only on a few years of the F-150.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=337223
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=337223
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New User
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From: MI
Thanks for the link to the thread on the 97-03 trucks, they have a lot of info on this "cruise control recall" Seems mine looks the same as the recalled units but is not "officially" on the recall list. I hope it only looks like the defective units & is not actually one from the supposedly damaged "batch" I'm going to disconnect it & tape it off like everyone says until I can get to the dealer & find out. Better safe than sorry
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Del Rio, Texas USA
Hey handy, i worry about this too.. here is what i did.. pop the hood, look at tme master cylinder....... it has two plugs connected to it.. .these are where they say the fires start.. if the brake fluid is getting to those electrical connections... i pulled the two plugs and checked... mine were both dry as could be... so i plugged them back in and have not worried about it since..... check there and see if you have any fluid on the elec connections, if not your not going to self combust...
JJ
JJ
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From: 3rd Rock
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According to the letter from Ford, the defect applies to 2000 model F150, Expeditions, Navigators, and 2001 F-150 SC vehicles equiped with speed control. Your truck may not apply, but the threat is real!
MrTrick
MrTrick
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Portsmouth,VA
I have a 1997, and when I disconnected my switich, because cruise control did not work for the first time it was covered in brake fluid, it had so much on it that it was dripping off. So I disconnected it and taped it off. I rather lose cruise control for a while then my truck, house, and possibly myself or family.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 464
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From: Bismarck USA
What happens is that the rubber diaphram on the pressure switch can loose seal. Then the brake fluid runs into the switch. The problem is that Ford has that switch "hot" all the time. So the fluid shorts out the switch and starts on fire. More fluid drips out, more fire.
But there is a really simple fix to this that will protect your vehicle and keep your cruise. Just splice a 5 amp inline fuse to that switch. If it does break and leak, the fuse blows. You'll either notice a loss of cruise, or the leak. Either way, you can get it fixed before a fire.
But there is a really simple fix to this that will protect your vehicle and keep your cruise. Just splice a 5 amp inline fuse to that switch. If it does break and leak, the fuse blows. You'll either notice a loss of cruise, or the leak. Either way, you can get it fixed before a fire.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: NE Texas
If you splice a 5 Amp fuse in series with the switch, there will not be enough current availability to operate the servo clutch, thus that fuse will blow rendering the cruise control inoperative. Besides, if conditions are right, 5 Amps might be enough to set it aflame anyway.
Either wait for the updated switch, or use a relay with a very low current fuse on the coil circuit being picked by the deactivation switch, then connect the contacts of the relay to the connector that goes to the switch.
Good luck,
Doc
Either wait for the updated switch, or use a relay with a very low current fuse on the coil circuit being picked by the deactivation switch, then connect the contacts of the relay to the connector that goes to the switch.
Good luck,
Doc
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Alabama
Hey if anyone could give me a website so that I can read about these cruise control fires I would be greatly appreciative. Apparently I am the only Ford owner who has not seen this on t.v. or the web. I have looked on FTE's recall announcements and it doesn't show anything. I have looked on other websites for recalls and they show other things that happened a few years back.
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From: BC, Canada
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Alabama
Ok thanks for the obvious information that I was overlooking. Anyways I was told that it was from 97-2001 F150's but everything here shows it only in 2000? I have a 1999 F150 and so I have been kinda worried, but I guess I shouldn't be too worried now huh? Alright thanks for the help MBDiagMan