Help with cruise control

[Redfire 05]

My cruise control doesn't work at all so I need some help ascertaining the problem. Here is what I checked so far:

1. All fuses in the fuse box are okay.
2. The VSS is working properly. Just for kicks I swaped it with a known good one and same result.
3. I can't find any vaccum leaks.
4. With the car off I connected a vaccum pump to the vaccum for the servo coming from the vaccum block. I pulled 23 inches of vaccum on it and let it sit. The vaccum slowly bled off. In less than a minute it was down to zero. Is this an indication of a bad servo, or will it not hold vaccum if the engine is off? I hope not because I removed the inner fender well and the servo looks like its a b**** to pull off.

Here is what I haven't checked:
1. Brake switch. Where is it? I assume it's on the brake pedal somewhere, but I looked up under the dash and didn't see anything.
2. Cruise control buttons. How do you determine if these are bad.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[JB66]

1. Does your horn work?
2. Do your brake lights work?
3. There is an emergency release vacuum dump valve above the brake light switch which is activated by the arm that the brake pedal is attached to. Findit. Plug the vac. line with a pencil and see if the cruise works. Come back and I'll explain how to adjust it.

 

[Redfire 05]

1. Does your horn work?
2. Do your brake lights work?
3. There is an emergency release vacuum dump valve above the brake light switch which is activated by the arm that the brake pedal is attached to. Findit. Plug the vac. line with a pencil and see if the cruise works. Come back and I'll explain how to adjust it.

Horn = works
Brake lights = work
I'll plug the line tommorrow when I get off work and see if it works.

 

[Redfire 05]

Good call JB66. I plugged the line and viola my cruise control works. I assume I need to adjust the little switch that the vaccum line was attached to. Which way does it go?

 

[Jaswir]

i bet money on it thats it is called the clock spring! it sits right behind the steering wheel.. its white round and u wont miss it if you pull the wheel off... but the thing is it is very expensive... i know i broke mine when putting my wheel back on after replacing my WHOLE ignition! what a b***h.... Called a ford dealer ship and was 139.00 to replace!!! best bet is to goto a junk yard and get one for 10 bucks... i still need to fix mine... my crusie worked great before i broke the clock spring,,,

 

[JB66]

The switch should be adjusted so that it does not activate until the brake pedal is pushed down really hard. Pushing the plunger releases the Cruise vacuum to the servo. Either your switch is bad or your brake pedal is down. Try adjusting the rear brakes first, then move the switch.

 

[ss93cobra]

i bet money on it thats it is called the clock spring! it sits right behind the steering wheel.. its white round and u wont miss it if you pull the wheel off... but the thing is it is very expensive... i know i broke mine when putting my wheel back on after replacing my WHOLE ignition! what a b***h.... Called a ford dealer ship and was 139.00 to replace!!! best bet is to goto a junk yard and get one for 10 bucks... i still need to fix mine... my crusie worked great before i broke the clock spring,,,

Normally a good call, but not equipped with one in '86

 

[neikoblu]

So what do ya do if the cruise works but it feels like it's giving it gas then letting off the pedal, then repeats itself.

 

[ss93cobra]

Depends on model year really. If its an older one, its a vacuum issue in some way or the amplifier. If its a newer one with an electronic servo, I'd suspect the servo first.

 

[CrazyCobra]

So what do ya do if the cruise works but it feels like it's giving it gas then letting off the pedal, then repeats itself.

I had this problem as soon as I switched to a 75mm TB, maybe its a coincidence ? Mine stops surging(for lake of a better word) around 70mph (2800rpm).

 

[Jaswir]

Normally a good call, but not equipped with one in '86

lol, ok i didn't see the year... oh well i tried!

 

[Redfire 05]

Problem fixed. I adjusted the switch on the brake pedal a few times, and finally got it right. You guys are great, thanks a bunch.

 

[_jb_]

1. Does your horn work?
2. Do your brake lights work?
3. There is an emergency release vacuum dump valve above the brake light switch which is activated by the arm that the brake pedal is attached to. Findit. Plug the vac. line with a pencil and see if the cruise works. Come back and I'll explain how to adjust it.

What does this thing look like?

 

[nito88stang]

whelp, looks like i'll be adjusting that thingy

 

[JB66]

Glad you got it fixed. What it looks like is one of the old plastic interior light switches that turned on the dome light when you opened your door except there is a vacuum hose connector instead of the electrical connector.

 

[amplifier28]

My cruise control works. It can be turned off from the stering wheel but can not be turned off by pressing the brake pedal. I once had the brake switch plastic connector break off. I bypassed it by just connecting the wire metal female connecters directly with the male metal wire connectors without using the actual plastic connector that holds the metal female connectors in place. Could the problem also be fixed by adjusting the plunger on the brake pedal assembly? Help greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[JB66]

1. Does your horn work?
2. Do your brake lights work?
3. There is an emergency release vacuum dump valve above the brake light switch which is activated by the arm that the brake pedal is attached to. Findit. Plug the vac. line with a pencil and see if the cruise works. Come back and I'll explain how to adjust it.

What year is your car?
If the brake lights work, the cruise should shut off when you press the brake. If you have a 5 speed, the same holds true for the clutch pedal. If the cruise still does not shut off, you need to adjust the vacuum valve closer to the pedal arm.

 

[jgarcea]

My cruise control issue is intermittent. Sometimes it works, sometimes I can't get it going, sometimes it goes and then shuts off and can't get it going again, sometimes when it is working and it shuts off I can press the resume button and it will work. I've also noticed that, at times, when the cruise control is working and I roll down the window, it goes off.

2002 GT Vert Silver
K&N Filter
Silencer Removed
Eibach Pro Kit
White Faced Guages
Classic Design Light Bar
Flowmaster 2 Chamber Exhaust

 

[webshot]

Hey does this fix work on a 92 vert? Mine stopped working out of the blue not too long ago. No work was being done or nothing just stopped. Also when it was working my "coast" button did not work.

 

[JB66]

It happens when the clutch and brakes wear. Yes, it's the same.