john40iowa Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Forgive me if this has already been covered; my '99 Forester's cruise control has always worked perfect and I use it every day. However, today it stopped working altogether! It is subzero here, but has been cold for days.... I had the oil and air filter changed today- would they have bumped something? It's way too cold to mess with it now, but, where would you guys look first? I should also mention the cruise button has not illuminated in five years, not that it matters. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I'd check fuses first. Then vacuum hoses. Also can hurt to check for power at the cruise module. This is when it's useful to have a service manual for the wiring diagrams. The light is probably just that, the light. No reason to fix that if it still works unless you just want the light to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) cruise is electronically disabled by the ECU if you have a engine code, or if the ABS light is on, or even if a Brake light is on, this is true of the newer Soobs, not sure how many years back that applies.. This is due to a built in safety mechanism Do you have any codes or any dash lights on. Also, check fuses Edited January 5, 2010 by bheinen74 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john40iowa Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 cruise is electronically disabled by the ECU if you have a engine code, or if the ABS light is on, or even if a Brake light is on, this is true of the newer Soobs, not sure how many years back that applies.. This is due to a built in safety mechanism Do you have any codes or any dash lights on. Also, check fuses No lights on dash board; too cold to check fuses, I will when it warms up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottG Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I installed the cruise control in my '98 Frester, using parts from several donor cars. The first thing I'd check is the cruise control switch at the brake pedal. All to often these switches lose a little metal or plastic button where the post of it touches the pedal & is compressed by it. If the switch post is not compressed far enough, it tells the system that the brake is on. Try inserting a penny between the switch post & the brake pedal, just taping it in place for a temporary experiment. Take the car out & engage the cruise. If it takes hold & works, replace the penny with a small plastic disk or cap, which can be glued in place. BTW, if your horn has stopped working, it's probably the fuse. If your horn IS working, it's probably not the fuse. Good Luck, ......and let us know when the problem is fixed ....& what procedure fixed it ScottG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john40iowa Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 I installed the cruise control in my '98 Frester, using parts from several donor cars. The first thing I'd check is the cruise control switch at the brake pedal. All to often these switches lose a little metal or plastic button where the post of it touches the pedal & is compressed by it. If the switch post is not compressed far enough, it tells the system that the brake is on. Try inserting a penny between the switch post & the brake pedal, just taping it in place for a temporary experiment. Take the car out & engage the cruise. If it takes hold & works, replace the penny with a small plastic disk or cap, which can be glued in place. BTW, if your horn has stopped working, it's probably the fuse. If your horn IS working, it's probably not the fuse. Good Luck, ......and let us know when the problem is fixed ....& what procedure fixed it ScottG Thanks for the advice; by," brake pedal," I assuming it has something to do with the working mechanism above the pedal? It might have to wait a week or two, as I am not used to these frigid temperatures and it's hard on things to work on em outside- my friend's Honda needed a fuse checked and the cover clips broke like nothing was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottG Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Yes! There are 2 switches above the brake pedal: one is for the brake lights and the other is for the cruise control. If you have a 5-speed manual trans, there will also be a switch above the clutch pedal. This assures that if you depress the clutch while the cruise is engaged, you won't over-rev the engine. If you have a manual shift, check the switch above the clutch pedal, also. It may be this absolutely frigid weather that's causing the maladjustment. Try letting as much heat as possible flow into the driver's footwell during your next drive to work. That should give it plenty of time to heat up. Just before you're ready to shut down, try the cruise control. If it suddenly starts working, it's because the cold weather has led to putting the switch above the clutch or brake (or both) out of adjustment. There are 2 nuts holding each switch. Adjust them so that the brake and clutch pedals push on them more strongly when the pedals are not depressed. You might find a friend with a heated garage who would let you use it for an hour or 2, just to find a warm place to examine the switches & adjust them. You can do this. Please let us know if this fix works ScottG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john40iowa Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 Yes! There are 2 switches above the brake pedal: one is for the brake lights and the other is for the cruise control. If you have a 5-speed manual trans, there will also be a switch above the clutch pedal. This assures that if you depress the clutch while the cruise is engaged, you won't over-rev the engine. If you have a manual shift, check the switch above the clutch pedal, also. It may be this absolutely frigid weather that's causing the maladjustment. Try letting as much heat as possible flow into the driver's footwell during your next drive to work. That should give it plenty of time to heat up. Just before you're ready to shut down, try the cruise control. If it suddenly starts working, it's because the cold weather has led to putting the switch above the clutch or brake (or both) out of adjustment. There are 2 nuts holding each switch. Adjust them so that the brake and clutch pedals push on them more strongly when the pedals are not depressed. You might find a friend with a heated garage who would let you use it for an hour or 2, just to find a warm place to examine the switches & adjust them. You can do this. Please let us know if this fix works ScottG It's Automatic Transmission; I will post the solution once fixed. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john40iowa Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Today I Took a good look under the hood; sure enough a vacuum line was not loose from the cruise control. All it is working normally again! Thanks for the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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