Cruise Control Problem

[kschoon1]

I have a 2003 Southwind 35R and have experienced an intermittent issue with the Cruise Control. It seems to work fine, turn it on, set your speed and all is good. The issue is when you have to put on the brakes or switch it off due to traffic, then it seems to not want to come back on. Sometimes I can turn it off and on and it will begin to work again - in other cases I've fiddled with the controls for 10 minutes or more and it doesn't want to work at which point I give up and then after waiting a while (random amounts of time) I'll try it again and it will work.

I'm assuming there must be an issue in the wiring, somewhere between the switch which is mounted on the turn signal lever or in the steering column but really have no idea how to disassemble them to try to locate the issue.

Has anyone had a similar issue and can point me in a direction to check or have any idea how to work on this issue? Thanks!

[George Z]

Check for a sticking brake light switch. Stepping on brake to activate brake lights is usually what deactivates the cruise control. If the brake lights stay on after releasing the pedal the light switch may be hanging up or be out of adjustment, thus not allowing the cruise to reset.

[kschoon1]

Thanks, I'll check that out - never thought of that. Right now it's in the shop waiting for the Actia IPC to be replaced. The LCD read out became unreadable!

[kschoon1]

**UPDATE** I haven't had the opportunity to thoroughly check on the brake light switch but I drove the coach this past weekend and had the same cruise control problem where after touching the brakes the cruise would not work. I "jiggled" the brake pedal with my foot while driving and after a bit of jiggling it would come back on so I'm thinking it's definitely related to the switch. Is this located under the dash near the pedal? Any help on describing what I should be looking for is appreciated!!

["007"]

At the top side of brake you have a switch that the plunger for switch has worn.
You have to be on your back looking up to switch you will see a wire connector that your have to remove than you can turn the thread plunger outward to close the switch gap to the top of brake metal lever.
Only turn a few turns than test the CC and see if it wholes in cruise while driving.
Hit some bumps in road and see if the vibration cuts off your CC.
If it does you need a couple of more turns.
This is one of those money makers dealers do not tell you when they said they replaced the switch.

[kaysystems]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kschoon1 **UPDATE** I haven't had the opportunity to thoroughly check on the brake light switch but I drove the coach this past weekend and had the same cruise control problem where after touching the brakes the cruise would not work. I "jiggled" the brake pedal with my foot while driving and after a bit of jiggling it would come back on so I'm thinking it's definitely related to the switch. Is this located under the dash near the pedal? Any help on describing what I should be looking for is appreciated!!

If it's a Ford chassis you may have an outstanding recall. Earlier ones were subject to a cruise control switch recall - not sure about 2003.
The Ford website has a place to check. Search the site for recall and you should find it. Enter the VIN and it will tell you.

David

[kschoon1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007" At the top side of brake you have a switch that the plunger for switch has worn. You have to be on your back looking up to switch you will see a wire connector that your have to remove than you can turn the thread plunger outward to close the switch gap to the top of brake metal lever. Only turn a few turns than test the CC and see if it wholes in cruise while driving. Hit some bumps in road and see if the vibration cuts off your CC. If it does you need a couple of more turns. This is one of those money makers dealers do not tell you when they said they replaced the switch.

Thanks, I'll check that out. I never have problems with bumps switching it off, just when I brake and then try to reset it doesn't want to come back on.

[kschoon1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaysystems If it's a Ford chassis you may have an outstanding recall. Earlier ones were subject to a cruise control switch recall - not sure about 2003. The Ford website has a place to check. Search the site for recall and you should find it. Enter the VIN and it will tell you. David

Thanks for the reply although mine is a Workhorse Chassis but you never know this info may help someone else.

[wa8yxm]

On a workhorse the switch is under the dash, near the top of the pedal arm.

HOWEVER: on older (Pre-2005) Workhorse models (I'm not sure just when they switched but it was during 2004/2005) on the bell crank, under the hood, (This is the thing the brake pedal pushes on that in turns pushes on the master cylinder mounted at a right angle) they did NOT include a ZERK fitting.. The result is eventually this thing kind of 'Sizezed up" due to old lub and dirt and such.

Of course, some idiot technician may have forgot to greese a newer one WITH a ZERK (I know for a fact my Zerk got hit with a grease gun... Said gun was in MY hand at the time)

If it binds then the pedal won't fully return, this causes two problems, you have ONE of those problems. Of course your problem can have other causes as well.