1992 Ford Explorer Cruise Control won't turn on

[BrokewithaFord]

I have a 1992 Ford Explorer that I bought used. The cruise control worked fine on it until it didn't. I'm not mechanically advanced, so step-by-step would be helpful if you have it. Where is a good place to start?

When I press the "On" button nothing happens; nothing lights up.
The horn works (I've seen other mentions in the forums that the horn & cruise control are on the same fuse) and all other fuses are intact.

I've searched the forums and found comments that this issue could be related to a vacuum hose, an electrical issue including a "green amp" somewhere near the glove box?

As I was going through looking for things that might be vacuum hose or electrical related I found a couple things.

A small hose (vacuum hose??) is DETACHED at one end and tucked up behind the wiper motor on the driver's side.

The other end is connected into a 3 tipped connector on the passenger side.

Maybe it's electrical? There is a wire hanging under the fuse panel. It is a brown/green wire. While there is a bundle of wires factory wrapped with a label coming out of a fancy white round "thing" (partly visible in upper left of photo) the Brown/Green wire is taped to the outside of the bundle of wires.

 

[natenkiki2004]

The vacuum line looks like it's for your heater controls and thermal valve (sucks intake air from the exhaust header to warm up the engine). Doesn't look like anything to do with your cruise (which is located on the other side of the engine bay).

The electrical wire could be the diagnostic test for RABS. I don't remember the wire color but there is one down there near the steering column that you ground and the RABS light will spit out error codes if you have any.

I don't think either of those items are related to your cruise control unfortunately.

 

[Rhett]

Do you have a wider shot of your engine bay, particularly the driver's side area from the throttle body over to the fender and firewall?

 

[BrokewithaFord]

Do you have a wider shot of your engine bay, particularly the driver's side area from the throttle body over to the fender and firewall?

Hope this is what you needed.

1992 Ford Explorer XLT

 

[Roadrunner777]

There is a hose under the drivers side dashboard, near the brake pedal. This is a vacuum dump for the cruise control. When the brake is pressed, it dumps vacuum from the cruise control diaphragm. The part at the brake pedal tends to get out of adjustment such that it will not fully seal the hose when the brake pedal is up. It adjusts with a friction/ratchet fit, just by hand. It's really hard to describe, but if you get up under there and look up the brake pedal lever, you will see. I don't come here often, so I probably won't be around to answer any follow-up questions, but I would check this. It's a 5 minute fix, no parts, no tools.