Cruise control not working

[Kriegen]

The cruise control on my 99 Mountaineer doesn't work, I've checked all the fuses and relays and all of that looks good. The only thing that happens is if I hit the ON button and hold it for about 5 seconds, the Speed Cont light will flash but that's it. Any suggestions?

 

[TheJackal]

have you had the recall part installed?

 

[Kriegen]

Negative, what recall part? I've only had the mounty for a little over a month

EDIT:

Found the following on the ford site:

Open Recalls


Recall: 03S04
Description: DRIVER SEAT RECLINER BOLT

Recall: 05S28
Description: PERFORM PRIOR TO VEHICLE DELIVERY: SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH

Does open mean that they haven't been applied to my vehicle?

 

[chance942]

Call your dealer and tell the service dept. you need to have the cruice control recall done. it takes about 10min. Don't know if it'll fix your problem but you MUST have this recall performed. There have been a couple instances where the brake fluid has contacted what is now,on your car anyway,an always hot wire. For one family this caused their X to catch on fire and burn their house down while they were on vacation.

Get it done!

 

[my98nnj]

The recall will not fix the cruise, you need to replace the switch on the brake master cylinder, it's not part of the recall. Make sure the recall does get done, but again that will not fix your cruise.

 

[Kriegen]

Thanks all for the info, going to try and take it in this weekend.

 

[gtyates]

I wonder if part of the recall was performed. In some instances dealerships would go ahead and disable the cruise for those that asked until the parts came in. My Grandfather had this done on his F150 initially and then took it back to have the recall done and the cruise reactivated.

 

[Kriegen]

Have to say that ford over engineered the cruise control deactivation switch. On my Altima, the cruise control is deactivated by a switch on the brake pedal similar to the one that turns on the brake lights

 

[TheJackal]

If you do not have the recall part installed, and the cruise control is not working, disconnect the harness from the cruise control deactivation switch. It is located right in front of the brake cylinder reservoir, and is easy to reach.

If the deactivation switch is corroded, it could start a fire.

 

[Kriegen]

Did some testing on the deactivation switch and don't believe that is the problem. I tested the resistance between the terminals with the brake on and the brake off. With the brake off, there is no resistance (closed circuit), with the brakes on, it's an open circuit, full resistance.

P.S. I did get the recall part installed right after I started this thread and found out about it.

 

[TheJackal]

That switch sounds fine then.
Are your brake lights working properly? It also uses the input from the Brake Pedal switch, and receives the speed input from the ABS module.

 

[Kriegen]

They are working great, first thing I tested

 

[wheadman66]

The recall will not fix the cruise, you need to replace the switch on the brake master cylinder, it's not part of the recall. Make sure the recall does get done, but again that will not fix your cruise.

I have a little preface to my question here: I had the recall done in 2007 and then two weeks ago, recently changed the master cylinder and re-used the old switches in the master. The brake light on the dash was then on so I unseated and partially slid out the the bottom plastic sensor that monitors the fluid level (but left it plugged in) and the light on the dash went off.

That said I now have no light on the dash but also dont have cruise and am taking a 1000 mile trip next week so that would be great to have it back. I tried reseating the sensor but that just turns the light on and the cruise still doesnt work.

So that replacement of the switch may fix my issue? How do I test if the switch is bad? I used my multimeter and with X off, I unclipped the front sensor wires and touching the two poles, there is continuity so the circuit is closed. Is this the correct test method? Any suggestions would help!

 

[Kriegen]

repeat your last test but have someone inside depress the brake pedal, circuit should open.

 

[wheadman66]

repeat your last test but have someone inside depress the brake pedal, circuit should open.

Yeah, just did that and that is operating as it should. The circuit is open when the pedal is depressed.

This now leads me to what else can it be? I have now completely unplugged the bottom sensor that reads the fluid level. Again, the light is now off but that is now disconnected. I tested the sensor (there are three prongs) and if they are in order 1,2,3, if I touch 1 and 3, there is continuity.

Any other suggestions?