Need some help with a strange problem!

[Lectricman]

Hello all,

I have a strange problem that is driving me nuts and need some help. My wife was driving her '97 Explorer today about 10 mph when she heard a "squealing" noise from the speakers and the truck tried to accelerate on its own. She turned the radio off and it quit. A few minutes later she turned the radio back on and the truck immediatly did the same thing. Luckily, she had her foot on the brake and was able to maintain control.

I wasn't able to duplicate the symptoms myself. I pulled the airbag module to check for pinched wires going to the cruise control buttons. There was one small flat spot on one of the thin film wires, but it wasn't touching anything. I also unhooked the cruise control cable from the throttle so that it couldn't do the same thing again.

The truck also has the occasional problem with the windshield wipers not cooperating. I'm pretty sure that it's just the multifuncion switch and not related, though.

The radio is an aftermarket Sony unit, but it is connected with an adapter to the factory plugs in the dash. I haven't been able to pull codes yet, but I don't have a CEL on either.

Has anyone ever heard of anything like this before? I have seen some strange things before, but this one takes the cake. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lectricman]

Bump

 

[mp223]

For the windshield washer, check your relays. Corrosion was causing the contacts to fail on mine.

Also the cruse control isn't supposed to be active until ~25mph or something like that, but I would double check the cruise control wire to make sure its not getting caught on anything. Also check the throttle cable linkage between the pedal and throttle body.

 

[Lectricman]

I've heard of bad grounds causing a lot of problems with these trucks. Do you know where the ground would be for the cruise control system? I thought I might check it out. Thanks.

 

[mp223]

I'm not to sure about the grounds, but do you know if you've had the cruise control recall preformed? (if its applicable to your truck)

 

[Lectricman]

I'm not to sure about the grounds, but do you know if you've had the cruise control recall preformed? (if its applicable to your truck)

If you're talking about the switch on the end of the master cylinder, then yes. I did it right after I bought the truck.