'97 E150 Cruise Control

[Boomyal]

My cruise control is inop. I have two questions:

Apparently there is no Cruise Control indicator lite on the dashboard for this year. I can not find any evidence of one in the owners manual. It appears that by, at least, 2002 they may have had such a lite.

It is said that the most common failure of the cruise control is in the failsafe? cut out switch on the brake pedal? If so, how do you test that switch to see if it is bad?

The switch on the master cylinder has been replaced so that is not an issue. I would hate to pay $70 just to have this system diagnosed, only to find out that it is just the brake pedal switch.

 

[rbh]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Most switches are always on or always off, so you can try disconnecting one side of the switch and trying it or jumper across the poles to short them together.

Thats the only way I can think of without removing the switch.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Most switches are always on or always off, so you can try disconnecting one side of the switch and trying it or jumper across the poles to short them together.

Thats the only way I can think of without removing the switch.

Having looked under the dash, it appears that it is pretty easy to disconnect and remove the switch from the brake pedal arm. I read some information on a 2002 E150 that made it sound like it was a failsafe switch. I assume that to mean, if the switch fails, it fails in the 'off' mode.

What is disconcerting is that there is apparently no 'CC on" indicator light on the dashboard.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Boom, my 2000 Focus doesn't have any light that lights up, until you actually set the cruise. Might yours be the same?

Maybe this thread I started would help you?

http://forums.iboats.com/non-boating-technical-topics/2000-ford-focus-cruise-control-592839.html

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Look at the brake switch on the master cylinder. I believe there is a recall. Call a dealer and give them the VIN.

Also, if you have a brake light out (high mount included) the cruise will not engage.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Look at the brake switch on the master cylinder. I believe there is a recall. Call a dealer and give them the VIN.

Also, if you have a brake light out (high mount included) the cruise will not engage.

That recall switch was already changed out and all three rear lights are working. I even checked the #6 and #11 fuses.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Boom, my 2000 Focus doesn't have any light that lights up, until you actually set the cruise. Might yours be the same?

Maybe this thread I started would help you?

http://forums.iboats.com/non-boating-technical-topics/2000-ford-focus-cruise-control-592839.html

I saw your diagnosis in that thread TW. It is very similar to one I found on the internet for a 2002 E150. I've owned this van since new and for the life of me I cannot remember if there was ever (when the CC worked) a dash light indicator when the CC was turned on. I did check the dash symbols in the owners manual and there is nothing in there about a lite.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

I've always found it easier to just pull the switch and then disconnect and bench test. NC/NO -- Really doesn't matter. If it doesn't change state it's bad.

Very common problem, the switch cycles every time you push on the brake, so after 10+ years they give up the ghost.
Cheap fix if that's it.

Can't remember if the 97 had a cc lite or not, after building them for 36 years they all blend together. :facepalm:

huts

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

I've always found it easier to just pull the switch and then disconnect and bench test. NC/NO -- Really doesn't matter. If it doesn't change state it's bad.

Very common problem, the switch cycles every time you push on the brake, so after 10+ years they give up the ghost.
Cheap fix if that's it.

Can't remember if the 97 had a cc lite or not, after building them for 36 years they all blend together. :facepalm:

huts

Thanks hut, I'll pull it off and see if I can test it with an ohm meter. You are right about how many times that switch cycles. For years I hardly used the CC, so the other controls would have gotten very little use. That pedal switch was working whether you were using the CC, or not.

What I do not understand is what part that 'recalled' switch on the master cylinder played in the operation of the CC?

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

The switch on the master cylinder is the primary, the brake pedal is a secondary (safety).
Use to be the primary but when it failed the CC stayed engaged, sometimes.
So they went to the master cylinder and the fire hazard followed.
You got to love engineers

1997 FORD E-150 Recalls

1997 FORD E-150 Recalls

huts

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

The Cruise indicator light in my Explorer, looks like a clock symbol, it is nothing like I have ever had before, if I remember right, if it has factory cruise, it has to have a light in the dash to indicate when it is on, something to do with NTSB mandates.

There are actually several parts involved in the cruise, you have switches, amplifier modules, light sensors on the brake lights, fuses, RPM sensors. Etc.

 

[Bondo]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Thanks hut, I'll pull it off and see if I can test it with an ohm meter. You are right about how many times that switch cycles. For years I hardly used the CC, so the other controls would have gotten very little use. That pedal switch was working whether you were using the CC, or not.

What I do not understand is what part that 'recalled' switch on the master cylinder played in the operation of the CC?

Ayuh,... I donno it's function Boomer, but when I bought my '96 pickup, the CC didn't work, the Test/ Workaround was to put a paperclip into the connector, 'n the CC worked...

I then replaced the switch....

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '97 E150 Cruise Control

Ayuh,... I donno it's function Boomer, but when I bought my '96 pickup, the CC didn't work, the Test/ Workaround was to put a paperclip into the connector, 'n the CC worked...

I then replaced the switch....

Yeah, Bond-o, I already tried the paperclip in the master cylinder switch connector. No change.