Cruise Control Not Working? 11 Reasons Why
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You may need to look in the owner's manual to see which one if it's not tagged on the fuse box cover. An aftermarket cruise may have an inline fuse holder in the wiring to the controller. Reviewing complete repair histories alongside these event logs indicates if previously replaced components only provided temporary fixes before subsequent re-failure later on. Share documented patterns of when and how interruptions occur with shop technicians to guide their pathway tracing and component testing. If the cameras aren’t working correctly, you may see an error warning.
Step 1 – Check the fuses
For example, it may not be possible to cancel a faulty cruise control system - which could have dire consequences. So if your cruise control only works sometimes, or not at all, avoid using it until you can find a solution - by taking it to a trusted mechanic. Alternatively, you may decide to research the issue and attempt to fix it yourself.
Vehicle speed sensor fault
Have you ever experienced the frustration of pressing the cruise control button on your car, only to find that it doesn’t engage? It can be quite perplexing, especially when you’re expecting a smooth and effortless drive. There are a few potential causes for this issue that you should consider. Bad brake pedal/light switch — This means communication between you, cruise control and the car is interrupted, and you can’t have immediate manual control of the car.
How much does it cost to fix cruise control malfunctions?
We hope this article helped shed some light on why cruise control might not be working in your car. Now that you know why your cruise control might not be working, you’re probably wondering if it’s something you can handle on your own. Sometimes it can even just come unplugged and all you need to do is plug it back in. Either way, this is a pretty easy fix that you should be able to do on your own. This is usually pretty easy to check because you can just try to turn the system on and see if it engages. You could also try this method by turning off the front lights of your car; maybe you are facing the same problem.
Damaged Relay
If the spiral cable has an open circuit, the switch may be unable to communicate with the CCM. The desired cruising speed is maintained by modulating the engine speed. This speed can be adjusted, or cruise control can be cancelled by pressing 'cancel' or 'off'. While cruise control can make long journeys easier and less stressful, if the system fails it can be dangerous.
Vacuum Leak
The stalk is the lever or button on the steering column that controls the cruise control functions. If it becomes worn out or damaged, it may not properly communicate with the cruise control module, resulting in the failure to cancel. In such cases, replacing the cruise control stalk may be necessary to restore proper functionality.
There are several different types of cruise control systems, but all implementations share similar basic components. There is a sensor to measure vehicle speed, a throttle position sensor, and some mechanism to control the throttle plate without the use of the gas pedal. Build It Make It then lists a broken brake light switch as being the next most common reason.
Why Is My Cruise Control Not Working? 6 Common Reasons

In response, the system will deactivate entirely and cancel the current cruise acceleration set. Cruise control reduces stress and fatigue on long drives, but if the system isn't working properly, it can become dangerous. If your vehicle's cruise control isn't working, one of the following nine issues may be the root cause. If any of the ABS sensors are faulty (there is normally one on each wheel), the cruise control system will not activate.
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Cruise Control Not Working: Reasons and Quick Fixes
These usually are mounted on the fenderwell or firewall, and are connected to the throttle by a second throttle cable. Other than keeping the cable lubricated and properly adjusted, there's not much to fiddle with. Alarmingly, the speedometer needle steadily winds down from 75 mph toward 50. Just as you uncurl your feet and try to accelerate back to traffic speeds, the vehicle downshifts with a lurch and abruptly climbs back to over 80 mph. So you tap the brakes and disengage the cruise control to avoid a conversation with one of the many law enforcement officers lurking behind every other billboard. Toggling the Resume switch settles things down, holding to a legal speed on both the uphill and downhill sections of the interstate.
Many late-model cars have throttle plates connected directly to an actuator controlled by the engine management computer. There is no physical connection between your right foot and the throttle blades (Scary, eh?), and there may or may not be a separate cruise control servo or controller. Once you verify all of these things, it's time to look for more subtle causes. Inspect the linkage between the cruise control actuator and the throttle.
A faulty shifter actuator is listed as the next most common fault cause. This is a lock to ensure you’re not gear shifting when you don’t have the brake engaged. Since the car cannot detect which gear you’re in, it will deactivate the cruise control as a safety measure. Because the cruise control is wired into the brake pedal switch, any fault can cause it to stop working.
It’s the switch that communicates with your tail lights and turns them on as you press the brake pedal. If the switch goes bad, the signal gets interrupted, and it can reflect on your cruise control system as well. We already mentioned how the throttle position sensor affects the control of the throttle valve, and the speed sensor monitors the driving speed. It sends information to the ECU regarding the traction control system by the speed readings. If the sensor fails, you’ll likely experience some strange speedometer action and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light on the dashboard. As mentioned, cruise control is an electrical system and it uses the readings of multiple sensors to adjust and maintain your driving speed.
If your cruise control system works on some occasions, while it fails on others, don’t use it while driving. It’s not safe and the best thing you can do is inspect the system based on the reasons behind a malfunctioning cruise control. It would be difficult to find a vehicle on the road today without cruise control. This invaluable feature makes driving long distances easier but can also cause trouble when it malfunctions.
Sometimes, the reason behind your cruise control’s failure to resume speed lies within broader engine performance problems. Various factors can contribute to engine performance issues, ultimately affecting the cruise control system’s ability to function optimally. In summary, when your cruise control fails to engage, it may be due to an inoperative cruise control button or a defective cruise control module or switch. By understanding these potential causes, you can take the necessary steps to troubleshoot and resolve the problem, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable driving experience.
This switch is located on the brake pedal assembly and allows current to flow to the cruise control module to signal cruise deactivation. So even if your brake light is not blown, your central control module would think it is and make your cruise control malfunction. For instance, your car may think that the brakes were engaged when the brake pedal switch malfunctions, making the cruise control automatically switch off. Remember, addressing throttle control issues not only helps restore the functionality of your cruise control but also ensures overall engine performance and fuel efficiency. Another potential cause for your cruise control not resuming speed could be throttle control issues.
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