7 Reasons Your Cruise Control Isn’t Working
Cruise control has been around since the late 1950s. There was a time when this convenient feature was only available on some car models. These days, it seems like almost every model on the road has a cruise control feature.
Cruise control not working may seem like a minor issue, but not being able to activate this convenient feature can make your car trip difficult. While a faulty cruise control “is unlikely” to pose a safety risk, you’ll need to identify the root cause before you can use it again. Let’s look at the most common causes of cruise control failure.
Cruise control problems (acceleration or maintaining speed)
When your cruise control stops working and breaks down completely, you might not think that’s an immediate problem. You’re probably thinking that you can’t use the cruise control again until the problem is fixed.
However, cruise control problems can also be related to acceleration problems. In fact, any cruise control component can be defective and negatively affect acceleration. That’s why you need to know what’s causing your cruise control problems.
Common Causes of Cruise Control Not Working
If your cruise control isn’t working, there could be a few different reasons. Below are the six most common causes. Check each of these areas to see if they’re the cause of your cruise control problems. In many cases, fixing the problem isn’t that complicated or expensive. 1) Cruise Control Switch
The cruise control switch is used to set the cruising speed. This information is sent to the engine control module and the cruise control module to maintain the acceleration speed.
If the contacts on the cruise control switch wear out, the module and the unit may no longer receive the speed information they need to maintain acceleration. In response, the system will shut off completely and the currently set driving acceleration will be canceled.
2) Brake Light Switch
Typically, to turn off cruise control, you press the brake pedal. To do this, the brake light switch must be recognized by the cruise control system. If the switch is not recognized, cruise control will automatically be disabled until the brake light switch problem is fixed. A faulty brake light switch can also cause the brake lights to stay on.
3) Blown fuses
The electrical components of the cruise control system are protected by fuses. Just like in your home, fuses can blow. This will turn off the cruise control until the fuse is replaced.
4) Check Engine Light
When the check engine light comes on, it usually means there is a problem with the transmission or engine. If the engine control module detects this problem, it may disable the cruise control system as a safety measure. Cruise control will remain disabled until the engine problem is fixed.
5) Vehicle Speed Sensor
Most vehicles are equipped with some vehicle speed sensor to provide vehicle speed information to the engine control module and cruise control module. The cruise control module can only know how fast the vehicle is moving if the information is provided by the vehicle speed sensor. If the module cannot detect the speed due to a faulty speed sensor, the cruise control system will automatically disable.
6) Electrical Problems
There are several electrical components connected to the cruise control system. The connectors and wire harness, as well as the ground strap, are the components that need to be checked if the cruise control stops working.
Make sure the power source is still providing power to the system. If any of these components are loose or damaged, it will explain why your cruise control isn’t working.
7) Loose or broken cruise control cables
Older vehicles equipped with cruise control have two throttle cables, one for the accelerator pedal and one for the cruise control system. These cables can stretch over time. If the cruise control cable stretches or breaks, the cruise control system will not be able to operate the throttle properly.
Specific issues with adaptive cruise control
Adaptive cruise control adjusts the speed of your car based on the distance to the car in front of you, making driving more comfortable. However, this can create additional causes for cruise control failure. One problem that can occur is a clogged sensor. Both the radar and the camera are important components of the adaptive cruise control system. If these sensors become covered with dirt, debris, or ice, it can cause the cruise control to stop working. To prevent this, regularly clean your vehicle’s sensors and make sure they are free of dirt.
A faulty camera can also be an issue. If the camera isn’t working properly, you may see an error message. Hopefully that won’t happen, as it’s expensive.
In addition to the camera, adaptive cruise control relies heavily on radar technology to function properly. If the radar sensor is misaligned or faulty, the system may behave erratically. Again, contact a qualified technician to diagnose the problem and recalibrate or replace the radar system if necessary.
Drive Safely Without Cruise Control
If your cruise control system fails, it can be difficult to adapt to speed management without constant cruise control. But there are some things you can do.
1. Focus on checking the gauge more frequently to proactively pay attention to your miles per hour. 2. Try not to switch it off on long journeys.
3. Set an alarm on your phone every few miles to remind you to check how fast you are traveling.
4. Familiarize yourself with the speed limits on highways so you can automatically stick to them.
5. Take frequent breaks to stretch your legs and regain your attention until you can diagnose the cruise control malfunction.
6. If economically feasible, consider alternative adaptive cruise control technology in newer vehicles that automatically slows down gradually as you get closer to the vehicle ahead. 7. Pay attention to the distance between you and the vehicle ahead and fluctuations in your own speed.
8. If possible, use an open lane with fewer vehicles around to reduce the need for constant fine adjustments.
9. Until repairs are completed, pay renewed attention to your actions and remain vigilant, even if you don’t have convenient automatic cruise control.
10. Identify intermittent errors
11. If your cruise control malfunctions are occasional but recurring, careful recording of each malfunction can reveal patterns that lead to the root cause.
The date and time of any pauses or deactivations that occurred during activation. Detail existing environmental or operating conditions. Examples: B. Weather, bumpy or slippery road surfaces, stop-and-go traffic, or highway speeds.
Reviewing the complete repair history along with these event logs will tell you if previously replaced components only provided a temporary solution and will fail again later. Share documented patterns of how and when failures occur with the shop technicians to assist with tracking and component testing.
The objective is to determine if certain items such as old switches, wire insulation, solder connections, etc., chronically fail only under certain temperature, vibration, or usage stress thresholds.