Cruise Control

[DamageINC123]

I have 1997 with 31,000 miles. I noticed to today while going down the highway my cruise control indicator light would not come on and my cruise would not work. When i had the chance I pulled over to investigate. Fuse good. What I have found out is that I can turn the ignition off and restart the car with the clutch engaged the crusie indicator light will come on. Once the clutch is disengage the light goes out and quits functioning. What would cause this? Any help is much appreciated?

Edited January 15, 2010 by DamageINC123

[number9ine]

I have 1997 with 31,000 miles. I noticed to today while going down the highway my cruise control indicator light would not come on and my cruise would not work. When i had the chance I pulled over to investigate. Fuse good. What I have found out is that I can turn the ignition off and restart the car with the clutch engaged the crusie indicator light will come on. Once the clutch is disengage the light goes out and quits functioning. What would cause this? Any help is much appreciated?

I only know enough to make myself dangerous here, but since your car is a '97 it has a cable throttle and I believe the cruise control module is a standalone unit. I assume that it's tied to the microswitch on the clutch pedal assembly, as seen in this post:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...rol+microswitch

There could be a short in the wire between the switch and CC module, or the switch could be sticking.

Someone with more specific knowledge should chime in, but I'd start by poking a flashlight around the clutch pedal and seeing what's there.

Let us know how it turns out!

Mark

[DamageINC123]

After I got home I was able to trouble shoot the cruise control a little further and traced the issue back to my tail lights. I replaced my tail lights with the DEPO lights to get rid of the amber similar to the newer boxers. Well the DEPO lights use all exsiting bulbs except the brake bulbs. The brake bulbs are replaced with LEDs. You remove the existing bulbs and the LEDS have a plug that fits in the socket where the bulb goes. I guess there is a mechanism thats senses I have no tail light bulbs and shuts the cruise off. Why, I have no idea. Because the LEDS use such low voltage the car would not pick up that anything was plugged in.

The fix. I went to autozone and bought a small light and socket used for license plate lumination. I tied it into the wires on the led and this was enough for the car to sense at least one tail light was OK. The light was small enough to hide away in tail light without an isssue. The cruise now works perfect.