Hi there. I was wondering if some one could send me a pic of their First gen altima engine. I need to find out if a tube coming from the transmission is plugged into anything. If someone could take the picture from the air filter side and email to me at djrnb@hotmail.com, I would really appreciate it. The reason for all this is becuase I am having trouble with the cruise control. I checked all the tubes and found two that are were not connected to anything. One I was able to find out where it goes, but with the second one I had no luck. I have browsed for pictures of altima engines but just couldn't get the right angle. The problem I am having is that the cruise control doesn't engage, nor does the cruise light turn on when I push the set button. Initially I though it was a fuse, but it wasn't. As a test, I replaced the fuse with a high amp fuse and was able to see the cruise light blink a couple of times and then disappear and blow the fuse. If anyone has had this problem, please let me know what has been done to resolve it. If anyone has any questions, please do let me know. Thanks for you help.

That hose puzzles many owners including myself when I removed my transmission. It is a transmission breather hose. The end with the hook belongs inside of the plastic tie on the rear side of the air filter box. It is left open and doesn't connect on the end with the hook. Auto or manual trans have the same hose.

Check all the linkage and check for smooth movement of the throttle. Avoid letting the throttle snap back to the idle stop. Letting the cables slip from your fingers as you move the throttle can damage the TPS. Bad linkage would overload the servo motor and blow the fuse. Something locking in the servo could cause an overload. The fact that the light flashes suggests that the motor is trying to move but something is preventing it, rather than a direct ground in the circuit between the steering wheel switch and the servo motor. The light flashes with each attempt of movement by the motor and quickly overloads the fuse.

As a test, unplug the harness to the servo, put a good fuse back in and see if it blows the fuse when you try to set cruise.

That hose puzzles many owners including myself when I removed my transmission. It is a transmission breather hose. The end with the hook belongs inside of the plastic tie on the rear side of the airfilter box. It is left open and doesn't connect on the end with the hook. Auto or manual trans have the same hose.

Yeah, when I found that hose I said to myself "This has to connect to something!", and proceeded to waste about an half hour searching around the engine bay. :)
As for the cruise control, it could be one of these causes: (taken from the Chilton repair manual)
Blown fuse
Short in cruise control circuit
Faulty brake or clutch switch
Leaking vacuum circuit
Faulty cruise control switch
Faulty stepper motor
Faulty transducer
Faulty speed sensor
Faulty cruise control module

Hope this helps

Does Chilton offer any instructions on diagnosing which one or how to test each component?

The Haynes Manual says that diagnosis is beyond the scope of the average mortal, and that there is a special test tool for that pupose.

Maybe that is their way of saying they really don't know.

I wonder if there are any additional test instructions in the computers at AutoZone that would take us a step further?

I haven't gotten a chance to check out the cruise control yet. Hopefully I'll get a chance this weekend. I'll post what I find.

Does Chilton offer any instructions on diagnosing which one or how to test each component?

The Haynes Manual says that diagnosis is beyond the scope of the average mortal, and that there is a special test tool for that pupose.

Maybe that is their way of saying they really don't know.

I wonder if there are any additional test instructions in the computers at AutoZone that would take us a step further?

No instructions in the Chiltons, but I did find a cruise control hold relay in relay box-2, which will be on the inboard side of the battery. The relay will be labeled "ASCD" (Automatic Speed Control Device). I'm not sure if it's like a fusible link or not, so I don't know how to test it.