99 Camry Cruise Control

I'm new to this forum and wanted to see if somebody could please help me. My 99 camry's cruise control doesn't work. I've taken it to a mechanic and he told me I need a new actuator, but from reading some of the forums here I'm not sure. My cruise control switch will light up when I press to set the cruise, nothing happens, not even the cruise control light on the dash comes on. I read that everybody else who needed an actuator cruise control light on the dash comes on. I just want to make sure I actually need the high priced actuator, instead of the much cheaper computer module. I'm fairly handy and do most of my own work but I've never don anything with cruise control before. If somebody could help me I'd really appreciate it.

All I can suggest is to check all the electrical connections...sometimes even just repeatedly unplugging and reconnecting the wire connections will scrape off the old corrosion from the contacts.

I also know that some cruise controls wil not activate below a certain speed. For my '92, the vehicle must be traveling ~45 mph or faster to set the cruise or resume a previous setting. Check your manual for any stipulations like this.

Cruise control is a nebulous beast in general and they don't break often, but we'll try to help.

Thanks for replying. I removed the cover, unplugged all the wires, and plugged them back up again. I got nothing. Everything appears to be plugged in. Anything else you could suggest. If not, is there somewhere I could go and find a used actuator online? I can't find one anywhere and it's 1500 bucks from the dealer.

Your best bet is a used parts yard. Look in the phone book or do an internet search for nearby yards. Ebay's an option, but more of a gamble.

If I read right, you say you have two indicator lights for your cruise control? An on/off light on the switch itself and one on the dash to show when it is engaged?

By comparison, my '92 has a single stalk mounted to the steering wheel (yes it turns with the wheel, not on the steering column) that controls the cruise functions. Pressing the on/off switch will illuminate the dash light but no other lights come on when it is engaged.

If you can't get the on/off switch to work, that would be my first focus...make sure the cruise on/off light works too. Just be sure to disarm the ABS system before poking around the steering wheel connections...search this forum for instructions since '99s are probably different than '92s.

I've never worked the system but, before you go for an actuator you might want to get a multimeter out and see if power is getting to the actuator. Also check the switch at the brake pedal that turns off the cruise when you tap the brake. Might save you a trip and some bucks. May be a schematic in the factory service manual listed in the "Factory Service Manuals" thread listed at the top of the forum.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j169/marc780/BrakePedal.jpg Check the stop light switch under the dash. It may need adjusting or replacement as RIP suggested.

http://img64.exs.cx/img64/5158/31iu.jpg
Check the cables are in their holder and the nuts are snug.