1997 Nissan Altima Cruise Control Problem

[GavinSmall]

Problem as follows:

Headlights off - Cruise control works.

Headlights on - Cruise Control will not engage. Warning light flashes for a while then extinguishes.

System has power. Cruise control button 'on' light works as advertised.

Other 'problems' that I think are associated.

When I depress the brake pedal - the parking lights come on as do the lights behind the speedo/tacho etc. Remove foot from brake pedal and lights extinguish. (Brake lights come on as per normal.)

When headlights are on, so are brake lights, even if brake pedal is not being depressed. (This makes other drivers a little upset.)

I think that all of these problems are linked. The 'system' thinks that the brakes are on when the lights are headlights are on and hence wont engage the cruise control.

Any assistance in diagnosis would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[P-Unit94]

I had a similar problem with mine once i installed a new audio system.

There are a few wires crossed somewhere, probably in behind the cd player or at the rear of the fuse box. Just double check that all the wires are clean from each other and that all ur fuses are in good condition.

[x1gary]

Check the brake pedal, there are 2 switches that are located above it. One is for the brake lights and one is for the cruise control. Its a small rubber piece. Check to make sure that when the brake pedal is released.... it makes contact with both switched. (You may have noticed small rubber pieces on the drivers side carpet... thats from the piece rotting away)

[cotting]

I'm sorry to dig up this ancient thread, but I stumbled across it on a google search while looking for answers with a different problem I'm having with the cruise in my Altima.

x1Gary's answer to the original question is a possible cause of fault to the problem of the cruise not engaging, but does not explain why the cruise works with the headlights off and doesn't work with them on.

P-unit94's answer is most likely incorrect. Wires don't just get "crossed" unless you were dicking around with them or you drive a Volvo from the 1980s. In either case, the problems the original poster stated would have surfaced immediately after doing some electrical work on the car. Also, there are no brake light wires behind the CD player.

The problems GavinSmall is describing can all be attributed to a single possible cause: one or more of your taillight bulbs have been replaced by a single filament bulb instead of the correct dual-filament bulb. I know it sounds way too "off the wall" to be correct, but what happens when that error is made is the contact point on the end of the single filament bulb shorts the two contacts of the bulb holder together, thus making the normally separate taillight and brake light circuits one complete circuit.