'87 - No Cruise Control

Hello all,

Evidently, no cruise control. It does not turn on. If there is supposed to be any light for it that turns on when activated, I don't see it.

I have read that on this year the stoplight switch can go out, making the cruise control unit think it is always depressed. I replaced this today and it still does not engage.

At this point, the only thing I can think of is the switch.

Any ideas? And if you think it is the switch, how would I go about replacing it?

Alright, I checked the connector for the switch for continuity between any pins with the switch on or off - nothing. Have a feeling the switch itself is shot. How can this part be taken apart? I have heard it is held on with glue..?

Note: I get continuity with the set and resume buttons, but not with the on/off switch part. I will try to make a manual on/off switch later if nobody can tell me how it comes apart, and see if that solves it :)

Edit: Forget it. I was impatient, and now it is totally torn apart. Will probably buy another unit and wire it to the existing wire going down the column. If anyone knows the wire colors / pinout for the cruise control switch, it'd be cool to know them.

Alright, I checked the connector for the switch for continuity between any pins with the switch on or off - nothing. Have a feeling the switch itself is shot. How can this part be taken apart? I have heard it is held on with glue..?

Note: I get continuity with the set and resume buttons, but not with the on/off switch part. I will try to make a manual on/off switch later if nobody can tell me how it comes apart, and see if that solves it :)

Edit: Forget it. I was impatient, and now it is totally torn apart. Will probably buy another unit and wire it to the existing wire going down the column. If anyone knows the wire colors / pinout for the cruise control switch, it'd be cool to know them.


My girlfriend had a '87 several years ago and I found the multi-function switch is usually the problem on these cars when you have cruise control problems. You do have a module under the dash. This car unlike newer versions the wire runs all the way down the steering column to the base connector under the dash. Harder to feed through when replacing. The lever justs pulls out. Pop the cover etc. This part usually takes care of the problem 90% of the time. Good Luck!

My girlfriend had a '87 several years ago and I found the multi-function switch is usually the problem on these cars when you have cruise control problems. You do have a module under the dash. This car unlike newer versions the wire runs all the way down the steering column to the base connector under the dash. Harder to feed through when replacing. The lever justs pulls out. Pop the cover etc. This part usually takes care of the problem 90% of the time. Good Luck!

Yeah, I checked the pins where this plugged in under the kick panel and there wasn't anything for the on/off switch. Wiggling the wire showed the other two as intermittent. I was able to get the lever out, but not able to just get at the switch itself - which is what I really wanted to do. I am going to the junkyard on Sun to pick up another one (also ordered some aftermarket one for cheap just in case), and I am going to solder splice the wires instead of running it down the column. I do a good job with that ;)

Hey,

Replaced the switch today. Continuity is good. But still no cruise control.

Any help? :/

Nobody has any other ideas on this?

You replaced the whole multifunction switch arm with a new one?
My 87 was disengaging cruise when I turned on the wipers. I replaced the multifunction switch arm, and it worked for ~5 years, then it started disengaging when I turned on the wipers again, first only when wipers high speed then it kept getting worse, even when just gradually increasing the wiper speed. I never did figure it out, it must be a sensitive thing!

I solder spliced in a new (junkyard pull), better condition one with the existing cable, so I would not have to pull it through the steering column. I checked continuity, and set / on / resume work fine (there is continuity on the proper pins). Just in case, I also have a brand new aftermarket unit. I have tested with both, and cruise control still does not engage.

Also, I replaced the stop light switch a while back.

And yes - it is shoddily built, and a pain to replace - why did they have to make it easier to replace in the '88? :(

Still no luck with this. Replaced the CCM and it still does not engage. I have a feeling it could be a ground problem, as my cluster had a ground problem. Does anyone know a) the pinout of the CCM harness, and b) if it grounds to the same location / splices with a ground that has to do with the cluster?

If this is the case, simply fixing this ground may enable cruise control for me again.

To summarize: new multifunction arm, new CCM = no cruise control, still. :( Help!

I found this information myself. The problem was the ground wire, on pin J of the CCM harness. Routed to my new ground for other ground issues with my cluster and now I have cruise control for the first time. :)