cruise control button

We have a 2000 alero.With a 3.4 liter engine.The cruise will not stay turned on,unless you hold the on off button down while driving.If you let go of buttton cruise goes off.Any body no if there is a fix to this.With out replaceing the entire button.If button needs to be replaced.Does any one no the procedure.

I've seen & heard this happening on many N-bodies.

Thier is no way, that I know of, to fix it other then replacing the whole unit.

To remove the Cruise buttons you need to pull the air bag to access the screws that holds it on the inside.
This unit is sold seprate from the rest of the steering wheel assesories, dealer or salvage yard.

and Welcome to AF!

I have the same problem with my 99. I bought the car used and it never worked right. :frown: I thought about trying to fix it but it got put on the back burner and forgotten about until I read your post. Sorry I'm not any help but, if you ever fix yours, let us know what it was and how hard it is to fix. :)

Think of it like a ballpoint pen that you push the top and it clicks, keeping the pen locked down, click again and it pops up.

Thiers a metal spring inside that moves another plastic piece which locks or unlocks the button. If the button hasnt poped all the way out then it might be fixable.
But once it pops out thiers not much you can do, that I am aware of anyway.

Some one posted a pic of the button in the grand am forums, I'll see if I can locate those pics!

edit
here is the link too that thread about the button switch.
(it is the same as your alero's)
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=651959&highlight=cruise+control

My cruse control button is coin operated. To get it to stay down I just stick a dime in next to it.

My cruse control button is coin operated. To get it to stay down I just stick a dime in next to it.

:rofl:
Never would have though of that one :D

I own a 01 Alero and the cruise button is bad on mine too. I just used a little tape and now it works fine. :) Quick and cheap fix

I am wondering why a power switch for the cruise is needed at all. What would be wrong with leaving it armed all the time? Power could probably be easily supplied by jumping a couple of terminals at the cruise module on the passenger side wheel well under the hood.

Lee Richardson
Mech-Tech
Evansville, Indiana

Well mech tech you have some learning todo.

If it was draining all the time and it was accedently turned on then you may not be able to disable it in an emergency.

You dont just go hacking wires when a new switch would solve the problem the correct way. :disappoin

Good morning, Xero. The terminals you would short at the module would be the very same ones that the On/Off switch in the steering wheel shorts. The B+ is controlled by the ignition switch. For example, when the cruise switch is working normally, it is not required to turn it off when you park the car. As for the safety aspect, that does not really fly, either. The unit would continue to be able to coast, resume, and disengage normally with the brake pedal. There are two reasons I will not change the switch in my own Alero. First, it is in my opinion overpriced for what it is. And secondly, unless the new replacement is of a better design or materials than the original, it was of low quality to begin with, and the replacement would be unlikely to hold up any better. Thanks Lee Richardson Mech-Tech Evansville, Indiana Edited to say after looking the diagram over at lunch time, I have decided to just glue the switch in the closed position. Otherwise the indicator will not be illuminated.

I have a nice little piece of carboard in my switch that holds it down for me. :) Why do I still like this car??????

I replaced mine about a year ago for other reasons, but it wasn't a difficult job, about an hour, start to finish. And in my opinion, the part is not that expensive, unless you get it from the dealer. RockAuto.com has it for about $40.

The biggest thing to remember is to properly disable the airbag before you start messing with it. The procedure for the whole job can be found in a Haynes manual. Maybe not the best manual, but adequate for the average weekender and for the price.

My cruse control button is coin operated. To get it to stay down I just stick a dime in next to it.


My Cruise control is coin operated too! That went out on me maybe like a year ago and I use cruise all the time because I do a lot of highway driving. I think the day it broke I shoved a dime in there and I have not taken it out since. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with coin operated cruise control :)