Cruise Control problem

[lloyd329]

I have a '98 Dodge Caravan SE with the cruise control buttons mounted on the steering wheel. Whenever I am going down the road and I turn my cruise on, the cruise light comes on then immediately shuts off and it doesn't work. This happens most every time I engage the cruise. On very rare occasions the light will remain on and the cruise will work. The light will remain off and cruise will not work until the ignition is turned off and vehicle is restarted. Then it happens all over again. I have been experimenting with this problem for awhile now.
If I am at a standstill with the vehicle running and turn the cruise on, sometimes the light will remain on until I accelerate and sometimes it will shut off immediately. The majority of the times it stays on until I accelerate.

Any suggestions before I take it to a mechanic for a more detailed inspection? My local mechanic did I visual inspection under the vehicle and couldn't see anything wrong.

Thanks!!!

[cbwilsha]

I suspect rhe clockspring which is located in the steering wheel and passes all electric signals from any wheel mounted switches. There was a recall for your 98 so, if the recall has not been done, it's definitely a freebie. If it has been done on recall, I would lobby to have it done again free. Don't cost to ask.

BTW, the cruise should NOT work in any respect when standing still. It is not activated until you reach about 28-30 mph. That means the cruise light should not come on or anything else with respect to the cruise control.

C.B.

[1thunder]

Yes the cruise lamp will or should come on when ever you turn it on no matter if iddling or driving down the road this indicates it is ready to be set anyway for your problem i am about 97% sure your cruise servo is faulty as the engine controller expects to receive a predetermined voltage comming back from the servo when you turn cruise on and if this command doesn't go through servo because of it being faulty the engine controller will turn off the lamp and ignore any switch inputs from the cruise circuit as it knows it is not operational this should save you alot of diagnostic times {i am a dealer tech and repair all cruise problems also}

[lloyd329]

Thank you. So whats the fix/part and how much do you think it will cost? Is it one part or the entire Cruise unit? Is it an easy fix?

[1thunder]

very possible you will need a cruise servo and it's located on the rear of the battery tray not to big a job to replace remove battery then you can access mounting bolts for servo bracket