96 T&C cruise control problem

[wogggieee]

The cruise control on my 96 T&C isnt working. The light on the on/off button on the steering wheel will come on and off when pushed. But when I press set nothing happens. it wont turn on no matter what i do. I have heard that there was a recal for the clock spring which effects the cruise control. I dont know for sure but i do believe that has been changed. What would be causing this? I have looked for a fuse or replay but didnt find anything that would strike me as effecting the cruise control, so i'm clueless. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[digimon]

The clock spring has been on recall for your van ( B24 NOV 02 Recall - Clockspring Inspection/Replacement ) Your dealer will tell you about all of the recalls that have been done on your van this one should be done on there dime. Ride On, digimon

[wogggieee]

I found out the clock spring has been changed, so that likely isnt hte problem. Any Ideas?

[dlh6213]

I'm having the same problem on my '98, did this ever get resolved?

[wogggieee]

No the problem has not been resolved.

[sswenson]

I was working on my 96 Caravan and all of the sudden my cruise control stopped working but the light came on like yours. I found that I had hit the vacum line (small plastic 1/4 inch line) from the cruise and had cracked it. I found the break and simply put a peice of vacum hose between the break and works fine. So possibly you have a break or crack in the line and are sucking air making the cruise inoperable.

[HeadlessHorseman]

Originally Posted by sswenson

I found that I had hit the vacum line (small plastic 1/4 inch line) from the cruise and had cracked it.

Thanks for the heads-up, SS. That's pretty interesting. I'll have to file that one along with my Haynes for future reference. I didn't know that cruise control was vacuum actuated (learn something new every day)... sounds like the break in the line was somewhere under the hood, right?

[sswenson]

If you have looked and not found the vacum hose mine, 3.3L engine, is tie wrapped to the thottle linkage cables and has a vacum connection on the intake manifold. It is basically plastic and can become brittle so if you flex it and is not soft it may just break. good luck.

[dlh6213]

The clock spring in mine (98) was replaced in 2002, but I had them do it again last week (1/2005) hoping this was the problem but it wasn't.

I replaced the headlight bulb on the drivers side around the time this started (not sure if it was before or after), is there something around the headlight/battery area that I could have broken or knocked loose?

[jwalker1970]

#1. If your light is lighting up, and your horn is working, and your air bag light goes out after initial start-up, your clock spring is ok.

#2. As indicated by other post, check your vacuum. Check it at the cruise module (probably below the battery box). Check it with the vehicle running. I use a wet finger over the vac line, if it sticks to your finger, vacuum ok.

#3. Check your brake light switch. If your brake switch is bad or most likely out of adjust, your cruise won't engage.

#4. WD-40 the crap out of your switches. Click them up and down on. I've found frequently that these are a source of problems. Keep a clean rag handy for drip-off. (If you have access to a scan tool, it will tell you what cruise buttons are reading open or closed circuit)

#5. LASTLY.... Try a used cruise module. They fit any domestic Chrysler (about 1990 to 2001 <approx>) you should be able to score one out of a salvage yard for about $25. NO, you don't need a specific '98 caravan module. Just unbolt the 2 (10mm) bolts from the face where the cable attaches, pull it back far enough to remove the retainer clip on the cable & re-install your cable drive.

#6. As a one in about a million longshot.... Did you recently change your vehicle computer? Your cruise is run by your PCM, therfore by replacing your's with a non- cruise PCM, your cruise will be dead.

Good Luck!