98 Windstar- Cruise control stopped working

[groptus]

The cruise control on my 98 3.8L GL stopped working the other day. When I turn it on, the "cruise" light illuminates on the dash, but when I hit the set button, it does not come on. I am thinking it may be a vacuum leak, but in this forum I see many other problems, such as the horn/cruise wire wearing in the clockspring in the steering wheel, a faulty brake pedal switch or the on/off switch under the master cylinder. What would be the best place to start looking?

[DRW1000]

I would look at the signals at the connector to the cruise control near the master cylinder. I think I found some very limited info in a Haynes Manual for my 99 and the measurements at this connector indicated that my troubles were in the switches themselves. The was a break in a trace on the circuit board that is integrated in the switch. I only mention this because I want to illustrate the different possibilities if yours is not one of the obvious problems.

Be careful working on your steering wheel and do remember to disable the airbag.

If you do not have a Haynes I will be happy to dig mine out (assuming it coevers 98s too)

[groptus]

Thanks for the info, I do have the Haynes manual for it. You are right, there is some limited info on checking the fuses and switches. I will start there, thanks!

[drzoidberg]

I had the cruise control go out twice on me...both times for the same reason...cruise control buttons had failed. Ordered new ones (known as "tactile feedback pushbuttons" from Mouser electronics to replace broken ones and everything was fine. Switches looked OK on the outside, but a quick test with an Ohmmeter revealed that they had failed.

[SonOfDolomite]

When the cruise went out on my 95, I just replaced the switch at the bottom of the master cylinder. $12 for the part at the Ford dealer and now I have cruise control back.

[tlijun]

Originally Posted by SonOfDolomite

When the cruise went out on my 95, I just replaced the switch at the bottom of the master cylinder. $12 for the part at the Ford dealer and now I have cruise control back.

Hi do you need to bleed the break system after you replace the switch?

[rrclyoung]

On my 98' the cruise would set sometimes and not others. Over time it got worse and I thought the switch was going bad. It turned out to be an intermittent signal from the speed sensor (VSS).....had the VSS replaced and cruise worked like new again.... One thing to mention, while the VSS was going bad the transmission started shifting rough when up shifting, the VSS cleared this up also.

[wiswind]

Pictures that may help you in the replacement of the brake pressure switch....that is located on the bottom of the master cylinder.... I did not need to bleed the brakes....very little fluid came out....although I did have some fresh brake fluid on hand just in case.

http://community.webshots.com/album/201931518cScpNK