Cruise control dead!

[medicdave]

Hi Again All-

Got another issue for y'all to consider, this time with the cruise control on my '99 GL with the 3.5L and 75K miles.

I noticed recently that my cruise control would cut off at random; the green "cruise" dash light goes out, and the gas pedal pops up as if I had switched off the CC using the dash switch. The amber light inside the cruise dash switch remains on as long as it's activated.

After this happened a few times, it started letting go a few seconds after I set it. Sometimes the drop out was almost instant (the dash light only came on for a second or less) and other times it would wait 10 seconds to a minute before cutting off.

After a few more weeks, it stopped working completely. Now, I can hammer on "Set" all I want but the dash light never illuminates and the cruise never activates.

I'd like to repair it myself, but I don't even know where to begin. I did check the pedal switch, by lifting back on the brake pedal with the top of my foot while driving. No help!

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
[medic]Dave

[Ruley73]

I would start by checking the cruise control cable under the hood. Make sure it is connected to the throttle plate on the side of the throttle body. The cruise control module can't operate the throttle if this cable is disconnected. The ECM/computer can probably detect this (probably detects decceleration via the vehicle speed sensor) and disengages the cruise control. A similar incident occurred on my GFs car (exact same car as yours - '99 Intrigue GL 3.5L) and the clip that held the cruise control cable onto the throttlebody broke and disconnected the cable from the throttle plate.

Unfortunately, the only way to get the new clip if you need one is to replace the entire cruise control module/cable. I was able to rig it back up by crimping a ring wire terminal to the end of the cable and using a pop bottle cap with a webbed hole in the middle to hold the cable onto the throttle plate. Been like this for over a year now with no trouble.

[medicdave]

Thanks Ruley73...will do...

Any chance you could post a photo of the setup you used for your GF's Intrigue?

Thanks,
[medic]Dave

[Ruley73]

Sorry no digital cam here so no can do.