Trying to fix criuse control, 1998 Windstar.

[snizzer]

1998 Windstar Limited 3.8.
I hit a deer, air bags went off, lost cruise control.
I have read some other threads on how to fix this.
I replaced the brake sensor. Still doesn't work.
The horn works. Could this still be the clock spring?
The CC fuse is good.
Are there any relays, or maxifuses for CC?
What else could it be?
Thanks.

[drzoidberg]

Check pushbutton switches beneath the buttons on the column? I have a 98 Ltd and I've actually had two of those fail just under normal use. Maybe the trauma of an airbag deployment could have sent yours over the edge? You can buy new $0.25 switches from an electronics distributor and solder them in yourself if that's the problem (check with multimeter). I think the new module with switches from Ford is well over a hundred dollars.

To check the actual switches, you can use a multimeter between pairs of leads (if I recall, the switches have 4 leads, and are SPST types with each pole connected to 2 of the 4 leads) and see if you have very high resistance when off, and very low (should be about 0) when depressed. Anything else probably means a questionable switch that you should consider replacing. You can solder in a temporary switch to test and see if that's the problem.

[wiswind]

I am not familiar with what all is involved with the air bag replacement.
I have been told that the clock spring can cause the cruise control to not work.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by snizzer

1998 Windstar Limited 3.8.
I hit a deer, air bags went off, lost cruise control.
I have read some other threads on how to fix this.
I replaced the brake sensor. Still doesn't work.
The horn works. Could this still be the clock spring?
The CC fuse is good.
Are there any relays, or maxifuses for CC?
What else could it be?
Thanks.

snizzer

I have a 98 that the ABs deployed and I didn't have CC, horn, and I had an Airbag error. It turned out to be: CC blown fuse, horn blown fuse but a bad horn was causing the fuse to blow, AB error was a blown fuse. I now have a Windstar without any trouble lights on.

How did you test the CC fuse?

I'll try to look at the CC wiring diagram later today and get some more answers for you.

I was told that I would have to replace my clockspring because of the AB deployment. This wasn't true in my case. I know that there are a limited number of conductors in the clockspring and I know that the conductors are are shared by various devices. What is shared is what I'll have to look up. What I'm trying to get at is that your clockspring may be good because your horn works.

Regards

Dan

[snizzer]

The on-off, and set CC switches seem to work, because I try turning the CC on over 35MPH, and the cruise light on the dash lights for a split second, and does not stay on.
The CC fuse I am talking about is shared with other things, is a 15 amp fuse, and is good. I pulled it out to look at it. Are there any other CC fuses?
I am thinking of pulling the steering wheel to see if the clock spring is good. Have to get a puller.
Thanks.

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by snizzer

The on-off, and set CC switches seem to work, because I try turning the CC on over 35MPH, and the cruise light on the dash lights for a split second, and does not stay on.
The CC fuse I am talking about is shared with other things, is a 15 amp fuse, and is good. I pulled it out to look at it. Are there any other CC fuses?
I am thinking of pulling the steering wheel to see if the clock spring is good. Have to get a puller.
Thanks.

snizzer

If you see the light for a split second, the clock spring is intact. It's doing its job of sending the signal to the CC. Your problem is else where.

I scanned in two pages from my 98 repair manual. I'll email them to you.

Dan