2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission cruise control different from all others

[fstfish66]

ive searched this topic,,there are tons of conversations on cruise not working,,,



heres a new one, that i dont see. .



its winter here,,,my cruise lite comes on with the start up just like all the other idiot lites,,,



when the truck is cold,,the cruise will turn on with the column switch,and set,,,for how long ???that i havent had a chance to try,,,



once it warms up, the temp gauge comes up,,the cruise will not power on at all,,,have to wait till its completely cold again,,sounds weird,,,2002 truck auto 98,600 miles,,,4x4 im thinking a vacuum line opening up when hot under the hood????



a few months ago i removed the radiator for degreasing, replaced all water hoses,,,t stat,,,water pump,,, killer dowl pin check-up,,,the only electrical connection i disconnected was the wind shield washer bottle,,, all the heater/defrost vents work fine



ANY IDEAS??? thanks in advance,,,don in PA

 

[mopars1]

It is possible your steering column clock spring is getting an open circuit when it warms up and expands a little. If you don't know the clock spring is under the steering wheel and is used for the electronics that are mounted to the steering wheel as well as the air bag. Good Luck.

 

[jwinnie]

Not vacuum related. Even with no vac the cruise light will still come on. Happened to me last week, busted line to the servo.

 

[fstfish66]

ok thanks i have been thnking about this clock spring since ive seen other topics leading to that also,,,,



it seems some times i can tilt the wheel as far down as it will go and get the cruise light to power on, after it stops working when the temps rise,, i was reading others talking about the tiny under sized wiring used in the column,,



so i guess ill look in the service manual,,,see how to unarm the air bag,,and take a peek to see how it all comes apart,,,



is there a wiring harness attached to this clock spring ?? and does it come as a complete replacement unit???? thanks for all replys,,

 

[jwinnie]

Don't pull your steering wheel yet.

If your clock spring is broke you should also get an airbag warning light on the dash and your horn won't work.

If you have neither of those, I would focus first on the wiring under the column that flexes with the tilt wheel.

I think the column comes apart with a torx bit. Section 8w-33 of the service manual will show the wires to look for.



Good luck

 

[FourBarR]

The servo that operates the cruise control is under the left battery. Could be the line has a crack that opens when things get hot. There has also been problems with acid from the battery eating up things there. hope this helps.

 

[fstfish66]

thanks every one for your input,,, i have not gotten to this matter yet,,a few more things ahead of it,,,then im going to upgrade the fuel pump,,,then the cruise problem,,,,



i havent looked but assume there is a breaker or fuse for the air bag,,



i do have horn problems, but only when the wheel is tilted in the same position i drive in,,,if i tilt the wheel the horn blows,,, i am assuming the cruise problem is in the wiring,,, i have read on this board that the wiring in this area is very tiny,under sized,,and or fragile,,, i would think i could buy a new harness for the column /?? and just switch it out,,, i hope to be on it this month some time, thanks again ill post what i find

 

[Mick2500]

thanks every one for your input,,, i have not gotten to this matter yet,,a few more things ahead of it,,,then im going to upgrade the fuel pump,,,then the cruise problem,,,,

i havent looked but assume there is a breaker or fuse for the air bag,,

i do have horn problems, but only when the wheel is tilted in the same position i drive in,,,if i tilt the wheel the horn blows,,, i am assuming the cruise problem is in the wiring,,, i have read on this board that the wiring in this area is very tiny,under sized,,and or fragile,,, i would think i could buy a new harness for the column /?? and just switch it out,,, i hope to be on it this month some time, thanks again ill post what i find

Fish,
Go to RockAuto.com and get the clockspring
DORMAN Part #525104 (if you have cruise, radio on steering wheel).
Follow the replacement instructions found here:
Recall #982 - Clockspring for the TSB but remove the lower connector FIRST. It has a shorting tab in the connector so there is no
chance of blowin' the airbag charge.
You can ignore the "tiny, under sized[sic],,and or fragile,,," wires. Its not the
wires that break, it's the ribbon cable in the clock spring. There are several circuits in the ribbon cable, Airbag - and Airbag +, Cruise on/off, Accelerate, Coast, Resume, Cancel. Radio channel up, down, volume up, down. The horn is a carbon contact ring, just like the old cars.

Mick
Just did mine a week ago.

 

[BarryG]

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the wires. I was having a horn problem. I found my horn wire broken right where the wires kink a bit under the column from the tilt steering. Is at least worth checking and will only take a couple minutes to take the cover off and check.

 

[Mick2500]

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the wires. I was having a horn problem. I found my horn wire broken right where the wires kink a bit under the column from the tilt steering. Is at least worth checking and will only take a couple minutes to take the cover off and check.

I suppose there ARE a few exceptions but having both a CC problem

AND a horn problem that is temp related seems like a clock spring to me.

He can take an ohmmeter and meter out the wires, they are very well

documented in the service manual. The only circuit broken in mine was the

very top ribbon circuit for the air bag.



Mick

 

[fstfish66]

I suppose there ARE a few exceptions but having both a CC problem

AND a horn problem that is temp related seems like a clock spring to me.

He can take an ohmmeter and meter out the wires, they are very well

documented in the service manual. The only circuit broken in mine was the

very top ribbon circuit for the air bag.



Mick

HEY thanks for the replys,,sorry i didnt get back sooner,,,work schedule is rough,,,,and im researching a replacement lift pump,,,,



i do not have steering wheel radio controls,,,this clock spring,,do i need to remove the steering wheel ??? i have not had a chance to look and see if i have a big enough service manual for that area,,,,



and please explain the deal about not making the air bag activate,,,thanks again,,,DON

 

[Mick2500]

Don,
Did you read the service bulletin? Click on the link in reply #8 above.

Mick

 

[fstfish66]

mick yes i just seen it after you pointed it out to me,,,, i printed it all ,,, i also PM,ED you,,,,,thanks a lot,,, don

 

[Mick2500]

Don,
I sent you an Email.

Mick

 

[fstfish66]

Don,

I sent you an Email.



Mick

MICK,, got it,, i printed all the onfo you gave me, so when im able to tackel it ill have it all thanks again DON

 

[RoadHogg]

Don't pull your steering wheel yet.

If your clock spring is broke you should also get an airbag warning light on the dash and your horn won't work.

If you have neither of those, I would focus first on the wiring under the column that flexes with the tilt wheel.

I think the column comes apart with a torx bit. Section 8w-33 of the service manual will show the wires to look for.



Good luck

Is it always all three? On mine, cruise works, horn works, air bag light is on. My cruise light recently quit but the cruise still works.

 

[jwinnie]

Is it always all three? On mine, cruise works, horn works, air bag light is on. My cruise light recently quit but the cruise still works.

No. Those are just the other circuits running through the clockspring.

The op had symptoms only when tilting his wheel. I was just listing the other possible problems a bad clockspring might cause.



Not sure about the cruise light on your '98, Is it in the Odometer like my '01? or a light on the dash?