Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Cruise not working; Dealer Says Bad PCM ????

[Ereynolds72]

I've been following along on a couple other threads about the cruise control not working and I have my own issues that I need some advice on:



I printed out the whole thread where Jake fixed his cruise and gave it to the tech. Not as an insult to the guy but I thought I might save him some headache; especially after he already "fixed" it once. Anyway, they are telling me there's no wiring or continuity issues from the clockspring to the PCM; that the PCM is bad and needs to be replaced. I find this hard to believe though since the PCM controls so many other functions and nothing else is giving me any problems.



Since they worked on it last week, my cruise light will come on, sometimes, but only after I tilt the wheel up and down several times while holding the ON switch. Once it came on, I did not touch anything for about 30 seconds and it stayed on. When I turned the wheel one full revolution, the light went out and I could actually hear something (like a switch) on drivers side of the engine compartment... . it seemed like it was at the firewall. Does this sound like something anyone else has experienced?



I guess my main question is, can the PCM be bad?



Thanks,

Erik

 

[JRichard]

If you can get the light to come on while tilting the wheel, then it sounds an awful lot to me like a bad wire in your column somewhere. You see, when you tilt the column that bundle of clockspring wires (22 awg i think) has to flex, and as time goes on from tilting and untilting the column, these wires can develop internal fractures.



I would be a little bit dubious about whether or not they actually checked continuity from the PCM to the clockspring in all actuality. Im not trying to say your dealer is crooked or doesnt know what theyre talking about, im just making an observation based on given data.



I dont know where you're from, but if its close, id be happy to take some time to look at your cruise for a bit if you'd want me to. If i were you, i would find someone knowledgeable electrically and get a second opinion on the whole continuity issue.



As for what you're hearing on the drivers side that sounds like a switch, that would be your cruise servo underneath the battery box engaging/disengaging when the cruise light goes on/off.



In my experience, and my opinion, i would have to say that your PCM is fine if the light comes on at all.



By the way, my wiring actually magically showed continuity to the PCM on the wire that was broken, but when i jumpered it from the clockspring straight to the PCM things began working properly, so its possible you have the same "magical" continuity that i had.



Just my . 02

Jake

 

[Ereynolds72]

Yeah! That's why I took such an interest in your case because it was so similar. If I felt like doing battle with the dealership, I'd go ahead and pay them to replace the PCM. Then when it doesn't fix the problem, I'd have to fight with them to get my money back for replacing a part that didn't need replacing. Anyway, I will pursue the continuity thing elsewhere. What is the diagnostic tool you used? How much and where can I get it?

 

[JRichard]

I just used a nice cheap digital multi-meter to test continuity. The thing is though, i read good continuity to all of the pins on the PCM from the clockspring. So the very next thing i did was simply jump a long wire directly from the wire on the clockspring out to the correct pin on the PCM, be very careful if you try doing this becuase if you get the wrong pin on the PCM, then BAM youre done. If you pull the plug out of the PCM you will see that the holes for the pins are numbered, this makes it easy to find the correct wire to jump. I forget which wire i jumpered to make my cruise work, but i beleive it says in my old post.



Happy hunting

Jake

 

[DVR]

it could be the pcm or the harness you described...



from the issues when actually turning the wheel i would change the clockspring. it is well documented to be a faulty part. i would start there even if yours is newer.



i had a chrysler van that had a bad clockspring and the cruise is what was the most problematic. as it deteriorated the airbag light would illuminate to indicate a problem.



i switched that clockspring myself before mopar started covering them. it was not too dificult and it saved me alot of money. all the problems cleared right up.



if the dealer switched pcm modules and it did not fix the problem many would replace the clockspring (if it fixed the problem) and bill for the pcm.