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  #1  
Old 11-29-2016, 05:57 PM
Edford4 Edford4 is offline
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Default Cruise control out of control

My 2004 ranger has developed a strange cruise control situation. About a month ago, my cruise will shut down for no reason. I push "ON, then set, and it kicks in again. Several miles down the road, it shuts off again. I do the same steps again. Being frustrated, I turn off the cruise control. A few days later, the cruise works great for a 380 mile interstate round trip.
Then later on, for a short interstate trip, I had 6 failures. The final failure resulted in no buttons working.
The next day it appears to work again. I take it to a Ford dealer, and after a 6 hour wait, they tell me I have to have the whole dash removed! Really? A minimum of $500 just for that part to get to wiring harness. Is there another solution besides a dash removal? They tried a new switch, whatever that was. Also, this truck was hit on the right side in a wreck, of which I did not know at time of purchase (my fault). Is wiring harness on right side (passenger side) of dash.
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  #2  
Old 11-30-2016, 12:26 PM
cowboybilly9mile cowboybilly9mile is offline
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Default Re: Cruise control out of control

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edford4 View Post
.......I take it to a Ford dealer, and after a 6 hour wait, they tell me I have to have the whole dash removed! Really? A minimum of $500 just for that part to get to wiring harness. ......
Maybe ask the Ford dealer how they confirmed that there is a problem in the wiring harness AND how they narrowed it down to being somewhere hidden by the dash. FWIW and hearing what people pay to have their dash dropped to replace the heater core, you will probably be pissed when they blow past that $500 minimum.

Google will lead you to pics showing how that harness is routed withing the dash assembly.
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  #3  
Old 01-06-2017, 01:51 PM
Castleguard Castleguard is offline
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Default Re: Cruise control out of control

It's possible that the cruise control release switch is going. It's very common... $20 fix if thats it..
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  #4  
Old 01-11-2017, 06:35 PM
sheltonfilms sheltonfilms is offline
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Default Re: Cruise control out of control

Sounds to me as they found an open circuit on the dash harness. Probably between the column and the area where the wires interconnect through the firewall to the engine bay harness.

I wouldn't pull a dash for a fix like this. Just cut both ends and splice a wire in.

Next time it isn't working try the diagnostic method:
Do not start engine during this test. Transmission in Park or Neutral with parking brake applied.

Put the key in the ignition and hold the OFF button on the speed control then turn the key to the on position and then release the OFF button. This puts the speed control in diagnostic mode.

Within 5 seconds of releasing the OFF button, start pressing the buttons in the sequence shown below:
ON
RESUME
COAST
SET/ACCEL
(For each button pressed, the speed control light should flash ONCE, indicating that the pressed button is working.)

If, after pressing the last button (SET/ACCEL), the speed control light flashes:
2 flashes - defective brake pedal position sensor and/or a bad clutch pedal position sensor or the circuit is defective.
3 flashes - Brake deactivation switch is open or circuit is defective.
4 flashes - Vehicle speed signal is out of range or circuit is defective.
Immediately after the last flash code is complete, the speed control servo will pull the throttle open and then release it. This should be watched to check that the throttle and cable are not binding or inoperative for any other reason.

Although it is rare, it is also possible that this code could flash early during the diagnostic procedure.
5 flashes – Speed Control Actuator defective.
Turn ignition switch to the off position after test.
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