Cruise Control: Description and Operation

Cruise Control

The cruise control system consists of the following components:

- Stoplamp switch
- Cruise control deactivator switch (integral to the stoplamp switch on gasoline engines)
- Cruise control deactivator switch (mounted to the master cylinder on diesel engines)
- PCM
- Cruise control switches
- High mounted stoplamp
- BOO resistor (cutaway vehicles)

The cruise control system is controlled by the PCM. The cruise control system is designed to maintain a selected vehicle speed between 40 km/h (25 mph) and the maximum limited vehicle speed. The cruise control system is controlled by the steering wheel mounted switches (ON, OFF, SET/ACCEL, COAST, RESUME), the brake pedal switches (stoplamp and cruise control deactivator switches) and cruise control deactivator switch which is a pressure switch (diesel engine). The steering wheel mounted switches are hardwired to the PCM.

During normal driving, the vehicle speed may vary slightly from the set speed due to road conditions. The vehicle speed can fluctuate when driving up and down a steep hill. If the vehicle speed decreases more than 16 km/h (10 mph) below set speed, the cruise control disengages.