cruise control not working ford ranger

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Ford Cruise Control Troubleshooting & How-to Guide

Ford’s adaptive cruise control is a game-changer when it comes to safe driving. Not only does it help to maintain the approved safe distance from other cars, but it also helps you control your speed when on busy roads or the highways. This gives you a better driving experience overall and decreases your chances of getting into an accident.

How to activate cruise control on a Ford

• Press the ON/OFF button on the steering wheel.
• Then cruise to the speed you wish to be at and Press SET.
• Take your foot off the accelerator and press the car icon on the steering wheel to set the minimum desired gap.

Note: There are four different gap options from close to further away. The more lines on the screen, the further the distance.

• When the cruise control is active, green light with a clock, car, and arrow will appear on the dash.

How to use Ford cruise control with a start and stop

The adaptive cruise control makes driving easier because it eliminates the need to readjust cruise control speed constantly. It uses an intuitive system that automatically adjusts speed to maintain a set distance from slower-moving vehicles ahead. When traffic speed increases, the cruise control system resumes the designated speed.

Press the up and down arrows on your steering wheel cruise control switch to set a gap distance. Use the short, solid arrow above to decrease the following distance. Use the longer arrow below to increase the following distance.

You can cancel at any time by hitting the brake or pressing the cancel button on the steering wheel. They will then return the vehicle to its previously set speed and gap settings when pressing the Resume button.

Note: There are four gap distance settings. One bar indicates the shortest following distance available, while four bars indicates the longest distance.

How to Switch between Normal and Adaptive Cruise Control

• Use the arrow pad on your steering wheel to select “Driver Assist” on your vehicle’s information display.
• Select Cruise Control> Adaptive to enable Adaptive Cruise Control.
• Select Cruise Control> Normal to return to conventional cruise control.

How to deactivate Ford cruise control

Press the brake pedal or cancel on the steering wheel. Refer to the manual to locate the cruise control ON/OFF button.

What Ford models have adaptive cruise control?

Not all Ford vehicles come equipped with the Adaptive Cruise Control features. Additionally, the feature may have varying capabilities on different car models. Below is a list of Ford car models the have the cruise control either as a standard feature or an optional feature;

• Transit Connect
• F-150 Raptor
• F-250, F-350, F-450

How to safely test Ford cruise control

Press the cruise OFF button and hold it down. Then cycle the ignition key from RUN to OFF to RUN quickly without starting the engine. The cruise control indicator light will flash once to indicate that you have successfully entered the test mode.

Ford cruise control troubleshooting

The cruise control module can malfunction from time to time. When this happens, you should determine the issue before trying to fix it. This will enable you to figure out if the problem is as simple or a fuse or a vacuum leak.

Follow these steps to troubleshoot the cruise control;

Start by opening the fuse panel under the steering wheel. Pull up on the fuse panel release lever and then pull the fuse panel down.

Then check the brake lights and cruise control fuses. You can refer to the diagram on the fuse panel cover to locate these fuses. The cruise control system will not work if the cruise control module fuse is burnt or damaged. And the brake lights won’t work if the brake’s fuse is damaged.

Start the vehicle and monitor the vacuum lines on the intake and brake booster to check for a vacuum leak. This air leak will cause the cruise control system to malfunction as the cruise control will not control the vehicle speed efficiently. Also, check for a rough idle and a “sucking” sound coming from the engine bay while running. This is also an indication of a vacuum leak.

Then check to see if the throttle cable is damaged or frayed as this may also prevent the cruise control from working efficiently when controlling the throttle.

Finally, shut off the vehicle and disconnect the negative battery cable. Then loosen the retaining nut on the negative battery cable and slide the cable off the cable clamp. Remove the steering wheel column cover in place and pull the cover off the steering column with your fingers.

Unplug the electrical plug from the cruise control switch. And remove the screws holding the cruise control stalk to the steering column. Inspect the cruise control module and combination stalk. You use a working stalk to determine if the cruise control module or existing stalk is damaged.

Symptoms of a bad cruise control switch

This is the switch that controls various functions of the cruise control system. The switch is mounted on the steering wheel, and it houses all the other cruise control’s controls. When this switch is damaged, it may prevent the proper functioning of the cruise control. Here are the signs of a failing cruise control switch.

The cruise control light doesn’t illuminate

The light should light up immediately after activating the system to let the driver know that the cruise control system has been activated. If the light does not turn on, then the LED indicator controller may be damaged.

The vehicle cannot maintain set speed or acceleration

Irregular speed acceleration is a sign of a failing cruise control switch. The system is designed to control the vehicles speed at a predetermined speed. Lack of speed maintenance or speed acceleration beyond the set speed is a sign of a damaged cruise control switch.

Note: if your cruise control switch is damaged, have a trained professional fix or replace it. Running a self-diagnostic and fixing the switch may void the warranty. You may also end up damaging other components of the cruise control system.

Check this too: Popular 2017 Ford Escape Problems To Look Out For

Ford adaptive cruise control problems and their fixes

Here are some common cruise control issues and the most probable fixes when your vehicle is experiencing cruise control problems.

Issue: Your truck’s cruise control isn’t working at all

• Check the fuse, horn relay fuse, and cigarette lighter fuse to ensure they are not damaged.
• Inspect the throttle actuator cable to see if it is broken or disconnected from the throttle.
• Check the brake light bulbs to ensure they are not burnt out.

Issue: The cruise control won’t disengage when the pedal is pushed

Fix:  Check the brake light switch, fuse, and wiring.

Issue: Some switches work, and some don’t

Fix: Check the switches. They are the most likely culprit and need to be replaced.

Issue: The cruise control system loses speed up long or steep hills

• Turn off overdrive when going on up steep hills. It may help.
• Check the vacuum check valve in the Servo feed line if your truck loses speed on smaller hills.
• Check the vacuum reservoir tank for leaks.

Reasons Why the Cruise Control is Not Working

If your cruise control is not working, you can look at several items to verify the problem. This, in turn, makes it easy to repair. Below are the main reasons why your cruise control is not working;

Brake Light Switch – The cruise control system is automatically cancelled by depressing the brake. Some Ford vehicles can disengage cruise control if the brake light switch cannot be detected.

Brake Lights – The cruise control is designed to become disabled when the brake light is blown.

Fuses and Relays – A blown fuse or damaged relay will affect the cruise control.

Spiral Cable –A faulty spiral cable will prevent the switch from contacting the CCM.

Control Switch – If the internal contacts wear out, the cruise control switch may not contact the CCM. This might disable cruise control altogether, or it might not react to the cancel or accelerate functions.

Check Engine Light – This is an indicator of a failing engine or fuel pump, which may, in turn, affect acceleration while cruising.

Vacuum Leak – A vacuum leak may affect the vehicle’s ability to control the throttle body during cruise control operation. If there is a leak due to a cracked hose or tube, the cruise control system will not work.

Vehicle Speed Sensor – Ford vehicles are fitted with multiple vehicle speed sensors (VSS). The CCM might use a VSS feed from the ECM, instrument cluster, or transmission. If a speed sensor is damaged, the CCM can’t detect vehicle speed, thereby disabling the cruise control system.

Electrical Problems – Check for continuity to ensure power is remitted as it should.

Note: do not under any circumstance if it is faulty. If the cruise control system is defective, it may not cancel on demand, which will create a safety hazard for you or others on the road. Additionally, hire a trusted mechanic to carry out the diagnosis and repair of the cruise control system.

How do I know if my cruise control module is bad?

The most common sign is the inability to use it to activate cruise control. It may also fail to perform various adaptive cruise control functionalities such as distance and speed maintenance. The failure to deactivate cruise control is also a sign of a failing cruise control module.

Is it expensive to fix cruise control?

On average, it will cost you between $150 and $350 to repair the adaptive cruise control. This depends on the parts needed and the labour costs. The car model also affects the sot of the components required to fix your cruise control. The price may also vary depending on your location. Anticipate a higher price markup if you live in a big city.

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• General Discussions

2001 Edge 4.0L cruise control help, please!

• Thread starter TraderMark
• Start date Jul 30, 2016

could be that switch at the end of the master cylinder, it was a huge recall sometime back. My understanding is its a backup switch if the brake lights don't work it will still kick off when u hit the brakes. Edit- silly me, I reread and u already checked it. Try checking the clock spring that would be my next guess  

Senior Master Grease Monkey

I want to know how you are do sure the pressure switch is operating properly. The only way to verify its operation is with a scanner, and it sounds like you don't have one. In my experience it is the most common cause of in-op cruise. The brake light circuit could still be at fault. There are two legs of it, one going to the lights themselves, and one going to the cruise module. If there is a problem with that second leg it would set that code but leave the lights unaffected.  

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• All Michigan

550K Ford F-150 trucks recalled because they can downshift to first gear without warning

• Published: Jun. 25, 2024, 4:16 p.m.

Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit) Tanya Moutzalias | MLive Detroit

• Matt Durr | [email protected]

DETROIT -- An estimated 550,000 Ford F-150 trucks have been recalled because they can shift into first gear without warning and no matter how fast the truck is traveling. According to the Associated Press, the recall impacts certain 2014 models of the top-selling truck.

Ford believes the issue is caused by a lost of signal between the transmission speed sensor and the powertrain control computer. An issue with the connector pins has also been identified as a possible cause.

Documents posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate the unexpected downshifting can lead to a loss of control for the driver, increasing the risk of a crash. A statement issued by Ford says that some drivers may see a malfunction indicator light on the dashboard just before the truck downshifts.

Some drivers have experienced the signal being restored while the truck was being driven, while others have had to stop the vehicle and restart the engine to get the transmission to work properly, according to the AP. Ford believes less than 1% of the recalled trucks actually suffer from the signal loss.

To correct the problem Ford will update powertrain control software and aims to have the fix ready in the third quarter of 2024. Affected owners will be able to utilize mobile service or pickup and delivery at participating dealers, according to Ford. Owners of recalled trucks will be alert via letter starting in July.

Ford is aware of 396 warranty and field reports related to the issued and 124 customer complaints involving 482 trucks. Another 130 complaints have been made to the government, with 52 involving allegations that the read wheels locked up or drivers lost control of the truck.

Two injuries have been reported as a result of the problem and one crash may have been caused by the issue.

An NHTSA investigation began in March after the company received several reports of the truck automatically downshifting. The agency says it is also into whether the trucks should have been included in previous recalls for a similar problem involving different models of the trucks.

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