cruise control recall

Hey friends -

I got the letter but really don't want to do without cruise until the harness comes in. If I got the story right, the switch under the hood leaks brake fluid, eating the plastic and letting wires touch and burn.

If there is no fluid leaking from the switch, what is the likelihood of an event?

I see there have been about 75 fires and a bazillion units recalled so the chances are slim anyway.

I plan to call the dealer and ask about the harness just to nudge them but I drive highway every day. Just fishing for ideas and thoughts.

Thanks!

PoD '95 Crown Vic

Reply to
Paul of Dayton
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"Paul of Dayton" wrote

The fluid leaks internally, from the fluid side to the electrical contacts side, corroding the contacts INSIDE the switch, causing excess heat.

The switch leaks internally. Without X-ray vision, you won't know until it's too late.

I've been "driving highway every day" for the last 12 years. Never had cruise.

You've been warned by Ford of a known defect that has destroyed dozens of vehicles, several homes, and apparently killed two people. Just unplug the damn thing and put your foot on the gas pedal.

Reply to
MasterBlaster

Not to worry. Considering the number of vehicles involved and the percentage that have actually developed a problem, one is far more like to be struck by lighting than have a fire in their vehicle. Generally the fuse blows long before a fire will start. Beside if you vehicle did actually get destroyed by fire, as a result of the recall, Ford will give you one hell of a good deal on a brand new vehicle. ;)

From the record, "Ford found that brake fluid could leak through the cruise deactivation switch into the cruise system's electrical components and cause corrosion. Corrosion can cause a short that will blow the fuse and keep the cruise control from working, but in some cases it can lead to verheating and cause a fire at the switch."

Fixing the Problem "To repair trucks, Ford will install a jumper harness between the cruise control deactivation switch and the cruise mechanism. The harness will act as a circuit breaker that will open if there is a higher flow of current does occur that will turn off the current at the switch, if the switch becomes shorted."

"MasterBlaster" > harness comes in. If I got the story right, the switch under the hood

Reply to
Mike hunt

Why not just get to the root of the problem & replace the switch with a "leakproof" one.

Reply to
Shawn

That would be expensive! Better just to add another, smaller, non-replaceable fuse.

All my previous vehicles with cruise didn't have the brake line switch. The brake light circuit deactivated the cruise. If that failed, the switch on the wheel marked OFF would kill it. Lastly, turning off the key would do it. I think I'll just bypass it for now.

Thanks to everyone -

PoD

Reply to
Paul of Dayton

Unless things have changed, Ford is replacing the switch with one of a different design and adding a fused jumper. The problem is that they can't get enough of them, fast enough to cover all of the vehicles.

Older cars used a vacuum dump valve at the brake pedal along with the brake lamp switch to deactivate the cruise. (redundant deactivation devices) Many CC controllers are not vacuum operated these days so a different way was needed to have the redundancy. You could actually jumper out the connector on the switch and never see a difference in the operation of the cruise. This would cause a very dangerous situation if the brake switch ever failed though.

Reply to
Tom Adkins

There is an off switch for the cruise control for most vehicles on steering wheel. In addition, in any vehicle, the brakes should be able to stop the vehicle even with cruise control on.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

Thanks Tom, I forgot about the vacuum dump. I plan to have it fixed when the dealer has the stuff. For now, I think a jumper is what I'll do.

PoD

Reply to
Paul of Dayton

PLEASE don't do that Paul! That wasn't a suggestion. Some Ford products have problems with the wire breaking at the brake switch connector. If that happens while you have it jumpered, you could get into a terrible accident. I only mentioned that for clarity.

Jeff, the brakes will not stop the car from 60 mph while the CC has the throttle at WOT trying to get it back to to 60.

Reply to
Tom Adkins

Yeah, they will, although not as fast as they would if the throttle were closed. However, one is able to shut off the cruise control by pressing the clutch or the off switch, too, in this situation.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

I should add that while the car or truck will stop, driving around without the backup system to turn off the cruise control is not safe.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

Tom- I just need to get it fixed. I'll call the dealer on Monday. Thanks for the help. PoD

Reply to
Paul of Dayton

It would be one hell of a tug-a-war between engine & brakes. I don't think the smell of burning brake linings smells any good.

Reply to
Shawn-News

Modern CC never applies full throttle. In the scenario you describe the fail safe will shut down the CC when the accrual speed drops below the set speed by ten percent, in any event.

Reply to
Mike hunt

You are correct, most owners have no idea that the brake horse power is always greater than the engine HP. That is why those old unintended acceleration stories were BS.

One can easily prove it to themself by placing their foot on the brake and putting the throttle to the floor. The tranny in it lowest gear, with the greatest amount of torque, still can not overcome the BHP.

Reply to
Mike hunt

There are number of things you could do until they get the part. Put heat shrink tubing around the wires so they cant touch, or even electrical tape.

Apply a blob of silicone caulk between the wires do they can not touch

Cut one of the wires and a small fuse inline, probably a 5 amp or so.

The last one might cause warranty problems ?????

The others shouldn't. The caulk is probably the easiest to do.

Reply to
letterman

greater than the engine HP. That is why those old

putting the throttle to the floor. The tranny in it

Most likely if it is FWD but most RWD vehicles like pickup trucks have drum brakes in the rear & don't have as much holding power as disc brakes do.

Reply to
Shawn

"Shawn" wrote in news:47d71685$0$4963$ snipped-for-privacy@roadrunner.com:

that is totally untrue. disk brakes have no more braking power than drum brakes if both are sized correctly, disk brakes just resist fading better. KB

Reply to
Kevin

Makes sense since the brake contact surfaces are cooled by air rather then being fully enclosed like drum brakes are. I had a '69 Dart that had drum all the way around & it never had a difficult time stopping. Had a big problem with vapor lock in the fuel system (but that's another story).

Reply to
Shawn

Ford crown vic's have had dicss since 93 (and maybe the late 92's) and the pickups since 04...

Reply to
Picasso

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