The other day I was on the highway and decided to use the cruise control. It engaged for 1-2s then cut out.

It kept doing this for maybe 5 minutes. I would set it, and it would work for about 2s. In every 10% of the attempts it would continuously work like it was supposed to.

After fiddling around with it, it seems like the module does seem to work so I don't think it's a blown fuse. The next thing I am suspecting is the cruise control stalk/switch in the steering column. The stalk has been feeling rather "loose" (ie a lot of play) in the last bit. Strangely enough though, I probably use cruise only 10x a year or so. 95% of my driving is in the city.

Has anyone else ever had this problem? If so, how did you fix it?

 

The only problem i have ever had with cruse was eaily fixed. i would be on a road trip then have to take the car off cruse then once i tried to set it again it would not work. pull over turn car off back on and it would work fine again. has not hapened in like 30k so i don't worry about it. i have heard of the throtle actuater (i think that is what it was called) seem to fail on some cars. i found that when i was looking for info on my car.

 

Likely the stalk switch is damaged. The other thing that can cause it is a wonky transmission output shaft speed sensor but then I would expect other faults as well and an unhappy ESP. I presume this is an auto?

 

Yes this is an auto.

Anyone know if this is an easy DIY? I've removed the steering wheel before but nothing beyond. Obviously I don't want to compound a problem.

 

Definately seems like the stalk can be damaged.

 

010 2035450010 001 SWITCH BLINKER SWITCH *144 *107 *145 *900
010 0005452310 001 BLINKER SWITCH *146 *147 *148
015 000000001553 003 SCREW BLINKER SWITCH TO STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE M 4 X 20
020 A2035450224 2035451124 - L TEMPOMAT SWITCH *900
020 2035451124 001 L SWITCH,AUTOMATIC *047 *046 *900
020 0085452624 001 SWITCH,AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL (TEMPOMAT) *049 *050 *051
020 A2035450624 2035451324 - L TEMPOMAT SWITCH *900
020 2035451324 001 L SWITCH,AUTOMATIC LANGUAGE CONTROL SYSTEM *046 *047 *900
020 0085452724 001 SWITCH,AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL WITH VOICE CONTROL SYS. *049 *050 *051
020 A2035450724 2035451424 - L TEMPOMAT SWITCH *900
020 2035451424 001 L SWITCH,AUTOMATIC *900
020 2035451824 001 L SWITCH,AUTOMATIC *097 *046 *047 *900
020 0085452824 001 SWITCH,AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL (TEMPOMAT) *049 *050 *051
020 2035450524 001 L SWITCH,AUTOMATIC *900
020 A2035450424 2035451224 - L TEMPOMAT SWITCH *900
020 2035451224 001 L SWITCH,AUTOMATIC *900
020 A2035450424 2035451224 - R TEMPOMAT SWITCH *002 *149 *150 *900
020 2035451224 001 R SWITCH,AUTOMATIC *900
020 A2035450824 2035451524 - R TEMPOMAT SWITCH *900
020 2035451524 001 R SWITCH,AUTOMATIC LANGUAGE CONTROL SYSTEM *900
025 2035450044 001 LEVER LANGUAGE CONTROL SYSTEM *046 *047 *048 *900
025 0005450644 001 LEVER LANGUAGE CONTROL SYSTEM *049 *050 *051
030 2035450604 001 L SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035450504 001 L SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035450404 001 L SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035450304 001 L SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035450904 001 L SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035450704 001 L SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035451404 001 R SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035451304 001 R SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035451204 001 R SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035451104 001 R SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035451604 001 R SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035451504 001 R SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
030 2035451004 001 L SWITCH LIGHT SWITCH MODULE *901
035 0019846529 001 L SCREW LIGHT SWITCH MODULE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL 5X20
035 0019846529 001 R SCREW LIGHT SWITCH MODULE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL 5X20
040 0015458714 001 SWITCH FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE
045 2024270073 001 R LOCK FOOT-OPERATED PARKING BRAKE AND INDICATOR LIGHT SWITCH
050 0045452114 001 SWITCH CLUTCH PEDAL
050 0045452114 001 L SWITCH CLUTCH PEDAL
060 0015453809 001 SWITCH STOP LIGHT SWITCH
070 A2035450408 2035450608 - SWITCH
070 2035450608 001 SWITCH IGNITION/STARTER SWITCH *144 *107 *145
070 2095450808 001 SWITCH IGNITION/STARTER SWITCH *146 *147 *148
080 0005453522 001 SWITCH STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT
100 0019847429 002 L SCREW BRACKET MOUNTING 4 X 12
110 2032910040 001 L BRACKET TO CLUTCH PEDAL

 

Could it be some sort of ESP signal causing it do disengage? ESP will override it, I know.

 

This is weird. The problem is back.

I replaced the cruise control stalk + switch assembly last year, so that takes it out of the equation.

There is a weird error in the car occasionally about a malfunctioning tail light (R rear) that shows up once in a blue moon as well, but I don't think this is related. But thought I'd mention it. There are no ESP errors.

Totally confused now.

Just wondering, would having different diameter tires (L to R) do this? I just noticed that the tread on 1 side is a couple of mm less than the other in the back. My wheels came this way.