Cruise Control: Description and Operation

The purpose of the cruise control system is to automatically maintain a vehicle speed set by the driver. When the cruise control is activated, speed is maintained or increased by means of an electronically controlled cable attached to the accelerator assembly. If the vehicle must be slowed to maintain the speed that was set by the driver, the cruise control system allows the throttle return spring to close the throttle.

If driving conditions require sudden acceleration after the cruise control has been set, speed can be increased in the normal manner by manually pressing the accelerator. The cruise control is disengaged if the brakes (or clutch, with manual transaxle) are applied.

The minimum speed for setting the cruise control is 38.6 kph (24 mph). When cruise control is operating, the CRUISE indicator lamp is on in the instrument cluster. The cruise control system is capable of monitoring internal software and hardware faults as well as external faults in the connectors and wire harness. If a fault is detected, cruise control is stopped immediately, and the program logic and hardware logic independently prevent the cruise control from opening the throttle.

The cruise control will function in temperatures ranging from -40 °C (-40 °F) to 85 °C (185 °F). Maximum temperature could cause the regulation properties to be out of tolerance, but the safety shutdown will still be operational under maximum temperature conditions. If high temperature interferes with cruise control operation, the actuator electromagnetic clutch will open, and the throttle return spring will close the throttle, unless the accelerator pedal is pressed.