Cruise Control: Description and Operation

The system consists of a cruise control module, located in the passenger compartment on the driver's side above the accelerator pedal between the steering column and heater and air conditioning control head, control switches, cruise brake switch and, on models equipped with a manual transaxle, a cruise clutch switch.

This system is completely electronic and does not require vacuum or a vacuum servo motor to control throttle movement. A cable from the cruise control module pulls the accelerator linkage at the accelerator pedal. The on/off switch enables and disables the speed control system. In the on position the cruise control will activate and in the off position the cruise control will immediately be disabled.

When the cruise in enabled, depressing the set/coast switch will engage the cruise. When cruise is engaged the cruise control module will maintain the desired speed within one mph. When the set/coast switch is held down the vehicle speed will coast down until the switch is released. If the vehicle has been in the cruise control engage mode, and cruise has been disabled by pressing the brake or clutch switch, then vehicle can return to the previous cruise set by momentarily depressing the resume/accel switch one time.

The vehicle speed in miles per hour is used for tap up and tap down cruise speed adjustments. Once tap up or tap down button is depressed, vehicle speed will increase or decrease by one mph for each time the switch is depressed.

The cruise control system has five circuits linking it to various input signals and a ground circuit. The IGN3 circuit sends ignition on signal to the module when the switch is in the on position. The cruise control switch supplies battery power to the power-up module, through the enable circuit. The vehicle speed information comes from the powertrain control module (PCM) at 4987 pulses per minute, on all models except Coupe, or 4995 pulses per minute on Coupe models. The cruise control module receives input from the set/coast/resume/accel switch, located on the steering wheel. The cruise control module determines the command by the amount of voltage received. Brake and clutch switch inputs are received when the pedal is depressed to disengage the system.