Cruise Control: Description and Operation

Cruise Control System Description

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 ECM.

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 39 km/h (24 mph). When cruise control is operating, the CRUISE indicator lamp is on in the instrument cluster.

The Engine Control Module (ECM) monitors the signal circuits of the cruise control switches. The ECM uses the cruise control switch signal circuit in order to determine when to capture and maintain the vehicle speed. The ECM monitors the vehicle speed sensor signal circuit in order to maintain the vehicle speed. The ECM uses the Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) motor in order control the vehicle speed.