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Question about Cruise Control

7 years ago

When the cruise control is set to say 70mph and you break but the control is still switched in the ON position, will the cruise control bring you back up to the speed you were at before you braked? I understand that the speed is set in memory. The reason I ask is because I inadvertently had the cruise control on for months without realizing it and sometimes when I lightly applied my foot on the accelerator, like after decreasing my speed from coming off a highway, it felt like the pedal was moving down faster on it's own. As soon as I brake the car slows down, so I don't think it is an acceleration problem like all the Toyotas were having. I had the car checked by several mechanics and they could never find anything wrong with the car. But apparently, no one thought to look at the Cruise Control knob which is shared with the turn signal and the windshield wipers. That might explain why it inadvertently got turned on. To be honest, I never even knew this car had that feature because I never bothered to read the manual. It is an old car (1987 Chrysler Lebaron) that belonged to my mother and has all of 30K on it when she passed away. She kept it garaged and maintained. The car looked showroom new when she passed away and I don't think she ever really broke it in since she rarely drove above 35mph. She was one of the old people you hate to be behind? LOL Anyway, I have another car but really like the way this one handles and would love to keep it until it can't run anymore. I use it to take my dogs to the vet and to pick up garden supplies since it has a hatchback which is great for loading up. Anyway, I would appreciate your input since, while I have this feature on my other car, I never use it because I live in a congested area.

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Comments (2)

jemdandy
7 years ago

Depressing the brake pedal will temporarily suspend the cruise control. If the "resume" button is depressed, it will return to the former speed setting.

You have an '87 Chrysler Lebaron. That has an older style of cruise control that was largely mechanical and powered by vacuum. Most often, the cruise control buttons were on the steering wheel; the activation switch may be elsewhere. The buttons on the steering wheel (set, resume, etc.) may be accidentally operated while driving.

What I am not sure about is if the set point is retained after shutting down the engine or is it released. if it is retained and the activation switch is left on, the cruise control will attempt to resume to the speed setting when the resume switch is pressed.

Looking under the hood, there will be three cables attached to the throttle shaft: one is the cable from the foot pedal, the second goes to the transmission to indicate throttle position, and a third will come from the cruise control. The cruise control pulls on the throttle and when it does, the foot pedal will also move down if the driver's foot is resting on it.
lovetogarden thanked jemdandy
lovetogarden
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Jemdandy. What I know for sure is that the cruise control was in the ON position. According to the manual, I would have to push the control slide to the Resume position to reengage the system. But, as I didn't even realize this car had this feature I never did that. All I can assume is that I did something when using the wipers which is also where the control is located further up the same stick. According to the manual 'when you reach the desired speed you move the control to the ON position. This will establish memory and activate the system'. But the manual also says that breaking will deactivate the system without erasing the memory and I would have to push Resume to reactivate Speed Control. Only by 'Pushing the control to the OFF position or turning off the ignition erases the speed memory'. According to the manual the system only activates at 30 mph or above. But you are supposed to put the switch ON when you reach the desired speed for the system to engage. I don't know if it would engage itself by just having the switch in the ON position simply by turning on the car. One of the things the manual says that has me thinking is 'A sudden increase in engine rpm may be experienced if the clutch pedal is depressed while the speed control is engaged. This increase will not harm the engine." If that is the case can I assume that would cause the feeling that the accelerator pedal is moving down faster under my foot than I intended when I lightly depress the pedal?
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