Cruise Control won't Engage

Topic: Cruise Control won't Engage (Read 1327 times) previous topic - next topic

Cruise Control won't Engage

April 10, 2011, 10:47:06 am

As you know, Dave and Dolly Cobb are new members to our Foretravel Family having just bought our 93, U225. For some reason the Cruise Control just decided to not engage. Keep in mind this is a U225 with the mechanical Cummins B5.9 engine. Has anyone else had this problem and give us a short cut to fixing the problem?

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #1 – April 10, 2011, 10:50:18 am

Kent, Most Cruise controls DIDENGAGE by action of the brake lite switch. Check to see that brake lites are working, if switch has failed it would likely not allow engagement of Cruise. Also check fuses and for disconnected/corroded wires.
Good Luck

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #2 – April 10, 2011, 11:39:29 am

Gary, thanks for the quick reply.

Can you tell me where the fuses might be? I have looked on the fuse panel on the bed and under the dash. I must have missed something.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #3 – April 10, 2011, 11:46:57 am

I do not know about the "mechanical" engines. There-- that said
BUT, there a 4 or 5 relays under the dash on my installation
I had a bad relay when I purchased my U300. Was a real bugaroo till I found out about the relays.
They are the "Bosch" type, black square about 1" cube that plug into a receptacle. There are a great amount of these relays used in Foretravel motorhomes.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #4 – April 10, 2011, 05:59:37 pm

Thank you everyone for the suggestions.

We found a labeled "cruise" fuse, and it tested good. We found no relays under the dash cover, really so nice to not have any. We have brake lights with the key on. We checked for disconnected wires or plugs on the forward bulkhead by the cruise control in the engine bay. I will clean then this week when I get home and can mess with them. We decided it was time for more important things so we had lunch, and it was good!

Kent has been a real teacher, has helped us so much with the new to us coach. Makes one wonder about not buying directly from the seller? I would guess the sales lots might have known 25% of what I have found out in the last 2 days here in OK.

We love the coach, and going thru the forum.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #5 – April 10, 2011, 06:20:50 pm

If you could see Dave you would know why he doesn't have a photo in his profile.

Seriously, we couldn't ask for better new owners for our first MH love. They seem to really appreciate the timeless beauty of the interior of this specific coach. And, they are very nice people. Please join me in welcoming them to our Foretravel family.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #6 – April 10, 2011, 06:40:59 pm

Dave should get in touch with Jon O'Reilly, who is now the owner of our "twin" coach. Those two vehicles are very used to being parked side by side. It would probably make them happy to see each other again!

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #7 – April 10, 2011, 06:45:30 pm

Is this a Bendix cruise?

Have you checked the linkage at the engine end?

Brett

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #8 – April 10, 2011, 07:26:34 pm

Kent,

I had the same thing happen to our '92 U-280 (4 speed Allison, C8.3 L Cummins). James Triana told me you can figure out if it is the main cruise control unit (mine was a Bendix) or just the "signal generator": Start the engine, keep the parking brake on, use the cruise control knob (stick, whatever you have) and increase the idle (as though you were "resuming" your speed). If the rpm's increase (as shown by the tach), then the problem is in the signal generator, not in the main control board. The signal generator screws into a "T" at the transmission port, along with the speedometer cable.

If it is the generator, it's "good news and bad news". The good news is that if you can find one, it's a simple job to replace (about 5 minutes; Barry Beam helped me replace mine) and not very expensive; the bad news is that if yours is similar to my unit, they aren't made any longer (as of the summer of '09), according to FOT. I would hope that FOT has found another source by now.

Cruise Control Signal Generator

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #9 – April 10, 2011, 08:05:46 pm

Dave,

Welcome to ForeForums and to the Foretravel Family. We are glad you did not buy SOB.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #10 – April 10, 2011, 09:45:54 pm

Dave,
I have a 92 U280 with 8.3 Cummins and 4 speed Allison, the speedometer did not work when I purchased it took me awhile to figure out what was wrong and find the parts. If it is the generator the part you want is a Hall Effect Sensor 340-011 it worked on mine yours could be different. The "T" that Don referred to on mine had a grease fitting that was never used the tee housing with no grease froze the sensor which in turn stripped the drive tang which also had to be replaced. I know one thing for sure they are no fun to drive without a cruise control good luck with yours found all the parts on the internet.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #11 – April 10, 2011, 10:42:06 pm

Thanks all for the helpful hints.

After coffee in the AM we might just have some time to attack the problem. Good news in the NW winds will help push us homeward, since we did not leave today and fight the S winds.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #12 – April 11, 2011, 08:27:42 am

If you are unable to repair the Bendix cruise (or several other now-obsolete cruise controls from that era), many of us have gone with King Control Electronic Cruise Control. It used the original driver's area to engine wiring, so no big deal to install.

It is much more precise than the original.

Cruise Controls for Diesel engines.

Brett

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #13 – April 11, 2011, 06:59:46 pm

Mine usually works good on a cool morning. But as the day goes not, it gets worse and worse. So I am looking at Cruise King, but have not jumped yet. But I have found out that my mpg is surprisingly better without the cruise control

! Considering that factor, I just might leave it alone!

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #14 – April 11, 2011, 08:10:30 pm

Pat,

90% of drivers will get better MPG using a GOOD cruise control--a properly set up electronic cruise qualifies.

I have mine set to not allow it to go to over 75% throttle-- if I desire more speed on a hill, I use the foot throttle. It really saves by not taking the engine to WOT (Wide Open Throttle) on each freeway overpass.

Brett

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #15 – April 11, 2011, 08:16:18 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 11, 2011, 08:10:30 pm

Pat,

90% of drivers will get better MPG using a GOOD cruise control--a properly set up electronic cruise qualifies.

I have mine set to not allow it to go to over 75% throttle-- if I desire more speed on a hill, I use the foot throttle. It really saves by not taking the engine to WOT (Wide Open Throttle) on each freeway overpass.

Brett

Brett,
Does the King Cruise unit that came stock have such adjustments for throttle response when in cruise mode? Can the adjustments be made by backyard types? Or are special tools/instruments required?

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #16 – April 11, 2011, 10:44:22 pm

Home bound delivery trip went without a problem, loved the 25 mph tailwinds. Did not notice a 8'x18' toy box at all. Now to figure out the problem with the criuse.

Thanks everyone of the help. We will figure this unit out, or go to the next step. Never been much of a cruise user, but who knows now with a coach.

So far, much fun, glad to be a part of the group.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #17 – April 12, 2011, 09:11:59 am

Quote from: Peter & Beth – April 11, 2011, 08:16:18 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – April 11, 2011, 08:10:30 pm
Pat,

90% of drivers will get better MPG using a GOOD cruise control--a properly set up electronic cruise qualifies.

I have mine set to not allow it to go to over 75% throttle-- if I desire more speed on a hill, I use the foot throttle. It really saves by not taking the engine to WOT (Wide Open Throttle) on each freeway overpass.

Brett
Brett,
Does the King Cruise unit that came stock have such adjustments for throttle response when in cruise mode? Can the adjustments be made by backyard types? Or are special tools/instruments required?

Peter,

The King Control unit for our older mechanical engines is likely different than the cruise/throttle from King Control that many newer Foretravels have.

Ours came from Foretravel with an air throttle and Bendix cruise. Now we have the air throttle with King cruise. It was a simple mechanical adjustment to limit max pull of the King cruise.

Brett

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #18 – April 12, 2011, 10:39:36 am

Quote

Peter,

The King Control unit for our older mechanical engines is likely different than the cruise/throttle from King Control that many newer Foretravels have.

Ours came from Foretravel with an air throttle and Bendix cruise. Now we have the air throttle with King cruise. It was a simple mechanical adjustment to limit max pull of the King cruise.

Brett

Thanks, I believe my King Controls unit does both tasks to effect foot throttle & cruise control. If I get some time I'll call Mr. Bolling and ask about the cruise "limiter to 3/4 & not WOT" adjustment.

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #19 – April 12, 2011, 12:31:00 pm

Peter,

Again, if your King Control unit does BOTH cruise and throttle, I don't think that you can "scale back" the cruise throttle function, but a call to Steve will tell you-- he is GREAT.

On ours, since the air throttle is completely separate, adjusting the cruise to less than full throttle did not affect the throttle function.

King Control. Steve Boler. 22250 Glyview Trail, Faribault MN 55021, 507-334-0250 Steve@cruisecontrolking.com Cruise Controls for Diesel engines.

Brett

Re: Cruise Control won't Engage

Reply #20 – April 12, 2011, 12:58:30 pm

Brett,
My intuition more or less told me that the adjustment to 3/4 throttle on the King Controls throttle/cruise unit was not going to be possible. My thought was that at the least a circuitry change would be required. In other words, a new functionality for the combination throttle/cruise not possible with mechanical adjustment (throw limiting).

Thanks...

Affiliate Notice