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Topic: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH (Read 559 times) previous topic - next topic

Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

The original cruise control on our '89 GV was replaced with another "original" cruise control from Mike Grimes just before we took possession of the coach five years ago.
The electronic module is located under the dash and on top of the steering column. It used to only drop about 5 MPH, but now it is about 10.
Performance is erratic. There are times it just doesn't work--for long periods of time, then suddenly it works! Wiggle the wires and it will work--again.
Is there an adjustment? If so, where?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #1 –
Norm,

What system is it? Bendix?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #2 –
How do I find out?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #3 –
Should be some kind of identification on the box.  Bendix and Rostra were common brands during that time period.

Have you tried engaging the cruise, but keeping the speed steady for an additional minute with the accelerator to see if is just slow to engage?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #4 –
Not for a minute, but I do keep my foot on the pedal until I sense the cruise is working. This I usually do by watching the tach. Little or no drop means the cruise is engaged.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #5 –
If it works when you wiggle the wires making any adjustment is not the solution. You need to find the bad connection.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #6 –
OH, OH! Looks like I will be standing on my head in order to see up under the dash. Not good because of these darn bifocals. Either things are too far or too close!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #7 –
Well, I went out two weeks ago (or thereabouts) and decided to take Brett's advice regarding a possible loose wire.
What I found just blew my mind. To think that the Kenworth garage would do such a crappy job was astounding, to say the least!! They used the blue butt splices to connect to one side of the OEM plastic six pin connector. On the other side of the mating connector were five wires and a jumper, and all were about 28 Ga or smaller.
The yellow wire on the control box went to a open hole, one without a corresponding wire on the other connector.
I eliminated the OEM plastic connector and the six blue (16 Ga) butt splices and wired the whole thing together. Finally got to test it last Tuesday and the cruise works like it is supposed to!! Engage, Set, on/off, Decel, Resume, and increase!!
Hopefully all that sporadic, occasional functioning is behind me. Five years of sometime functioning!! And back to Kenworth twice to fix the problem.
Once--OK--many times---heard it said that if you want it done right, do it yourself. In this case------------TRUE ^.^d
OH, and first time after increasing speed control, the cruise went up 4 MPH over my set point. Yesterday I reverse rotated the screw and now only 2MPG gain. I think I will let it alone now.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #8 –
Think the key words there were "Kenworth garage", not electricians.Usually my rule of thumb is if you can nothing beats solder.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #9 –
The two visits to the KW garage were by the RV dealer where we bought the coach, and covered by their warranty, so just aggravating but cost free.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #10 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
I eliminated the OEM plastic connector and the six blue (16 Ga) butt splices and wired the whole thing together.

What did you use to connect the wires?
 
Thanks,
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #11 –
Intertwined the wires, then twisted them doubled, then solder, then shrink tape.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #12 –
There is nothing wrong with good crimps that are properly installed with a good tool. In fact, many argue they are better than solder. The key is GOOD crimps and a good tool!
1998 U270 34'
 

Re: Cruise Control "drops" 10 MPH

Reply #13 –
Reason I didn't use crimps all the time? The EXTREMELY small wires on one side.
What I did (and usually do) when I have very small wires is to strip off extra wire insulation on each wire, then mesh the two ends together after sliding on the shrink tubing, twist the wires and then lay the "assembled" wires along the smallest wire axis after soldering. Then I slide the shrink tubing over the splice and use my heat gun. Now there is little or no stress put on the smaller diameter wire. The load is put more on the larger gage wire and the insulation of both wires.
I have yet to have a failure from this type of connection (knock on wood) and the smaller gage wire is no longer the weakest link at the splice.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD