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Prostar cruise control quit working

Discussion in ' International Forum ' started by Naptown , Dec 4, 2013 .

Naptown Road Train Member

My company just replaced my worn out Columbia with a 2013 Prostar. With less than 3000 miles on the clock, the cruise control simply quit working. When I press the on button, the digital display says "Cruise/Throttle" but does nothing when I try to set my speed. Service guy (we lease from Ryder) says he has no idea what the problem is and told my terminal manager that the only thing he can do is send it back to the dealership and they'll have it for 6-8 weeks. I'm not sure what to make of that, other than to think that someone somewhere is giving the rest of us a big sack of bull. Can anyone point me in the right direction for a possible solution? I saw someone mentioned in another thread that it might be a software problem, but they didn't follow up with many details. I'm not giving up my truck for 2 mos. just because some... uninformed person doesn't know what he's talking about. Another one of our drivers is having the same problem with his truck as well. I miss my Shaker.  

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Bayle Road Train Member

Does it have a bendix anti collision radar thing? If it does and it's not working the cruise won't work either. Only thing I got on that. The cruise would sometimes just quit on the prostar I had, but reset it and was fine. Was almost like a hiccup or something.  

No, we don't have anti collision or anything like that. The cruise quit last Wednesday. I hoped that since it sat over Thanksgiving it would reset itself, but no such luck.  

luvtotruck Road Train Member

When you push on it, try prying up with your left foot on the brake and clutch peddles, It may be a faulty reading on the peddle sensors, I used a small bungee on these two peddles so they don't sag and get the sensors messed up! I did this a few times on Volvos I had driven and it worked just fine, That truck being a '13 sounds like it was sitting a while? Maybe in the shop? Maybe they got ya a lemon? Well what do you do when you are handed lemons? you make Lemonade! good luck.  

CondoCruiser The Legend

Yeah there's a switch shared between the clutch and brake pedal for when you push one of them pedals the cruise disengages. It might be simply not adjusted right. You have to get your head close to the floor to see it high on the pedals. Most I've seen the pedals normally have the button pushed in. When you push on one of the pedals the button comes out disconnecting the cruise circuit. See if you can push the button itself in more with the pedals out. If you can then move the big nut on the switch until the pedal has it closed.  

CondoCruiser said: ↑ Yeah there's a switch shared between the clutch and brake pedal for when you push one of them pedals the cruise disengages. It might be simply not adjusted right. You have to get your head close to the floor to see it high on the pedals. Most I've seen the pedals normally have the button pushed in. When you push on one of the pedals the button comes out disconnecting the cruise circuit. See if you can push the button itself in more with the pedals out. If you can then move the big nut on the switch until the pedal has it closed. Click to expand...

I didn't think about the pedal sensors. I should have, I guess, because a couple of our other trucks had problems with the clutch pedal and wouldn't start with the pedal fully depressed. I'll check that out first thing tomorrow. I certainly hope i didn't get a lemon. Aside from this issue i'm pretty happy with it. As happy as one can get with a company spec truck, anyway.  

Ed G Light Load Member

Another thing it could be is the body controller, will have to be checked at a shop with the computer hooked up. I have an 08 Prostar, and mine just quit working. Cruise, Jake, and dump valve all at the same time. Hope this gives you another avenue to look at.  

I finally got it fixed. The clutch pedal needed some adjustment. Of course then we got 5 in. of snow friday so I didn't get to use it.  

pop's Light Load Member

That's the first thing I look at when the cruise go,s out.  

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5 Reasons Why Your Cruise Control Stopped Working

• Updated: March 15, 2023

It would be difficult to find a vehicle on the road today without cruise control. This invaluable feature makes driving long distances easier but can also cause trouble when it malfunctions. Understanding the reasons your cruise control stopped working ensures that you can get the problem fixed quickly for a more enjoyable ride. 

While this fault can cause issues with the cruise control system itself, there could also be an effect on the acceleration of your vehicle. That’s why you want to have it looked at as soon as you notice a problem. Let’s take a quick look at the reasons your cruise control may have stopped working.

Reasons Why Your Cruise Control Stopped Working

The most common reason a cruise control stops working is due to a blown fuse or a defective brake pedal switch . It can also be caused by issues with the throttle control system or the ABS. In older cruise control systems, it can be caused by a broken vacuum line.

Here is a more detailed list of the possible reasons your cruise control is not working:

1. Blown Fuse

All electrical systems in the vehicle are controlled by fuses. Your cruise control system is attached to a fuse that can blow if there is a short circuit or fault. Without a good fuse, the cruise control system can’t work at all.

Thankfully, it’s not difficult to find and replace a blown fuse. Look in the owner’s manual to find the fuse that corresponds with the cruise control technology. 

2. Defective Brake Pedal Switch

The brake pedal switch is responsible for turning the brake lights on and off based on the pedal position. Cruise control systems are designed to disengage whenever your brake pedal gets pressed. 

Because the cruise control is wired into the brake pedal switch, any fault can cause it to stop working. When the brake pedal switch malfunctions, the car believes the brakes are engaged, causing the system to turn off automatically. Not only that, but your car’s brake light might also be stuck on, leaving confused drivers in your wake. 

3. Malfunctioning Speed Sensor

Speed sensors are located on every wheel or differential. The purpose of these sensors is to monitor the speed of the wheels to determine if traction control is needed. 

The speed sensors are also part of the cruise control system. When a sensor fails, the cruise control can stop working and the speedometer might act strange as well. 

If there is an issue with a speed sensor, it will often show with an ABS warning light or a check engine light on the dashboard.

RELATED: 3 Symptoms of a Bad ABS Wheel Speed Sensor

4. Electrical Issues

The cruise control system is electronic, with many components working together to make the system operate. If the cruise control fails to work, you want to check the wiring harness and associated connectors for a fault.

You also need to ensure that the voltage source is supplying enough power to the system. Even the smallest fault can cause defects with the cruise control. In many cases, there can be an issue with the cruise control lever or buttons causing the cruise control to not engage.

If your cruise control buttons are located on the steering wheel it could also be caused by a bad clock spring, which is located behind the steering wheel.

Check the system with an OBD2 scanner to look for any trouble codes related to the cruise control.

RELATED: 5 Symptoms of a Broken Clock Spring, Location & Replacement Cost

5. Damaged Vacuum Actuator, Hoses or Cable (Older cruise control)

If you drive an older vehicle with cruise control, you might have an issue with the vacuum actuator or the cable that connects to the throttle. If there has been damage done to the vacuum hoses or the actuator, the cruise control will stop working altogether.

Additionally, the cable linking the actuator to the throttle must be in good shape. If it has been broken, the cruise control will fail. 

What is Cruise Control?

Cruise control is a feature that is used when you are traveling at a consistent speed. Cruise control was first introduced for automobiles in the 1950s. However, it took many years before it became a staple in the modern vehicle.

This electrical system allows you to set a predetermined speed and take your foot off of the gas pedal. If you are on a long drive, there is less fatigue because you don’t have to try to maintain your speed. Cruise control can also benefit fuel economy because the vehicle uses less fuel when traveling steadily. 

In newer cars, you might be able to find adaptive cruise control , which is a smart technology. Adaptive cruise control allows you to travel at a predetermined speed, but it also helps to maintain a safe distance from the vehicles in front of you with the help of sensors. With conventional cruise control, you need to take over when the car in front of you slows down, but that’s not the case with adaptive cruise control. 

There are also vehicles nowadays with not only cruise control, but fully self-driving vehicles . We will most likely see much more of this in the future.

Cruise Control Repair Cost

The cost to repair your cruise control system depends on what caused it to fail. If you need to replace a cruise control or brake switch, you might spend between $125 and $350, including parts and labor. However, the cost to change a fuse is only a few dollars and you can perform the replacement yourself in just a matter of seconds. 

On the other hand, when something major fails, such as the actuator, you could be looking at a much higher repair bill. In some vehicles, the cost to replace a cruise control actuator can cost more than $700. These costs rise if you drive a luxury vehicle or one that is difficult to get parts for. 

It might not seem immediately important for you to fix the broken cruise control, but this defective system can affect other performance aspects. You could start to notice issues with acceleration or have trouble with the speedometer. To play it safe, it’s always best to have the cruise control repaired as soon as you notice a problem.

Is there a fuse for the cruise control?

Yes. If the cruise control is installed from the factory, you should check your car’s owner’s manual for the fuse location. If it’s an aftermarket cruise control, you’ll need to follow the wires to find the fuse.

Does the brake switch affect the cruise control system?

Yes. The brake switch affects the cruise control system. The brake switch sends a signal to the cruise control system to let it know when the brakes are being applied for the engine to know when it should stop accelerating.

Will the cruise control work if the check engine light is on?

The cruise control function will be disabled when the check engine light is on in most car models, even if the cause of the check engine light is not the cruise control itself. This is mainly due to safety reasons.

Can a vacuum leak affect cruise control?

Older vehicles use vacuum to control the throttle for the cruise control, and in this case a vacuum leak can heavily affect the cruise control. However, modern cruise controls are fully electric and in most cases will not be affected by a vacuum leak if the check engine light is not illuminated.

Although many people may think that the cruise control system is unimportant and not worth spending money to repair, the problem can be caused by a faulty part that will affect the engine’s performance or durability. Therefore, it is best not to ignore the problem if your cruise control is not working without first diagnosing the car properly.

If your cruise control still isn’t working after trying all the tips in this article, it’s probably time to take it in for a professional opinion from a mechanic. It may be a more serious problem that requires replacement parts or repairs. In the meantime, drive safe and enjoy the open road!

Learn more:

• Brake Lights Not Working But Tail Lights Are? (How to Fix)
• Tail Lights Not Working But Brake Lights Are? (How to Fix)
• Brake Lights Stay On? (5 Causes & How to Fix it)

Categories: Electric , Troubleshooting

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