My 96 Accord (Canada) developed an intermittent problem with the cruise
control.
When it is not going to work, as you engage cruise it works but only for a
second (and the light in the dash comes on well), then everything goes off.
If I keep insisting (it will take many tries) it will eventually work for a
while. The condition has been present for some years but it used to
extremely infrequently.
Anybody run into a similar problem? Any ideas as to what might be the
culprit. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Mike

 

me wrote:
>
> My 96 Accord (Canada) developed an intermittent problem with the cruise
> control.
> When it is not going to work, as you engage cruise it works but only for a
> second (and the light in the dash comes on well), then everything goes off.
> If I keep insisting (it will take many tries) it will eventually work for a
> while. The condition has been present for some years but it used to
> extremely infrequently.
> Anybody run into a similar problem? Any ideas as to what might be the
> culprit. Any help would be appreciated.
> Thanks Mike

The brake light switch at the brake pedal is used to turn off the cruise
control when you step on the brakes. If this switch were to become
flaky, you could get problems where the cruise disengages at will. The
switch has two sets of contacts, one normally open, the other normally
closed. Only one of the contact sets are used for the brake lights, but
the cruise control uses both sets. Thus it is possible for this switch
to be bad and still have working brake lights. On some Honda's there is
a small rubber / plastic pad on the part of the brake pedal arm that
touches the switch. People have reported problems with this cap falling
off or disintegrating over the years. Finally, it could be that the
switch is not properly aligned. To adjust, loosen the lock nut on the
switch, screw the switch in or out until the threaded neck of the switch
barely touches the pad, back off 1/4 turn and tighten the lock nut.

If the car has a manual transmission, there is a switch at the clutch
pedal as well. To align this switch, loosen the lock nut, screw the
switch in or out until the tip of the switch touches the pedal, screw
the switch in an additional 1/4 - 1/2 turn and tighten the lock nut.

--
================================================== =====
A very modest collection of Honda tech info can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/ng_randolph

 

Thanks for the tip.
Had it checked this morning and both switch and terminals seam fine. If
anything it had just a bit too much clearance. The little rubber pad on the
pedal itself is also like new.
For the first time dough on the way to the shop it failed to engage
altogether, not a thing. On the way home this afternoon it worked fine first
try.
Any other ideas?
Thanks Mike


"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:422A6579.EB5C9CD5@junkmail.com...
>
> me wrote:
Snip

> The brake light switch at the brake pedal is used to turn off the cruise
> control when you step on the brakes. If this switch were to become
> flaky, you could get problems where the cruise disengages at will. The
> switch has two sets of contacts, one normally open, the other normally
> closed. Only one of the contact sets are used for the brake lights, but
> the cruise control uses both sets. Thus it is possible for this switch
> to be bad and still have working brake lights. On some Honda's there is
> a small rubber / plastic pad on the part of the brake pedal arm that
> touches the switch. People have reported problems with this cap falling
> off or disintegrating over the years. Finally, it could be that the
> switch is not properly aligned. To adjust, loosen the lock nut on the
> switch, screw the switch in or out until the threaded neck of the switch
> barely touches the pad, back off 1/4 turn and tighten the lock nut.
>
> If the car has a manual transmission, there is a switch at the clutch
> pedal as well. To align this switch, loosen the lock nut, screw the
> switch in or out until the tip of the switch touches the pedal, screw
> the switch in an additional 1/4 - 1/2 turn and tighten the lock nut.
>
> --
> ================================================== =====
> A very modest collection of Honda tech info can be found at:
> http://www.geocities.com/ng_randolph

 

me wrote:

> Thanks for the tip.
> Had it checked this morning and both switch and terminals seam fine. If
> anything it had just a bit too much clearance.

Too much clearance is what will cause problems. Did you have the
clearance adjusted?

 

Yes indeed. The gap is now almost non existent. The tail lights work as they
should as well (they always did)
I'm told the switch tested OK.
Are there any sensors or relays the cruise rely on for operation that might
be
needing attention?


"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:422D0757.39C886B1@junkmail.com...
>
> me wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the tip.
> > Had it checked this morning and both switch and terminals seam fine. If
> > anything it had just a bit too much clearance.
>
> Too much clearance is what will cause problems. Did you have the
> clearance adjusted?