OEM cruise control cutting out

[DeLaMano]

Hi everybody. I have a 2003 base Vibe auto with just under 150K. It came with the stock cruise control which worked fine until last summer, when it started cutting out. I can turn the cruise on, set the speed, and it will be fine for a while, but then it's like there is a brief power cut (only to the CC) and it will just reset itself and the car coasts until I get my foot back on the gas. The cruise indicator disappears during the split-second power cut and then comes back on. I can set the speed again and it will go for a while, and then cut out again. It seems that the amount of time that passes between when I set the speed and when it cuts out decreases over time, so I'm thinking it might be something heating up? Maybe a relay getting too hot somewhere? I honestly have no idea, but it is extremely annoying. Any thoughts? Thanks a ton!

[joatmon]

Hi everybody. I have a 2003 base Vibe auto with just under 150K. It came with the stock cruise control which worked fine until last summer, when it started cutting out. I can turn the cruise on, set the speed, and it will be fine for a while, but then it's like there is a brief power cut (only to the CC) and it will just reset itself and the car coasts until I get my foot back on the gas. The cruise indicator disappears during the split-second power cut and then comes back on. I can set the speed again and it will go for a while, and then cut out again. It seems that the amount of time that passes between when I set the speed and when it cuts out decreases over time, so I'm thinking it might be something heating up? Maybe a relay getting too hot somewhere? I honestly have no idea, but it is extremely annoying. Any thoughts? Thanks a ton!

Any chance you are accidentally hitting the brake pedal, or the brake pedal sensor switch is loose or misbehaving? hard to see the rear brake lights while driving.

[ehoff121]

If you look under the dashboard, there should be a spring that returns the brake pedal after you step on it and keeps it from contacting the brake light switch, which disengages the cruise control. Check to see if it's connected between the top of the brake pedal and the support under the dash; it might have fallen off. Toyota part # 47101A on the diagram linked below.

http://www.villagetoyotaparts.com/showA ... bly=325130

This happened to me on a '96 Toyota Camry once.

[jimincalif]

I agree, check the brake light circuitry. The CC has a connection to the brake light circuit so it will disengage when brakes come on. The brake light switch can be bad (happened to me on my Lexus) or need adjusting or a loose connection somewhere.

[DeLaMano]

Thanks, guys. I'll check that out tomorrow and let you know what happens...

[DeLaMano]

Well guys I don't find any spring, but nor do I find a hole on the pedal arm or the pin that the spring would hook up to. I have an automatic, if that makes a difference. The brake lights work (expect for the high middle one because I need to replace the bulb), so I don't think it's the brake light switch, but I suppose it could be going bad.