Dodge Dodge Forum SRT
Dodge Forum Dodge Ram
Dodge Forum   Dodge Classifieds   News   Photo Gallery   Calendar   Search   Contact   Sponsors
Dodge Recalls & TSBs   Dodge Lineup   Dodge Wallpaper   Dodge History   Dodge Timeslips   Member List   Register   Login

Troubleshooting '98 cruise control

  Printable Version
Dodge Forums >> Dodge Trucks >> Dodge Dakota >> 2nd Gen Dakota >> Troubleshooting '98 cruise control Page: [1]
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/8/2008 2:38:37 PM   
Darel

 

Posts: 18
Joined: 11/5/2007
Status: offline
'98 Dakota 3.9 auto

Cruise hasn't worked in years.  The light never comes on and there is no reaction from the system.  The light DOES come on with the other idiot lights at startup.  CEL is NOT on. 

There is no fuse in this system, the PCM sends 5v through it and uses resistors in the switches.  Does anyone know the individual resistance values I should read on each switch?  I have continuity on all of them so they should be OK but I may as well check that they are supplying the proper resistance.

My brakelights and speedo/odo work fine so not the brakelight cutout switch or the VSS. 

Anything else?  I have seen a few posts on here with people having the same problem as mine but no resolutions. 

Thanks,
Darel
Post #: 1
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/8/2008 3:34:17 PM   
varsis


Posts: 1204
Joined: 10/8/2006
Status: offline
varsis's photo gallery
Might have a relay. Id check that out...

_____________________________


1997 dakota v6, 31's
Shift Kit, Rebuilt Tranny.
Upcoming mods:
5.9L magnum engine (In progress)
Headers
True Dual Exhaust with x pipe.
K & N Drop in
Throttle Body
not sure what else!

(in reply to Darel)
Post #: 2
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/8/2008 5:41:49 PM   
Darel

 

Posts: 18
Joined: 11/5/2007
Status: offline
No relays, the PCM does everything.

(in reply to varsis)
Post #: 3
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/8/2008 11:03:14 PM   
varsis


Posts: 1204
Joined: 10/8/2006
Status: offline
varsis's photo gallery

quote:

ORIGINAL: Darel

No relays, the PCM does everything.


Just a thought, mine has a relay... If I pull it nothing works for cruise, but if it's in it works... What engine do you have?

_____________________________


1997 dakota v6, 31's
Shift Kit, Rebuilt Tranny.
Upcoming mods:
5.9L magnum engine (In progress)
Headers
True Dual Exhaust with x pipe.
K & N Drop in
Throttle Body
not sure what else!

(in reply to Darel)
Post #: 4
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/9/2008 7:30:27 AM   
scandal669


Posts: 272
Joined: 1/16/2008
Status: offline
mine works but loses speed very slowly on its own. any ideas on that?

_____________________________

99 Dodge Dakota Sport 4x4 Extended cab
PB3 - Intense Blue, Pearl Coat
5.2L 318
5 speed manual
31x10.5x15
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f295/scandal669/010.jpg

(in reply to varsis)
Post #: 5
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/9/2008 7:55:33 AM   
yellowjacket99


Posts: 146
Joined: 8/9/2004
Status: offline
Scandal669 yours is probably a slight vacuum leak. Darel, I'm one that's posted in the past with the same issue, but I've never been able to figure it out. I have two sets of switches, checked continuity on all the wires I could think of and just have no idea. I even talked to dealerships about it possibly being a pcm issue since mine didn't have cruise from the factory, but they all said it wouldn't matter, it's probably wiring. One hooked up a DRB to it and said the pcm isn't seeing the signal from the switch. I can't believe both sets of switches I have are bad, but I suppose anything's possible. The wire that carries the signal to the pcm is good too. I installed the cruise with all factory original parts, but nothing. Replaced the brake switch too just to try. Pretty much put this on the back burner for now since I have too many other things going on. Another person on here found he had a broken wire under the steering column. I checked mine, but that wasn't it. Wish I could be more help. If you find something on yours I'd love to hear what it was though.

_____________________________


1999 v-6 solar yellow 4x4 sport ext. cab.

(in reply to scandal669)
Post #: 6
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/9/2008 10:53:40 AM   
Darel

 

Posts: 18
Joined: 11/5/2007
Status: offline
'98 was the first year for the "relayless" cruise.

Thanks yellowjacket.  I figured this was going to come down to me tracing out each wire under the dash for continuity, then replacing the PCM (which I'm not about to do).

I gotta admit before I actually went and looked up how the cruise system worked in these trucks, I had a real "WTF?" moment when i pulled the switches out and found four wires total for five switches.


(in reply to yellowjacket99)
Post #: 7
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/9/2008 11:06:51 AM   
JasonA


Posts: 267
Joined: 3/24/2008
Status: offline
JasonA's photo gallery
How can you tell if your truck had cruise from the factory?  I have a '97 Sport.  The steering wheel does not have the switches.  But the cruise control servo IS present under the hood, and the cable is even hooked to the throttle body.  The harness plug is also plugged into the servo.  I don't think a "Cruise" light luminates on the dash when I first start the truck -- should there be a "Cruise" light that illuminates as a check?  Could it simply be that a previous owner swapped steering wheels to a non-cruise wheel?

_____________________________

1997 Dodge Dakota Sport Club Cab
5.2L V-8 / 44RE / Emerald Green Pearl
255/70R15 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s
Flowmaster 40-series Dual Exhaust
Pioneer DEH-2900/Sirius Stratus Receiver

(in reply to Darel)
Post #: 8
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/9/2008 6:38:51 PM   
Darel

 

Posts: 18
Joined: 11/5/2007
Status: offline
It sounds like your steering wheel's been swapped.  Probably were in an accident and blew the airbag or something.

(in reply to JasonA)
Post #: 9
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/10/2008 12:25:48 PM   
Darel

 

Posts: 18
Joined: 11/5/2007
Status: offline
Hey Yellowjacket -

Fixed it!  You may have the same problem.  Take off the lower half of your steering column cover.  You'll see the connector that the two wires for the cruise and the one for the horn attach to.  Both of the cruise wires on my truck were broken (gray/light blue and black/light blue).  Spliced back together and my cruise works perfectly.

You can see why it happened when you tilt the column up and down, there's a lot of pull and flex on these two wires, especially when the wheel is bottomed out.  I'm surprised these broken wires aren't a more common problem.

Hope you've got the same problem it's a 5-minute fix.

Darel

(in reply to Darel)
Post #: 10
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/10/2008 6:23:37 PM   
JasonA


Posts: 267
Joined: 3/24/2008
Status: offline
JasonA's photo gallery
No wrecks, and no airbag deployment, at least according to Carfax.  Who knows how accurate that is.

But after removing the body lift this weekend, the frame has clearly not been impacted.

_____________________________

1997 Dodge Dakota Sport Club Cab
5.2L V-8 / 44RE / Emerald Green Pearl
255/70R15 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s
Flowmaster 40-series Dual Exhaust
Pioneer DEH-2900/Sirius Stratus Receiver

(in reply to Darel)
Post #: 11
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/11/2008 8:11:27 AM   
scandal669


Posts: 272
Joined: 1/16/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JasonA

How can you tell if your truck had cruise from the factory?  I have a '97 Sport.  The steering wheel does not have the switches.  But the cruise control servo IS present under the hood, and the cable is even hooked to the throttle body.  The harness plug is also plugged into the servo.  I don't think a "Cruise" light luminates on the dash when I first start the truck -- should there be a "Cruise" light that illuminates as a check?  Could it simply be that a previous owner swapped steering wheels to a non-cruise wheel?


the cruise light doesnt go on when i start mine, thats normal. id say that someone might have changed steering wheels for some reason. its strange that if they did, they didnt put in one that had cruise controls on it if that truck had cruise from the factory. ive seen links where you can get a build sheet and find out what options were on the truck when it was new. im guessing, but i think cruise was standard on sport models.

_____________________________

99 Dodge Dakota Sport 4x4 Extended cab
PB3 - Intense Blue, Pearl Coat
5.2L 318
5 speed manual
31x10.5x15
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f295/scandal669/010.jpg

(in reply to JasonA)
Post #: 12
RE: Troubleshooting '98 cruise control - 5/11/2008 9:02:02 AM   
varsis


Posts: 1204
Joined: 10/8/2006
Status: offline
varsis's photo gallery

quote:

ORIGINAL: JasonA

No wrecks, and no airbag deployment, at least according to Carfax.  Who knows how accurate that is.

But after removing the body lift this weekend, the frame has clearly not been impacted.


Could have been a small fender bender... You never know. Sometimes even when you like cross a wire you can set the air bags off... But my guess is it is set up, but was never used...

_____________________________


1997 dakota v6, 31's
Shift Kit, Rebuilt Tranny.
Upcoming mods:
5.9L magnum engine (In progress)
Headers
True Dual Exhaust with x pipe.
K & N Drop in
Throttle Body
not sure what else!

(in reply to JasonA)
Post #: 13
Login OR Register now to post a reply to this forum topic.
Page:   [1]

 
 
Dodge >> Dodge Trucks >> Dodge Dakota >> 2nd Gen Dakota
Jump to:



Featured Sponsors
new used
Advertising Info

Car of the Month
May 2008
2003 Neon SRT-4

Ride of the Month
May 2008
2005 3500 QCLB Laramie Sport 5.9L CTD Auto

Poll
Now that you've seen the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8, what do you think?
I Love It, Its Perfect
I love the looks, but hate the transmission
I like it, but I want the concept interior
I like it, but I want the exact concept exterior
Its ok, but the concept was far better
Thanks, but I look forward to some changes on the 2009 models.

Poll Results
Previous Polls

Top 10 Posters
dustyloins20388
badstratrt20284
midnight16848
vipergts14303
dodgegirl1913072
ramfan5.912398
steve05ram3611138
nickoman0110860
drew9991
casper9604

New Vendors
ATI ProCharger
Motor City Auto Parts
Sonic Electronix
Buy Auto Truck Accessories
Buy Car Floor Mats
Access Roll-Up Cover
AMSOIL - Performance Oil Technology
AMSOIL - Performance Oil Technology
Royal Purple
DodgeChallenger.com

Harley Davidson | Ford Mustang Forums | Dodge Challenger

Dodge Forum .com is not affiliated with or endorsed by Daimler Chrysler.