Cruise Malfunction - Subaru Outback

biking4life · 02-18-2008, 09:07 PM

My first time on the highway for a long drive wasn't what I expected it to be. The car was powerful, smooth, and fast, but my cruise wasn't working!

Here's what's going on:

In 1997s, the cruise switch is on the dash behind the wiper stalk and next to the rear defroster switch. When I push the cruise button, the orange light turns on and tells me its ready to be set. But, when I push the little cruise lever down to set it, nothing happens.

I checked the fuse that is for the cruise control in the passenger compartment. Is there another one in the underhood box?

I have no idea why this is happening, and I'd love for it to be an easy and simple fix. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

**nipper** · 02-18-2008, 09:49 PM

These are robust systems (which constantly amazes me). The #1 place to look at is the brake pedal and or clutch pedal switches.

nipper

davis61381 · 02-19-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nipper
These are robust systems (which constantly amazes me). The #1 place to look at is the brake pedal and or clutch pedal switches.

nipper

I agree. I had the same problem on MY2000 OBS. Evenrthing was in place but it did not set. I check the clutch pedal and it was missing the cap to the hole that triggers the switch. The switch was sending the signal that my clutch was constantly pushed in so it did not engage.

Easy fix. 5 min tops.

Hopefully yours is just as easy.

biking4life · 02-20-2008, 09:20 PM

Thanks for the replies, but mine's sadly an automatic. Which plugs should I check? I'll take a look tomorrow when its light outside and hopefully put up a picture.

davis61381 · 02-21-2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by biking4life
Thanks for the replies, but mine's sadly an automatic. Which plugs should I check? I'll take a look tomorrow when its light outside and hopefully put up a picture.

Check on your brake pedal then. It's the same concept. The hole on my OBS Clutch looked about 1/4" Dia. maybe a bit bigger like 5/16" (8MM).

biking4life · 02-22-2008, 09:16 PM

Sorry but I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. I have this odd square looking black plug. I checked the Cruise/ABS fuse and it was fine. What exactly on the pedal am I looking for?

biking4life · 02-22-2008, 09:30 PM

Another

Boxxerace · 02-23-2008, 12:54 AM

See that adjustment at the top of the image in the center? That should be your solenoid switch that activates your brake lights and stops the Cruise from working.

It might be another code that the ECU is calling out, preventing the cruise from working. Do you have a CEL?

biking4life · 02-23-2008, 08:51 AM

Are you talking about that little black plunger type thing? There is no CEL. We had the knock sensor done if that helps with anything???'

Besides the Cruise/ABS fuse, are there any others that could lead this to happen?

biking4life · 04-09-2008, 09:31 PM

Wow so I guess my cruise actually does work. I tried it on the way home tonight. The odd thing is that the speed drops 5 mph before it kicks in and speeds back up to the set speed. Is this what should happen?

02-18-2008, 09:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
biking4life OB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA, Rochester NY Car: 2004 Subaru Outback H6 LLBean 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited- SOLD! Posts: 451 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Cruise Malfunction My first time on the highway for a long drive wasn't what I expected it to be. The car was powerful, smooth, and fast, but my cruise wasn't working! Here's what's going on: In 1997s, the cruise switch is on the dash behind the wiper stalk and next to the rear defroster switch. When I push the cruise button, the orange light turns on and tells me its ready to be set. But, when I push the little cruise lever down to set it, nothing happens. I checked the fuse that is for the cruise control in the passenger compartment. Is there another one in the underhood box? I have no idea why this is happening, and I'd love for it to be an easy and simple fix. Any thoughts would be appreciated! __________________ Subaru... The Beauty of AWD.

02-20-2008, 09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
biking4life OB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA, Rochester NY Car: 2004 Subaru Outback H6 LLBean 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited- SOLD! Posts: 451 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for the replies, but mine's sadly an automatic. Which plugs should I check? I'll take a look tomorrow when its light outside and hopefully put up a picture. __________________ Subaru... The Beauty of AWD.

02-22-2008, 09:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
biking4life OB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA, Rochester NY Car: 2004 Subaru Outback H6 LLBean 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited- SOLD! Posts: 451 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sorry but I'm not really sure what I'm looking for. I have this odd square looking black plug. I checked the Cruise/ABS fuse and it was fine. What exactly on the pedal am I looking for? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Subaru... The Beauty of AWD.

02-22-2008, 09:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
biking4life OB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA, Rochester NY Car: 2004 Subaru Outback H6 LLBean 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited- SOLD! Posts: 451 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Another Attached Thumbnails __________________ Subaru... The Beauty of AWD.

02-23-2008, 12:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
Boxxerace Gallery Ninja Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Above Seattle Car: 2005 XT Outback Limited, Gold Opal baby! Posts: 5,178 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	See that adjustment at the top of the image in the center? That should be your solenoid switch that activates your brake lights and stops the Cruise from working. It might be another code that the ECU is calling out, preventing the cruise from working. Do you have a CEL? __________________ Ancient moderator of color and bokeh. Boxxerace Outback Gallery: Click Here

02-18-2008, 09:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
nipper Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oceanside, NY Car: 2005 OBW 2.5L, 1989 Subaru Justy, RIP Blu Posts: 7,224 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	These are robust systems (which constantly amazes me). The #1 place to look at is the brake pedal and or clutch pedal switches. nipper

02-23-2008, 08:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
biking4life OB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA, Rochester NY Car: 2004 Subaru Outback H6 LLBean 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited- SOLD! Posts: 451 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Are you talking about that little black plunger type thing? There is no CEL. We had the knock sensor done if that helps with anything???' Besides the Cruise/ABS fuse, are there any others that could lead this to happen? __________________ Subaru... The Beauty of AWD.

04-09-2008, 09:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
biking4life OB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pittsburgh PA, Rochester NY Car: 2004 Subaru Outback H6 LLBean 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited- SOLD! Posts: 451 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow so I guess my cruise actually does work. I tried it on the way home tonight. The odd thing is that the speed drops 5 mph before it kicks in and speeds back up to the set speed. Is this what should happen? __________________ Subaru... The Beauty of AWD.

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