Home
E12
E24
E28
E30
E34
E36
Z3
E39
E46
X5/E53
ALL
Ron Stygar
Carl Buckland
Dale Beuning
Forums
Help
From digest.v7.n531 Mon Nov 3 15:22:58 1997
From: Jim Cash <j.cash_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 11:26:23 -0500
Subject: Re: 85 325e cruise control
Erik O'Daniel writes:
> One of the problems is broken cruise control.
>
> Firstly, our Chiltons indicates there is a switch below the steering
> wheel, under the trim, a control module near the glove box, and the
> actuator in the engine compartment.
>
> Engaging & disengaging the cruise control results in a clacking sound
> from what I assume is the actuator, located above & forwards of the
> driver's-side wheel. (Black tube goes from this item to the throttle
> linkage - cable inside tube. This item does not move when accelerator
> pressed. Should be the cruise control...)
>
> Clacking does not appear to do anything at the throttle. Moving the
> cruise lever up and down doesn't move anything either. However,
> the only testing I could do with the vehicle in the driveway was
> accelerate slightly and try to engage the cruise. No go. Haven't
> had any luck while driving the vehicle either.
Erik
My experience is with a 528e, but the cruise is essentially the same.
The components you describe are correct. Following is a functional
description.
The switch on the steering column is all electric, and is connected
directly to the "Cruise Control module".
The Module, in turn, is connected electrically to the "Actuator" in the
engine compartment.
And, you are correct, the actuator is connected to the throttle with a
mechanical cable. This allows the actuator to control the throttle just
the same as you would with the accelerator. There should be 2 cables on
the throttle arm ( 3 if there is one going down to the automatic
transmission )
Make sure both these cables are firmley connected in their little
plastic holders. These sometime break (it always interresting when the
one for the accelerator breaks just when you go to pass someone - ask me
how I know)
The cruise system will not function unless you are going over a certain
speed (about 20 MPH). Therefore you can not test this in the driveway
(at least not normal city driveways)
When the cruise is activated the control module operates a "clutch" in
the actuator. The actuator then has control of it's cable to the
throttle.
The fact that you hear a "clacking" could mean that there is a problem
with the actuator. It can be taken apart and inspected, but be careful
there are springs inside, and the cable must be wound in a specific
direction.
But the Control module does not operate the clutch in the actuator until
the cruise actually comes into play - so this shoudl not be happening in
your driveway.
Need to know exactly where that "clacking" sound is coming from.
Other things that can cause the cruise to not work are:
It must receive information about the speed of the car at all times. It
gets this from a lead plugged into the back of the instrument cluster.
Assuming the speedometer is working, if the connector for this lead of
off, or loose, the cruise will not work. (might be a single blue
connector).
The cruise must also get a ground on the lead that goes to the brake
light switch. As long as the brakes are not on, it gets the ground
"through" the brake light bulbs. (This is how the cruise cuts off when
you hit the brakes - the battery to the brake lights cancels the ground
to the cruise) If you have any poor connections in the circuit to the
brake lights, including the bulbs and ground connections at the car
frame, then the cruise may not function.
Of course there are the other obvious items:
- all electrical connections in place
- fuse good (try replacing just in case).
- switch functional - need to test electrically.
BUT - first you should investigate the source, and timing, of that
noise.
- exactly where does it come from?
- what exactly are you doing when it occurs - operating which switch.
Does your car have a separate switch to turn on the cruise, or just the
controls on the stalk.
Hope this helps.
If you need more infor pleae write directly.
Cheers
Jim Cash
London, Ontario, Canada
E39 540ia
Unofficial Homepages:
[Home]
[E12]
[E24]
[E28]
[E30]
[E34]
[E36]
[Z3]
[E39]
[E46]
[X5/E53]
[ALL]
[ Help ]
|