Cruise control not working?

Tiny
ISLANDER9498
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
Electrical problem
1998 Dodge Caravan Front Wheel Drive Automatic

a good friend of mine just got a new car and gave me this mini van but the horn dont work cruise control on wheel dont work and air bag lite is on. And windsheild wipers dont always work or sometimes come on by them self any idea what would cause this?
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Friday, May 29th, 2009 AT 1:45 PM

34 Replies

Tiny
DOGPOWER12000
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
From what I reading in forum, 1998 to 2005 vans are having same thing wrong.

Blower motor relays, air bag light, thing not working on steering wheel and engine service light not going off after reset. My van is at garage now they dais it is the clock spring behind the steering wheel all fixed up.
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Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 AT 9:53 AM
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,544 POSTS
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 140,000 MILES
My horn, cruise control do not work, my air bag light is on. I was wondering if my main commputer is going. Iwould like to know where it is located so I can replace it.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Actually no, those problems do NOT indicate bad computer.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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Broken clock spring under the steering wheel. It's a wound-up ribbon cable with circuits for all three systems you listed, and it's common for all three to fail at the same time.

Hi fititmr. Haven't seen you in a while.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ONBYE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 203,000 MILES
Hello,
my daughter bought a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan.
The cruise control does not work. She took it back to the dealer and he said he would fix it. He bought one part and now a couple ofdays later he says it the cruise needs a spring that no one in the country has and it will not work without it. She was also told that any dodge dealer would put it in with no charge as it was a lifetime warranty.
Can you tell what spring this is and is there a lifetime warranty with this.

Thank you,
Mark
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RDM1W
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
1997 Dodge Caravan 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

My cruise control stopped working. The light does not come on. I looked for fuse but could not find on for the cruise control.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
Does the horn work? If not, suspect a broken clock spring under the steering wheel. That's the most common cause of an inoperative cruise control. The clock spring is a wound-up ribbon cable that also has circuits for the horn and air bag. Eventually the "air bag" light will come on too when the ribbon cable breaks completely.

Also try holding the brake pedal up with your toes while driving. There's a circuit in the brake light switch for the cruise control, but as I recall, if the switch is out of adjustment, the cruise light should still turn, it just won't set a speed.

Good observation about the light. Wish more people noticed such clues.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Its called a clock spring very common and they had it recalled under certain conditions
need your VIN # and correct mileage
call your local dodge dealer it will take few minutes to verify if yours covered or not
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LOCSMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Why did the cruise control stop working on my 1997 Dodge Caravan?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
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https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/55316_97caravancruise_1.jpg




https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/55316_97caravancruise2_1.jpg



There is no fuse or relay controlling this function. Most of the time, it will be either the brake switch is faulty or the cruise control servo (vacuum operated) is malfunction or leaking vacuum.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OLLIGES
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Have a dodge 1997 sport caravan. The cruise control is no longer working. It was working intermittently but now it does not work at all.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
If the green light on the dash doesn't turn on, suspect the clock spring. That's a wound up ribbon cable under the steering wheel. As it continues to break, eventually the horn will stop working too, and the air bag light will turn on.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OLLIGES
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My airbag light is on all the time! I think the horn still works. But I haven't had to use that lately. Thanks! Is this a hard thing to fix?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
Not especially hard to replace but you'll need a steering wheel puller. Before you spend money on parts, it's a good idea to be sure it's what you need. Find a mechanic with a scanner that can access the air bag computer to read the fault code(s). If the clock spring is defective, the fault code will be something to the effect of "Open Squib Circuit", or "open initiator". If that's what shows up, I can describe the replacement procedure but you'll need the new part first. Some have a long cable that has to be fished down the steering column. Some have a connector up on top.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROBOLSSON
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 195,000 MILES
Hi guys -

My cruise control stopped working recently and I wanted to check the fuse (or switch?) To see if it was blown. Where is it located in the car?

Bonus question: My Airbag light is always on as well. Where is the fuse for that?

Thanks so much!

Robin Olsson
Pensacola, FL
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
It's not a fuse for sure and next to go is the horn
Very common and almost 100% sure its clock spring
It was so common that they had a recall on it
Best way to make sure and verify check for airbag codes


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_Graphic2_326.jpg


CLOCKSPRING
Clockspring connects air bag module to steering column wiring, completing SRS circuit. Inside clockspring is a flat, ribbon-like tape of conductive material, which winds and unwinds with steering wheel movement. Clockspring is most fragile part of air bag system. Clockspring must be centered properly to allow 2 1/2 steering wheel turns in either direction. Failure to align clockspring properly may cause binding or premature clockspring failure


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_Graphic_66.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/99387_Graphic1_712.jpg



Set steering wheel and front wheels in straight ahead position.
Disable air bag system.
Clockspring is located behind steering wheel.
Remove air bag module and steering wheel
Disconnect horn connector.
Remove cruise control switch and connector (if equipped).
Remove upper and lower steering column shrouds to gain access to clockspring wiring.
Remove multi-function switch.
Disconnect 2-way and 4-way connectors between clockspring and instrument panel wiring harness.
Remove clockspring by releasing 2 tabs on side of clockspring.
Clockspring cannot be repaired and must be replaced if faulty.
Installation
Snap clockspring onto steering column.
If clockspring centering adjustment is disturbed, adjust clockspring.
Connect clockspring wiring connectors. Install steering column covers.
Install steering wheel.
Ensure flats on steering wheel hub fit formations on inside of clockspring.
Pull horn wire through small upper hole and clockspring and cruise control wires (if equipped) through larger bottom hole in steering wheel.
Connect horn and cruise control wires (if equipped).
Connect clockspring wire to air bag module.
To ensure complete connector connection, latching arms must be visible on top of connector housing.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ILLINOX
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,347 MILES
My brother in law took my van down to disneyland and when he came back, my AC/heater no longer worked. It doesn't even blow the air from outside. We changed the relay, changed the fuses, grounded a battery and tested the motor, it still ran, just no AC/heater. About 6 months ago, my horn and cruise control stopped dead and don't work anymore.

Someone help please! Winter time is around the corner, I can't drive my kids in a frozen van!
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
With the heater on and the engine running at operating temp, do both heater core hoses get hot?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ILLINOX
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I wouldn't even know that, can you give me directions on how to check that?
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Not a problem. If you look along the firewall of the engine compartment, you will see where two rubber heater core hoses (aprox 1" OD) attach on the firewall. They are attached to the heater core. If the core is plugged, only one of the hoses will be hot and the other warm. Let me know what you find and don't be afraid to ask questions. That is why we are here.
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Monday, September 21st, 2020 AT 7:35 PM (Merged)

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