My cruise control just quit working. I do not have wild vents, and I also removed the battery tray and it all looks good down there. My indicator light on the steering wheel cruise unit works intermittently, but never does the cruise actually work. I took the cruise unit out of the steering wheel and dis-assembled/cleaned it, and the light still only comes on intermittently. Actual cruise never works, whether the light is on or not. Possibly a pinched/broken wire near the steering wheel "tilt" mechanism??? Where do I look now?

 

Do you have the FSM? May need to check wiring diagrams.

Is you Ram automatic or manual tranny? Check brake switch and clutch switch (if so equipped). Eitehr will keep cruise from engaging.

 

No, I don't have a Factory Service Manual.

Truck is automatic transmission. Brake switch seems all good. I'm perplexed.

 

Check and see if the buttons are doing the correct job by checking at the base of the steering column. (after the clockspring.......)

Download the 96 service manual from the FAQ section here, it's in the "service manual" thread. Have a look at the wiring diagrams to find which connector, and which wires you wanna play with. Keep in mind, the cruise switches just modify a reference voltage to clue in the PCM that you want the cruise to do something.

 

Every time I start the truck and turn on the cruise via the on/off steering wheel button, the cruise indicator light will come on, but the cruise will not work. After about 30 seconds to a minute of driving, the green light will go out, and I cannot get it to come on again, unless I shut off the ignition and re-start the engine. And again the cycle repeats itself, the light will only stay on for a short period, then go out till I re-start the truck.

 

Check the wires in the steering column. I am gonna bet you have tilt wheel..... that tends to stress the wires, to the point they break/pull out of their respective connectors, and all sorts of strange things start happening.

 

Looked at it a little more today and things seem weird. The cruise light on the steering wheel appears to be "timer related". Start the truck, hit the on/off button on the steering wheel and the little green light comes on. Idle in the driveway for about 30sec- 1minute, and the light turns off. Even without any movement of the wheel whatsoever. Driving or not. Hit the on/off button repeatedly, and the light will never turn back on until I shut off the truck and re-start it. Then, I can turn on the cruise and the light will come on, but again only for a brief minute or so. Where do I look for a problem???

 

If I remember right, theres a tiny vacuum line leading from intake to cruise control do-hicky. Might be worth checkin that line out.

 

Now, I am having this same problem. There was another thread where the owner just gave up and took it to the dealer. They replaced the CC servo (under the battery). Is there any more input on this? My steering wheel switches do not check out according to the FSM. the values are way off, so I am starting there. It got dark before I could really tear into the servo. I do not have a vacuum leak.

 

The switches just send a specific voltage to the pcm, and the PCM controls the servo.

What is your cruise NOT doing? What year is your truck?