Posts: 41
Threads: 6
Joined: Feb 2014
Reputation:
0
Coming back from Watkins Glen, Cruise control is working nicely on I-81. It starts to get dark so I turn on the lights and "poof", cruise goes off with what briefly smelled like an electrical short. Cruise wouldn't respond to any inputs after that. I just checked the fuse and it seems fine (and it controls other items which are working) so, unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be the fuse.
Suggestions and ideas from the brain trust?
Car is stock electrically and mechanically (except suspension).
At the track, the right rear brake light stopped working so I replaced it with a single filament vs. the dual filament that was installed (that was the only bulb in my set of spares and it seems to work for both brakes and lights). Could that be a factor??
Thanks for any and all suggestions and ideas! In a month or so, we will be driving to VIR (500 miles each way) and the cruise helps my back a lot
Bill
1994 968 White Clubsport look, dual purpose street and track
Posts: 435
Threads: 15
Joined: Sep 2012
Reputation:
0
I had a similar situation, cruise control quit along with the sunroof. All fuses look fine.
Current: 1994 968 Coupe, 1987 944S, 2004 VW GTI 1.8T, H-D XR1200
Previous Porsches: 2000 986S, 1974 914 2.0 Blue, 1974 914 2.0 Yellow, 1970 914 1.7, 1985 928S
Previous non-Porsche favorites: 1974 Early Bronco, 1975 Cosworth Vega, 1977 Trans Am 6.6L, 1973 Karmann Ghia, 1983 Supra (turbocharged)
Posts: 1,280
Threads: 69
Joined: Jul 2005
Reputation:
0
Yes, if third brake light is inop, cruise will not work. Had that experience on my Coupe when I first bought it. The third brake light was non-existent and the connections were all corroded and nasty. When I put a working assembly on with all working bulbs, the cruise mysteriously started to work fine. Hopefully, that's your problem since it's an easy fix rather than getting into diagnosing the cruise control circuits and computer module.
- Darryl
1992 Slate Gray Coupe over Carrera Gray Full Leather interior....1 of 1
2006 Cayenne S Icelandic Silver Titanium Edition
2006 Cayman S Seal Gray over Black
Posts: 435
Threads: 15
Joined: Sep 2012
Reputation:
0
All of my brake lights work, I'll check that wire to the clutch next.
Current: 1994 968 Coupe, 1987 944S, 2004 VW GTI 1.8T, H-D XR1200
Previous Porsches: 2000 986S, 1974 914 2.0 Blue, 1974 914 2.0 Yellow, 1970 914 1.7, 1985 928S
Previous non-Porsche favorites: 1974 Early Bronco, 1975 Cosworth Vega, 1977 Trans Am 6.6L, 1973 Karmann Ghia, 1983 Supra (turbocharged)
Posts: 702
Threads: 14
Joined: Sep 2006
Reputation:
0
The cruise control brains are known to fail in the 944 series via cold solder joints on the boards. If you have some talent with a soldering iron you can bring it back to life. If not, a friend of mine Joe Jackson used to repair them. I'm not sure if he's still doing it, but you could hit him up at joejackson951 at comcast.net.
Of course try the easy fixes first...
Joel Wahlsten
93 968 Amazon Green w/LSD and a few mods
2017 Cayenne GTS Mahogany Metallic
Posts: 41
Threads: 6
Joined: Feb 2014
Reputation:
0
Yesterday I replaced the right rear brake/running light bulb (which blew at Watkins Glen and I put in a single filament bulb) with the proper dual filament bulb. Went out for a drive and the cruise control works like a champ! Thanks for all the advice: I was sure it was something else as the cruise control on my 944S2 was very finicky and often decided not to work.
Who would think that the tail light circuits would affect the cruise control?!? Must be buried in the wiring diagrams some place.
So in this case, the easy fix worked.
1994 968 White Clubsport look, dual purpose street and track
Posts: 2,494
Threads: 45
Joined: Jan 2015
Reputation:
0
the rear brake lights are also linked into the ABS system
1992 968 Coupe
1986 Honda VF1000 FII
2016 Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design
Posts: 287
Threads: 44
Joined: Dec 2010
Reputation:
0
In the several 968's that I have owned, two of them had inop cruise. In both cases it was the cruise control module that is located in the driver footwell. A bit difficult to get to the 2 nuts that hold them on. I know of a guy in Delaware who fixes of the modules for the Vanagons that I restore. I sent him one of my Porsche modules and he repaired it for $45. That module is in my current car and works great. I would encourage anybody with inop cruise to send Joe an email, joejackson951@comcast.net. As stated above, the solder joints fail over time.
1993 Wimbledon Green M030 Coupe! D1R Stage 3 Super Charger; Short Shift Kit; AC Tensioner; Splitter; Mesh Grille; Exhaust Shield; Caster, Tower, & Firewall Braces
1993 Wimbledon Green/Cashmere Coupe; D1R Short Shift Kit; leather dash; new paint; 52k miles
1987 Guards Red 928 S4; sport wheel; limited slip; heated seats
Posts: 1,348
Threads: 65
Joined: Aug 2010
Reputation:
0
Bob, mine doesn't "thunk". My cc died a few years ago. I tried re-soldering, but it didn't work. I found a used unit and it's been working fine ever since. As I recall, one of the two screws that hold it in is almost impossible to remount due to extremely poor access.
Bill
'93 Horizon Blue Metallic Cab
'58 Triumph TR3A (sold)
'06 Lexus RX400h Hybrid
Lots of guitars