[Rhodes22-list] Who was Ford Expert?

[Michael D. Weisner]

Ed,

You need to establish a few diagnostic points if you wish to investigate the
problem yourself.  First, have you located the Speed Control Servo/Amplifier
control unit?  Once you know where it is, figure out the connector pin
numbering so that you may measure several key voltages at the unit.  These
need to be measured while moving to test the cruise so this is not for
everyone.

The first item that I would look at would be the BOO Switch by checking the
voltage at pin 4 with respect to a good ground.  If the BOO Sw is defective,
it might cause the unit to drop out or fail to engage.  Check the voltage
when operating and when it fails, to compare.

If the problem does not seem related to the BOO Sw then I would look at the
voltage at pins 5 & 8 to determine if the problem is related to the control
inputs or a bad ground.  Does your horn function properly?  The system
appears to pickup its control inputs by sharing the horn signal leads.  Note
that the system develops a control function by placing various resistors in
series with the horn and measuring the resulting voltage drop at the Speed
Control Switch Input.  You should be able to check the Cruise ON/OFF,
Resume, Set & Coast switches at the curb by measuring the voltage at pin 5
while cycling the switches.  In addition, check the horn wiring for a loose
connection since it looks like the power is being "returned" through the
horn lead.  Maybe the horn or the wiring to it is intermittent.

Of course, Rummy may be correct in sending you to the Ford dealer since the
control unit could also be bad and you would have no way to know.  Guess
what - neither does the dealer - they just charge you and replace it and see
if that works!  If you need parts, you may wish to check out
www.autopartsgiant.com, although they do not have a 1999 F-150 van listed.
Could it be an E-150 van?  The 1999 E-150 Econoline van has many cruise
control switches but not the control unit.  That seems to be a dealer (or
junk yard) part.

The real question is "How much do you feel like getting involved?" vs. "How
much are you willing the donate to your favorite Ford mechanic?"


Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)


From: "Tootle" <ekroposki at charter.net> Wednesday, January 03, 2007 1:14 PM

Brad:
               I will describe the problem below.  First, Dan Bodnar is no
longer on the list.  I wonder if the boat that Tom bought was Dan’s?  Maybe
he ran into a downsizing at Ford and quietly departed.  He was on the list
as of last May.

The problem is as follows:  When I first use the van to go somewhere, say
the boat, it works fine.  After I shut if off and do something then go
somewhere else it will not engage, or at least not for quite a while.  After
about an hour driving sometimes I can get it to engage for no apparent
reason other than time.

A search of the internet and Chilton’s manuals yields the following
information:
First, this is the same cruise (speed) control that Ford was involved in
litigation and recalls over the cruise not disengaging and causing fires.  I
have no history on this van if it was modified under any recalls, but that
is not the issue.

This control shuts off when brakes are applied or the motor shuts off.
However, I have not verified disengagement by checking voltage across
switch.

On the internet there are a couple of references to the same problem as I
describe to other 1999 F-150 Ford Vans.  They suggest three areas of
problems.  First, they suggest the switching device in the steering wheel.
Apparently a spring can become sloppy with age and the control lever can
wear with age.  Now I believe that I know enough about switches to clean and
adjust a spring if I knew how to get at it.

Second, they refer to the actual cruise control device as defective and
third, they refer to brake on/off switch.

Attached is a signal schematic that I got from Chilton’s.

Ed K
Greenville, SC, USA



Brad Haslett-2 wrote:
>
> Ed,
>
> What are the symptoms or the problem?  They all work pretty much the same.
> My A & P mechanics license has a lot of rust on it but I'm slowly getting
> up
> to speed with the new airplane.  Give me a description of the behavior and
> I'll take a stab at it!
>
> Brad
>
>
> On 1/2/07, Tootle <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>       Several years ago we had an expert with Ford vehicles on this list.
>> Are you still there?
>>
>>       An expert in truck cruise controls will suffice.  Are there any of
>> those?
>>
>> Ed K
>> Greenville, SC, USA
>> --
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http://www.nabble.com/file/5272/Schematic%201999.jpg Schematic 1999.jpg
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View this message in context:
http://www.nabble.com/Who-was-Ford-Expert--tf2911177.html#a8145733
Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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