[Rhodes22-list] 2nd Reply to Brad about Problem

[Brad Haslett]

Ed,

Sorry, my ADD is kicking in again.  This may seem over simplistic but it
works on big jets and is the default first attempt at solving any problem.
SWITCH, BREAKER, BOOK, BOOK, BOOK.  Switch - turn it off, turn it back on.
Breaker - pull the circuit breaker, let it cool for two minutes, push the
breaker back in.  Book, Book, Book - let's not go there, to much regulatory
bullshit. The point is, most electrical system problems are connection or
heat related. If the cruise control works sometimes, you have a connection
issue or a heat related "brain box" issue.  I've got a $100 bill in my
pocket that I'll bet on every single component being OK. Pull every
connection and ground on the cruise control computer, throttle actuator,
etc., spray with WD40, and reconnect.  Most shops don't troubleshoot
anything but simply replace parts, starting with the most expensive one
first.  Your cruise works when you first use it because everything is cold.
It doesn't work after you shut down because of heat build-up and a bad
connection/ground somewhere in the system.  The fact that it works sometimes
tells me that the individual components are working.  A shop will replace
components one at a time until something "fixes" the problem, when the real
fix was simply making a bad connection good.  This is time consuming but I
bet solves the problem.

Brad



On 1/3/07, Tootle <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
>
>
> Brad:
>
>       Somehow you missed the first reply, see it at:
> http://www.rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/2007-January/037268.html
>
>       Or just look below:
>
>
> Tootle wrote:
> >
> > 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
> >>> --
> >>> View this message in context:
> >>> http://www.nabble.com/Who-was-Ford-Expert--tf2911177.html#a8134060
> >>> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>>
> >>> __________________________________________________
> >>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>
> >>
> >  http://www.nabble.com/file/5272/Schematic%201999.jpg Schematic 1999.jpg
> >
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://www.nabble.com/Who-was-Ford-Expert--tf2911177.html#a8152738
> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> __________________________________________________
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>