Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2000 13:38:22 -0500
Reply-To: "John P. Stoneback" <jps@CS.MORAVIAN.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "John P. Stoneback" <jps@CS.MORAVIAN.EDU>
Subject: Re. Weird cruise control problem
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At times I have experienced similar problems with the cruise control. I also
seem to have difficulty with it holding speed at 70-75 mph or so. Problems
at lower speeds have proven to be more intermittent, often disappearing
eventually.
I have two thoughts. One, the force required to hold the throttle at high
speeds may be greater and therefore the vacuum diaphragm has trouble holding
the throttle steady at higher speeds. Two, dirt on the mechanical linkage to
the vacuum actuator may be a factor as I think I have seen problems after
extended travel on dirt roads.
Though this doesn't exactly answer Brent's request I am suspicious that there
is nothing wrong and that some cleaning and lubrication might help. I am
interested in what other listees have experienced. Little information on the
cruise control appears in Bentley from what I have located.
John
'89 Westy
>Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 21:23:21 -0800
>From: Brent Christensen <bchristensen@ROCK-SYSTEMS.COM>
>Subject: Weird cruise control problem
>
>This morning on my daily drive to my new job here in town (my first time
>actually driving to work in about 6 years), I noticed that my cruise control
>was acting strangely. I was cruising at about 65 (in the slow lane of
>course) and pushed in the cruise button. I held it there for a second while
>holding the speed at an even 65, then let go of the button and then the
>throttle. Normally, this results in the Syncro maintaining speed; this time
>it slowly crept down to about 60 and then felt like it was continuing to
>lose steam slowly. I tried it again with the same results. Then I checked
>and made sure the cruise was engaged - yep. Then I tried the same thing
>with the cruise turned off. This time there was the usual rapid loss of
>speed that is normal to cars *without* cruise control...
>So, it seems that the cruise control is doing *something* but not enough to
>maintain speed. Any ideas? Should I be checking for leaks in a vacuum
>diaphragm somewhere? (I know that's how a lot of other cruise control units
>work). Any suggestions as to where to look would be appreciated...
>Brent Christensen
>'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
>Santa Barbara, CA
John P. Stoneback
Computer Science Department
Moravian College
Bethlehem, PA USA 18018
610-861-1341 (fax 610-861-1595)
jps@cs.moravian.edu