tennis280zx

I am in the process of restoring my 79 ZX and the cruise control is not working. The car is running fine now after some work (new fuel pump and injectors, etc.) but after sitting for several years the cruise isn't functioning and I am not sure where to start with the troubleshooting. One note - when I press the cruise button on the dashboard the light does not come on indicating that the cruise is ready to be set. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

duckyz

Well, I had the same problem with my '83 recently. The problem was that the rubber switch stops on the brake pedal had dry rotted and falled off. I found a fairly flat squarehead bolt and nut that fit in the hole and wasn't too thick so the switch would still engage. Your light problem may be just that---a burned out light. Someone else with a little more experience should probable take over from here.

FastZ

Like ducky said to fix mine I put a door panel clip in the hole on the pedal and that solved my problem. As for the light not coming on it could be the light or the fuse that is blown. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Bleach

Also, you can check connections on the CC unit under the passenger seat. The CC is the black one on the left. There are two other little electronic boxes that have something to do with the tail lights or "light check" system.

In the engine compartment, replace all the small rubber lines running to and from the dual round containers in front of your battery. Those are part of the CC system and opperate the vaccume opperated throttle.

tennis280zx

Thanks a lot, I will try all of the suggestions that have been posted and let you all know what happens.

tennis280zx

Guys, thanks a lot, your suggestions led me down the right path. It turned out to be the Switch Stop on the Clutch that was missing and all I had to do was use a small nut and bolt and it now it works. Thanks again, Kevin.

By the way, the light (on the left) does come on when the cruise engages but the one on the right still doesn't work when you press the cruise to turn it on.

duckyz

Yeah....that'd be a burned out lamp.

Bleach

The on light just says that the system is ready to set the cruise speed, but the green Cruise light only comes on if everything checks out ok. If your clutch or brake switch or the speed are not ok then it will not engauge.

newb81280zx

This is an awesome thread! I assumed I had major problems with my cc but it turns out all it needed was a little nut and bolt on the clutch pedal. Thanks a lot guys.

Heat Rave R

Haha, you guys are lifesavers! I too, was having problems with my cruise control (it'd light up, when turned on, but wouldn't activate). So I just took a look at that switch you guys were talking about, and sure enough, the rubber thing on the clutch pedal is missing. Now I gotta find something to stick in there to replace it. I haven't tested it out yet, but hopefully this'll fix it.

Grimmace

i have a 83 2+2 with a all electronic dash and sometimes the temprature gauge will dim out. i dont know why something to do with the electrical, but if i turn my cruise control on, then off it will light back up again. interesting

EZDUZIT

You guys can go to Nissam and get those buttons very cheap it's been a while but I think I got a pack of them. I went ahead and fixed my brake, cc,on both pedals .

duowing

On my car, the cruise control light comes on. I started playing with it one night and for a moment I got the Cruise light to come on, but I think I hit something and it went off. Since mine is an auto, what is this little rubber switch, it's on the Brake pedal?

jfairladyz

There should be two switches on the brake pedal. One is the brake light switch and the other is for the cruise control. It disengages when the brake is applied.

If you're asking where they are then they're located up under the dash. Just follow the pedal arm up and you'll come to a little bracket with two switches. Not sure which is which though. They're not actually mounted on the brake. THe stoppers are though. And the rot problem is quite common. THey get really brittle and just give out over time.

duowing

Just that could simply be the reason why I can't get the cruise control to come on?

jfairladyz

Yeah it COULD be. If that sensor isn't being depressed by the brake pedal than the CC is thinking you constantly have your foot on the brake which would NOT allow it to set. I don't know if that would inhibit the light from coming on (I wouldn't think so), but it would definitely cause the CC to not work. If the lights not coming on at all then I would look to connectors, fuses, relays, etc... Even if you can't set the CC the light should still come on (I say should because I can't verify that for sure)