Cruisers Forum

Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Lflood on May 13, 2013, 11:01:44 pm

Title: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 13, 2013, 11:01:44 pm
Hello. We are new members to the cruiser family . In early May we picked up our new 2551, getting acquainted and loving it.
On the way home to Texas noticed that the airbag light was illuminated, but was not too worried. More concerned with the long drive ahead. Then about three hours out of Elkhart, I tried to engage the cruise and it and horn would not function.
We have contacted the factory and waiting on some guidance. In the meantime thought I should throw this out here for any ideas/wisdom. Have looked at some fuses (horn). No obvious cruise control fuse.
I need to get this resolved soon so I can get the cruiser inspected and licensed.
Thanks
Larry
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: gl1500 on May 13, 2013, 11:38:06 pm
Lflood,
    The factory more than likely has the answer.  When they take apart the dash and tie in to the chassis system, they probably have a wire that is loose or came disconnected.  The horn, cruise and air bag system are probably in the same wire harness.  I would look under the dash at the wires coming from the steering wheel and see if there is a loose connector.  This is just a quick possible fix.  Good luck.
    Bob
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 14, 2013, 07:47:00 am
Thanks Bob. Tonight after work Ill surely take a look at that area. I did ask the factory to have their electric guy give some ideas.
Larry
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: gl1500 on May 18, 2013, 12:22:57 pm
Larry,
   Did you resolve your electrical problem?  If so, what did you find and what was the fix?  Good info for others that could run into the same problem.
    Thanks,  Bob
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 22, 2013, 03:43:53 pm
Bob,
Sorry it took so long to get back..been busy at work.  No resolution, All fuses good. Looked under dash and did not come across any loose wires etc. I did not remove the cover on the steering column, will look there next..have to be careful with that airbag.
Thanks,
Larry
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 22, 2013, 04:26:56 pm
Remember there are two Ford fuse panels, one underhood with lots of relays and fuses.  Given your rig is older, maybe there is a corrosion problem or a faulty relay.  Identify the appropriate relay and swap it with another identical one and see if the problem moved to the other system.  Refer to page 174 in your owners manual to identify your relays.  Don't swap relays with a critical system, like fuel injectors for example.

Not on our PC, but I've done this on other vehicles for troubleshooting.  A bad relay can be diagnosed this way.  Just take a bad relay to your local Autozone/Napa/whatever auto parts place for a direct replacement.  If you find a relay to be your problem, you just saved hundreds of repair dollars, and you learned something too.  A new relay will be in the $3-$10 price range.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 22, 2013, 05:22:29 pm
Ron,
Thanks for the ideas. I've opened both panels, but did not think of swapping relays. I need to update my profile...we traded in the 2006 for a  2013 2551, picked it up at the factory the first week of May. I noticed the problem on the way back to TX.  In searching the many forums out there, the clockspring is mentioned as the most likely culprit (all electric from steering wheel -horn, cruise , and the airbag, pass through it.)
The local ford dealership will not service it. This seems to be an obvious Ford warranty issue. So we are in a bit of a jam here as we need to get it inspected and tagged or pay a late fine.
Larry
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 22, 2013, 05:41:50 pm
Ahh a brand new rig.  It sounds complicated.  Good Luck.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: 2 Frazzled on May 22, 2013, 09:24:51 pm
We also picked up our new PC the first week of May and are working to resolve a Ford warranty issue. I suggest you call the Ford RV Assistance center at 1-800-444-3311. They will help you find and get in touch with a Ford dealer near you that can handle your problem. John spoke with them today and they were very helpful. Good luck!
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 23, 2013, 07:18:05 am
Thanks much! We will definitely give them a call.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 25, 2013, 10:33:47 am
Thanks again for that phone no. To Ford RV Assistance. They were very helpful and we now have an appt at a close by Ford dealer. Maybe we need to forward that info to Phoenix.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: 2 Frazzled on May 25, 2013, 12:38:40 pm
I was going to suggest Barry and Sue post it on their handy contact list, BUT, it is already on there. If you are need to call customer service for just about anything installed on your PC, Barry and Sue have them on their list - find it here: "Main Forum"; "Links and Contacts"; posting called "Product Contacts". If you get a new number, send it to them and they will add it to their list.

Kermit did tell us that the Ford RV number was in our packet... and it well might be. We are still organizing all those papers. Barry and Sue's list is so much quicker.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 25, 2013, 05:43:27 pm
Very helpful information. I'm quite new to RVing, and Phoenix. Just great to know that we can find so much knowledge in one place. I'll definitely be "cruising"through these pages to soak up as much as I can.
Thanks again.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on May 31, 2013, 11:26:51 am
To update y'all. The Ford service center diagnosed a faulty clockspring and at this time I'm sitting in the waiting room as the new part is installed. Hope and pray that will be the fix. In searching other forums this part has been the focus of a recall several years back.
Again, thanks much for the input.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 31, 2013, 01:28:53 pm
Wow, I have never hear of a clockspring in a vehicle before.  It sounds like drafting shoes and night time sunglasses to me.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: TomHanlon on May 31, 2013, 01:40:06 pm
Clockspring

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A clockspring or clock spring is a special rotary electrical connector which allows a vehicle's steering wheel to turn while still making an electrical connection between the steering wheel airbag and/or the vehicle's horn and other devices and the vehicle's electrical systems. The clockspring is located between the steering wheel and the steering column.

I never knew that is what it was called.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Ron Dittmer on May 31, 2013, 03:26:29 pm
Tom, Thanks for the education.
Title: Re: Cruise control
Post by: Lflood on June 01, 2013, 08:56:02 am
You guys are great. Thanks for all the the comments. PC IS WORKING!  The service center crew were careful with our baby.  Ron, thats a classic movie!