1998 concourse cruise controll quit working

[Flame]

Blue, I do remember reading something about the RE RECALL also. I'll have to double check.

[Xatlatc]

Flame, I too replaced the pressure switch and I was pleased to see the Ford technician checking that switch. He said it’s the first item he checks when there a cruise control issue. When I told him I thought it was the ‘ on ‘ button on the steering wheel he did some volt checking and confirmed it wasn’t working. They got the parts from a local warehouse and boom everything has been running just fine. I wouldn’t mess with the airbag either. Intermittent issues can be a real pain.

BG, I hope you were sitting down when they handed you the bill. But, it gave you a great baseline to start out your ownership.

[Flame]

Well, wouldn't you know it...on my way 10 miles to the shop to get my cruise worked on. Checked it 13 times on the way and 12 times it worked!!! Drove it back home and checked it 20 times and only 3 times did it not work!! Only thing I did before I left my house was look under the dash at my brake pedal to see what kind of switch I have and I jiggled it a little bit. That is all I did. Could that brake light switch be causing the cruise not to come on?? Seems like if you use the brake pedal to kick it off...it would be just as important to it being turned on!!?? What do ya'll think? Starting to feel real dumb and foolish. This coming from a guy who has been a mechanic on older cars all his life. My 1969 Mach 1 Mustang does not have cruise control Ha!

[Flame]

Well the cruise control got to where it only worked once over a 3 day trip so I went ahead and dropped it off at my local mechanic. He replaced the complete set of buttons on both side of the steering wheel and it seems to work fine now. Total cost parts and labor was $235. I am having a hard time accepting that two little plastic buttons and a little piece of wire cost me $180. Damn!!! But even the cheapest aftermarket I found on Partstrain website was about $130 and I would have to pay shipping. Am heading to a big Czechfest in West Texas in the morning and then off to Luckenbach Texas for the holiday weekend!! We will see if it keeps working. Everyone have a safe Labor Day Holiday weekend.

[Kinsight]

Cruise control problems all sound familiar to me too. I have a 1998 Premier.
I discovered that if I pressed the set button first and then the on button, the cruise control would engage.
I usually have to do this twice and sometimes three times to cause it to engage.
Sure a beats dealing with the Ford dealer in Athens,Tejas who no longer wants to work on my vehicle because it is too "old".

[Flame]

Update, I have made many trips since replacing the switches on steering wheel. Wife and I have a running joke. Each time I set the cruise and it works we say that was worth a dollar!! We are now up to $35 dollars and it has worked perfect every single time. These are "complete" restarts from a key off position...not just hitting the resume button. I have probably hit resume 100 times and works like a champ!! Trying to get to my $250 dollars worth!! Hah .