cruise control

[93dagsr]

Originally Posted by Erik

Do you have an automatic or a 5 speed? In any case- about what is your rpm at 60?

I'm just curious- I looked at an auto 93 civic ex for sale 2 weeks ago (not running) and wondered how tall the trans was geared.

its a 5 speed EX, and if i remember correctly it was around ~2500-2750 im not too sure.

[Ford Man]

I have noticed the same thing in cars that I own now or have previously owned, I think it's just the nature of a C/C to do this you usually don't notice it until like you said you have your foot next to the pedal where you actually feel it. I think it just brings the car to the speed you have it set at and if you are going down a slight grade then it lets off just as you would if you were controlling the speed with the pedal youself. I don't think it is anything to worry about if it is keeping a constant speed.

[93dagsr]

well if you note on my gasslog, cruise control actually used up more fuel. i believe that this is because on up hills it would really try to maintain the 80 mph that i set, and would richen the hell out of it. instead when i was driving and i saw a decent slope coming i would speed up ~100 mph and just let it coast up to the top or leave it in gear coasting downhill.

[Ford Man]

Originally Posted by 93dagsr

well if you note on my gasslog, cruise control actually used up more fuel. i believe that this is because on up hills it would really try to maintain the 80 mph that i set, and would richen the hell out of it. instead when i was driving and i saw a decent slope coming i would speed up ~100 mph and just let it coast up to the top or leave it in gear coasting downhill.

I looked at your gas log. That is still pretty impressive numbers for 80-100 MPH driving. That is about the mileage I get on my 1997 Escort Wagon running a constant 80 MPH on the highway, the best I remember. I usually don't drive that fast anymore. When I was younger, when I hit the interstate I would set my cruise at 85-90, usually driving at night when I didn't have to contend with a lot of traffic. Off course gas was $0.50-$1.00 a gallon and I was driving cars that got 10-17 MPG. I guess old age is catching up with me.

[93dagsr]

Originally Posted by Ford Man

I looked at your gas log. That is still pretty impressive numbers for 80-100 MPH driving. That is about the mileage I get on my 1997 Escort Wagon running a constant 80 MPH on the highway, the best I remember. I usually don't drive that fast anymore. When I was younger, when I hit the interstate I would set my cruise at 85-90, usually driving at night when I didn't have to contend with a lot of traffic. Off course gas was $0.50-$1.00 a gallon and I was driving cars that got 10-17 MPG. I guess old age is catching up with me.

lol wow i can barely remember when gas was $1.20 when i first started driving! i remember filling up my pontiac bonneville SSEi with a $20

[Ford Man]

I have taken a trip in the last week and used C/C a lot while on the trip. I checked the throddle position using my scan gauge. During acceration the throddle position would go up drastically. I checked it just make sure what I had previously told you was correct. Now I am even more sure that it is just the nature of the C/C and you have nothing to worry about. I also found out when using the A/C if you turned it off during down hill coasting in gear or in neutral MPG went way up, but you could use it during climbing hills without it having a terrible impact on mileage.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I don't know about newer vehicles, but I have adjusted the cruise on my 1981 Buick Regal to make it smoother. I also remember dad doing the same adjustment on the cruise on our old 1980 Pontiac Bonneville Safari wagon when I was a kid. I've never had to adjust the cruise on my 86 Chevrolet C-10 or my 98 GMC Sierra so I don't know how, or even if the newer cruise controls are adjustable. I'm thinking they have to be adjustable somehow.

[Ford Man]

I haven't ever heard of any adjustment on C/C. There may be one??? How did you adjust it on the Regal?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Ford Man

I haven't ever heard of any adjustment on C/C. There may be one??? How did you adjust it on the Regal?

Where the vacuum line goes into the cruise unit was a brass fitting. Turning that fitting right or left adjusted the unit. I think it just regulated the amount of vacuum available to the unit, but by adjusting it you can make the unit run smoother. I had another cruise control in my 74 chevy C-10 (aftermarket) that had adjustable resistors that were turned to adjust how sensitive the unit was.

[VetteOwner]

yup thats hoiw the CC is on my chevette, thjeres a sensitivety pot and an acuracy pot.

modern ones i dont belive there are adjustable ones since thier run off the speed sensor