Cruise Control cancelling intermittently on Outback

thevagrant · Post by **thevagrant** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:25 pm

Hi All.

I have a 4GEN Outback 5sp manual with factory cruise control.
Sometimes I'll be driving for a fair while and then suddenly the cruise control cancels on it's own. If I resume it cancels again repeatedly. When it repeatedly cancels it could be seconds or minutes between episodes.
It seems to happen when sitting near 110kmh, say on 100km/h or more. It happens on the flat at consistent speed.

Anyone else experienced this?

Thanks.

Vaughan.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 8:31 pm

Could be as simple as your brake light switch is too sensitive and a bump could make it contact momentarily.

There are probably numerous other things that could make it cut out too.

Does the cruise light flash when it happens?

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:30 pm

agree probably the brake or clutch pedal being ridden or out of adjustment

thevagrant · Post by **thevagrant** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 6:54 pm

Ok now that you mention it the cruise control does cancel sometimes when I go over a significant bump or get hit by gusts driving into strong headwinds. The cruise light is constant and doesn't flicker.

The clutch is probably 3/4 worn at 230,000 km so could that affect adjustment? I'll see how much play there is in the clutch and brake and report back.

Thanks.

coopa1 · Post by **coopa1** » Sun Feb 09, 2014 9:04 pm

We had the same problem on our 04 liberty not long after we bought it new
Took the dealer some time to find the problem but on our it was the switch on the transmission. It switches the cruise off if it thinks it's been shifted into neutral. The switch was faulty and was replaced under warranty.
Could be the same issue on yours?

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 12:51 am

My first thought was the pedal switches

thevagrant · Post by **thevagrant** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 11:13 am

Hi.

Just thought I'd provide an update on this. I've put higher profile /70 tyres on which has reduced the speedo reading by about 6%. Since then the cruise control rarely cancels by itself.

So there must be a speed limiter on the cruise control that trips when it's near 110 km/h. It never cancels at 100km/h or less.

Not solved but much easier to live with on the long trips now ..

Vaughan.

thevagrant · Post by **thevagrant** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 12:28 am

Ok another update: It's related to the gearbox. When in 5th gear if I move the gearstick left/right at coast the cruise control cancels. Also happens more when the road is bumpy and if the tyres are pumped up. Road vibration and/or moving the gearstick deliberately causes it.
So there must be a gearbox switch which is faulty.
So coopa1 I think it's the same issue as you, but took this long to narrow it down.

Nubaru · Post by **Nubaru** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 8:40 am

i was thinking the 70 profile was softening out the bumps affecting the looseish switch. may even be a dodgy brake light bulb ? I think at times one bulb out can delete CC

coopa1 · Post by **coopa1** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 8:50 pm

Yep neutral switch

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 5:26 pm

Interesting, a tricky one to narrow down as I was the same as others thinking it was a pedal switch

thevagrant · Post by **thevagrant** » Sat Jan 02, 2016 1:01 pm

Hi All.

Ok I replaced the neutral switch on the 5sp manual gearbox a few months ago and since a few long runs the problem hasn't returned. Very happy to have it fixed for an easy job and a $60 part off ebay!

Thanks everyone for your input.

Vaughan.