Cruise Control: Description and Operation

Speed Control

Without Adaptive Cruise Control

The speed control system consists of the following components:

- Speed control switches
- Speed control deactivator switch
- Speed control indicator
- PCM
- Electronically-controlled throttle body
- Clockspring

The speed control system is controlled by the PCM. The speed control system is designed to maintain a selected vehicle speed between 40 km/h (25 mph) and the maximum limited vehicle speed. The speed control system is controlled by the steering wheel mounted switches (ON, OFF, SET+, SET- and RESUME), and the brake pedal. The steering wheel mounted switches are hardwired to the PCM.

The speed control functions include:

- turning the speed control system on.
- setting and maintaining the desired vehicle speed.
- accelerating the vehicle speed.
- decelerating the vehicle speed.
- resuming the prior vehicle speed.
- turning the vehicle speed control system off.
- canceling the speed control.

With Adaptive Cruise Control

NOTE: The speed control sensor is also known as the forward looking sensor.

The speed control system consists of the following components:

- Cruise-Control Module (C-CM) (located behind the left rear seat cushion)
- Adaptive cruise control indicator (located in the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC))
- Speed control sensor (located behind the left side front bumper cover)
- Speed control switches
- Speed control deactivator switch
- Speed control indicator
- PCM
- ABS module
- Electronically-controlled throttle body
- Clockspring

The adaptive cruise control system operation is similar to the standard speed control system. The adaptive cruise control system is comprised of the PCM, the ABS module, the C-CM, the speed control sensor and hardwired inputs from the brake pedal switch and the steering wheel switches. The adaptive cruise control system is controlled by the steering wheel mounted switches (Left Arrow --- Right Arrow, ON, OFF, SET+, SET- and RESUME). The Left Arrow --- Right Arrow symbol on the speed control switch is the distance gap switch. The adaptive cruise control system maintains a road speed selected by the driver from the steering wheel switches and that speed is displayed in the message center.

The vehicle maintains the selected speed until another slower vehicle is detected ahead in the same lane, by the speed control sensor. The vehicle speed is adjusted automatically to maintain a preset distance gap. When the adaptive cruise control feature is activated, an amber adaptive cruise control indicator illuminates in the IPC and the message center momentarily displays the preset distance gap. The vehicle maintains the distance gap and the brakes automatically apply to slow the vehicle to maintain the gap to the vehicle ahead.