87 Camry cruise control doesn't work, ?

[mike-p]

I have a nice clean 87 Camry. The cruise control doesn't work. The switch doesn't act like it works, button goes in and out but nothing happens, doesn't stay in, doesn't light up. I've had these before, a while back when they were closer to new, replaced the switch in one and got the cruise working. In my area there are none in the salvage yards to get a switch to try.
So, anyone have tips for me to start looking for why it doesn't work? I looked at all fuses, well all I found, behind the driver kick panel and under hood, all were good. I checked to see the switch was plugged in, it is.
On all the different cars I have owned I leave the cruise switch in the "on" position. IF I knew which wires to work with (there are several going to the switch) could I cross them over, connect them to mimick the switch in the on position and check to see if the cruise would work? That would tell me I need a switch and the rest is OK.
Or should I just try to find a tech to check it for me?
Thanks,
Mike

[white90dx]

First, out of the blue... are you sure the car has cruise control (and not just the switch)? Check the front corner of the engine bay opposite the battery - there should be a box there with throttle cables going in and out of it, a vacuum line and a few actuators, etc.

The button does not lock in the 'on' position physically. The light should stay on when the cruise control system is 'armed'. Does the light ever turn on (when the button is depressed, maybe)?

Power for the cruise control computer comes from the "STOP" fuse and the "ECU-IG" fuses.

Are there any more details you can give? Has it ever worked?

-Charlie

[mike-p]

Originally Posted by white90dx

First, out of the blue... are you sure the car has cruise control (and not just the switch)? Check the front corner of the engine bay opposite the battery - there should be a box there with throttle cables going in and out of it, a vacuum line and a few actuators, etc.

The button does not lock in the 'on' position physically. The light should stay on when the cruise control system is 'armed'. Does the light ever turn on (when the button is depressed, maybe)?

Power for the cruise control computer comes from the "STOP" fuse and the "ECU-IG" fuses.

Are there any more details you can give? Has it ever worked?

-Charlie

Yep, it has cruise. The cable connects to the throttle body in the same place, but from the other direction, as does the cable from the accelerator pedal. The vacuum line is in place. Everything looks as it should and the switch is plugged in, I took the panel down under the dash so I could be sure the switch was not unplugged. I did this because a search on this forum turned up a post where the switch was not connected.
Nope, the light never comes on in the switch, not at all. One other car needed a switch, I replaced it with a used one, that was several years ago. On that one the light would come on but would go out when you move your finger, and the cruise would work if you held the switch in and the light stayed on, BUT THAT WAS A DIFFERENT CAR AND SEVERAL YEARS BACK.
I just bought it so I have no history of where it worked before, and I bought it from a charitable originazition when someone donated it to their charity so they have no history.
And all the fuses are good as I said already, I see you say the cruise is fed from two other places so it must be getting juice as everything else works as it should. I used a test light to check both sides of all fuses, key on and key off.

[white90dx]

Well, the switch could very well still be the problem.

Any other warning lights on the dash?

-Charlie

[jonsey1886]

Another thought off the top of my head,

Have you tried actually using the cruise? In one case I had a while ago while fixing the wiring to my aftermarket stereo I blew out some bulbs inside the switch (cruise & flashers) but the flashers still worked

cruise doesn't work on mine as I seem to have the only 87-91 camry in existence without a A140E trans (I have an A140L no electronic control points and found this out AFTER I had replaced the wiring harness, gotten all the buttons, switches, actuator, & ECT)

[mike-p]

Originally Posted by jonsey1886

Another thought off the top of my head,

Have you tried actually using the cruise? In one case I had a while ago while fixing the wiring to my aftermarket stereo I blew out some bulbs inside the switch (cruise & flashers) but the flashers still worked

cruise doesn't work on mine as I seem to have the only 87-91 camry in existence without a A140E trans (I have an A140L no electronic control points and found this out AFTER I had replaced the wiring harness, gotten all the buttons, switches, actuator, & ECT)

Yes, I tried it. I tried everything I could try. It doesn't work.

Thanks,
Mike

['88 All-Trac]

Are any of the tail lights in wrong? If a single-filament bulb is installed in a dual-filament bulb slot, it will light up the entire braking system and prevent the cruise control from turning on.

[mike-p]

Originally Posted by '88 All-Trac

Are any of the tail lights in wrong? If a single-filament bulb is installed in a dual-filament bulb slot, it will light up the entire braking system and prevent the cruise control from turning on.

Good tip!! I'll check that right away.

Thanks,
Mike

['88 All-Trac]

Yeah... I hate to admit it but I fell victim to that. I installed some late-model tail lights (late '90 to '91) but didn't check the bulbs to see if they were installed correctly. Got some really weird tail light issues before I hunted it down.

Good luck with yours!