Before I get flamed I searched and read for many hours before posting.

My cruise stopped working a few weeks ago. Today I checked the cable, vacuum hose that goes to actuator, fuses, relays. Everything works.

What the car does:

no codes

When I turn on the cruise and set it to speed it won't keep the speed. It tries to keep it and even down shifts (4 auto). After that it just turns off. I tried to set it by holding the set button on the wheel and then turning the power to it from the dash. when I do that the cruise light starts flashing and it won't even engage for a second.

From all this I think that the actuator is working because of the down shifting. I am thinking that it's the control module in the corner of the engine bay or the speedo. How can I test those and fix the problem?
I tried to remove the control module but I couldn't.

Thanks!

 

Try the computer under the dash. Unplug it and plug it back in.

 

Do you mean the ECU?

 

No, the ASCD control unit.




What you're calling the 'control unit' is really just a vacuum pump:

 

ok. so where exactly is the ASCD control unit? Under the steering wheel and that?

 

As IlyaK said, under the dash. Between that and the picture, it shows right where it is.

It's mounted right near the radio.

 

Also if your o/d light is flashing, that could cause it not to work. Thats what happened to me, my speedo was off by about 10km/h and my o/d would flash, it started doing it more and more, until I switched the speedo, now its all good. Anyway theres a procedure on here on how to check your tranny for codes(which is what the flashing o/d light does). If you cant find it ill post it.

 

No O/D flashing.

I will check the ASCD module tomorrow when I get a minute.

 

I need to replace the ASCD module on my 95 Maxima GLE. I know it is below and to the right of the steering column and behind the steel plate. I can remove the steel plate, but the 2 bolts holding on the ASCD module are behind the right mount of the steel plate. Please give me some suggestions on how I can remove the two bolts. Thank You.

 

Remove the bracket for the plate. It's a single 10mm head nut.

 

Reseating the connection on the ASCD module fixed my issue on the 97. Before that I had tried different cruise switches (on the steering wheel), reseating the connection on the module/pump in the engine bay, etc. Reseated the main computer connection and it was fine.

My 99 hasn't had a single issue yet, so I dunno if that could be a 'common fix' or if I just got lucky. It's worth a shot though.

If you remove the two small screws holding the plastic kick panel to the underside of the dash, you will see the module. As PMohr said, it has one single 10mm nut holding it to the bracket. You might even be able to unplug and plug without taking it off. I don't remember exactly how the connection was made, so I can't say for sure.

 

Before going through the hassle of actually installing the ASCD module, I unplugged the old one and plugged in the replacement while twist-tying it in place. It did not solve my cruise control problem. Therefore, let me describe my problem.

I can push the little button and turn on the green light for the Cruise Control feature. That's all I can do. I cannot set and lock in any speed. Before it totally failed, I could lock in a speed but every time I hit a small bump in the road, it would unset. Now it doesn't set at all. If this sounds familiar to anyone, please share your experience on how you fixed the problem. Thanks.

 

Have you checked all of the connections? If it happens over a bump, it's most likely just a loose connector.

First place I'd check is the connector on the switch assembly.

Have you done any of the diagnostics per the FSM?

 

My mechanic said that there was something wrong with the ASCD module and vacuum pump. He went through the diagnostic. I bought a couple of used parts and swapped them in. No difference..

 

'My mechanic said'...that's never the way to get something done.

If he thinks he knows what the problem is, then why isn't he the one fixing it?

If you don't do the diagnostics yourself, you don't know what did or didn't show up.

Again, have you or have you not checked all of the connections? That's most likely the issue.

 

Sounds to me like it's the switch on the steering wheel. I know mine didn't set at all and once I replaced that, it worked fine.

 

Good Idea. How do I access the CC switch wires on the steering wheel so that I can check for continuity?

 

Pull the cover off, then the CC switch assy is just held on by 2 screws (IIRC).

 

great. thanks. I'll try it tomorrow.

 

I believe I have a working switch if you end up needing one.

My issue was the ASCD computer, I had gotten a switch and ended up not needing it.

 

I would also investigate the switch on the brake. Based on your order of events, the brake switch could be disengaging the cruise control. Should be able to adjust it if that's the cause.

 

The ASCD switch on the steering wheel seems ok. Please tell me more about the switch on the brake pedal. I know that when you step on the brakes you disengage the CC. Please tell me more about this switch. I didn't see if when looking at the brake pedal. Then again, I don't know what it looks like. Thanks.

 

It's mounted to the brake pedal arm bracket, should be right behind the arm. It basically just looks like a block of plastic with a connector plugged in.

Again, though; have you done the diagnostics yet? They should at least get you looking at one specific thing.

 

I still haven't had time to check anything else. At least I am not the only one with the problem so you guys have given me good ideas. Thanks!

 

just sell your car and buy honda. problem solved

 

I've decided that a modern car probably only lasts 15 years in a fully functional state. Afterward, expect more electronics to fail until the car doesn't work anymore. This would be a really scary statement for contemporary cars for which hybrid/electric cars are 100% dependent on electronics. My car still runs, for a contemporary car, is it game over around 10-15 years? Just following tosheto's tangent. I'm still trying to figure out how to fix my CC.

 

Come to think of it before you replace the switch, you can test the switch with a multimeter according to the FSM.

 

the Honda thing was just a joke man. I would buy any Nissan before I buy a Honda

 

 

so here is a little update. I unplugged and reseated just about everything I could get to: switch on steering wheel, ASCD module under dash, vacuum pump in engine bay.

I went on the hwy for a test and still the same. This time I kept my foot on the gas as I was setting the cruise so that I can feel if it goes down as usual. Well, it didn't. The green cruise light came on and the speed started dropping as if nothing was on. I kept my foot to see if the pedal will go down when the car down shifted. It did down shift but that was not triggered from the TB or cruise cable pulling, it was an electronic shift I guess.

So now I am thinking that it's either the vacuum pump or the actuator. I pulled the actuator off the car but am not sure how to test. I don't have the FSM where I am at right now so no idea if it says something there.

How do I take the vacuum pump off? I can't seem to figure that out

 

The pump is easy, just 1 10mm head bolt on the strut tower, 2 10mm head nuts in the wheel well. Which reminds me, I need to put those nuts back in...without them, every time you activate the cruise control, the pump rattles like a bastard for a second.

For the actuator, just apply vacuum to it and see if it draws in the throttle cable.

 

I will have to look into that.

any easy ways to check the actuator without a vacuum pump handy? I don't have one

 

Hook it up to a vacuum hose from the intake.

 

you are smart, you know that?

oh, and by the way, do you ever sleep? every time I get on the forum and you are online

 

I sleep when absolutely necessary. Not a very efficient use of time.

 

OP.

What green light comes on? The one on the BUTTON on the dash (to the left of the security light) or the one under the gas gauge/speedometers that says "CRUISE"?

If it's the one on the button and the one on the speedometer doesn't turn on, it's not your pumps that are bad. It's your ASCD module. If the light on your speedometer cluster turns on, then your 'electrical' parts are working fine and it's your pump/actuator that's bad.

lol.

lol.

 

check the computer under the dash....

 

We already told him that.

 

the CRUISE one by the security and that is what comes on.
so you are saying that its either pump or actuator as I thought after my last test drive on the hwy.

 

If you can get the cruise light to flash...DO THE DIAGNOSTICS.