2010 Fusion Cruise Control Question

[hairen]

I have a 2010 Fusion SE 3.0L - I have a question regarding the cruise control. I also own a '01 Mercury Cougar and '02 Ford Focus, both with cruise control. With the cruise control set on either of these vehicles, so much as breathing on the brake pedal will disengage the cruise control. When I 'tap' the brake pedal on the Fusion to disengage the cruise control, I can actually feel the car slow down slightly which I initially perceived as engine braking after the cruise control disengaged. But, this is not the case. After 'tapping' the brake, the car accelerates slightly because the cruise is still set. Apparently when I tap the pedal, I am depressing the pedal enough to physically engage the brakes, yet the cruise is not disengaging. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal for this vehicle, or should I pursue having the vehicle serviced?

[bbf2530]

I have a 2010 Fusion SE 3.0L - I have a question regarding the cruise control. I also own a '01 Mercury Cougar and '02 Ford Focus, both with cruise control. With the cruise control set on either of these vehicles, so much as breathing on the brake pedal will disengage the cruise control. When I 'tap' the brake pedal on the Fusion to disengage the cruise control, I can actually feel the car slow down slightly which I initially perceived as engine braking after the cruise control disengaged. But, this is not the case. After 'tapping' the brake, the car accelerates slightly because the cruise is still set. Apparently when I tap the pedal, I am depressing the pedal enough to physically engage the brakes, yet the cruise is not disengaging. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal for this vehicle, or should I pursue having the vehicle serviced?

 

Hi hairen. :D No, it is not normal. Once the brake pedal is depressed enough to engage the brake lights, the cruise control should disengage. If that is not happening on your car, you may want to take it in for service. You may have a defective switch.

 

Let us know the outcome.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited April 11, 2010 by bbf2530

[xmech2k]

My CC disconects at the slightest touch of the brakes. Definitely get that checked out. Maybe there was a temp working on the factory floor from Toyota that built that part of your car! :doh:

[hairen]

Hi hairen. :D No, it is not normal. Once the brake pedal is depressed enough to engage the brake lights, the cruise control should disengage. If that is not happening on your car, you may want to take it in for service. You may have a defective switch.

 

Let us know the outcome.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

 

Thanks for the response.

 

Let me clarify. The brake lights come on and the cruise control disengage at the same time. They are both triggered by the brake switch and work 'normally' in that regard. The issue is that I have to press the brake pedal down a couple of inches before the brake switch is triggered. If I slowly and gently depress the brake pedal, there is a point where I can definitely feel the car slowing due to the brakes physically engaging, yet the brake switch is not yet triggered (and the cruise control is not disengaged nor are the brake lights on).

 

Specifically the issue is that there is what I would consider a significant amount of brake pedal travel before the brake pedal switch is triggered.

 

I am comparing them to my Focus and Cougar (and any other vehicle I've driven) where the slightest hint of touching the brake pedal (just brushing it with your foot) triggers the brake pedal switch, shutting off the cruise and lighting the brake lights.

[bbf2530]

Thanks for the response.

 

Let me clarify. The brake lights come on and the cruise control disengage at the same time. They are both triggered by the brake switch and work 'normally' in that regard. The issue is that I have to press the brake pedal down a couple of inches before the brake switch is triggered. If I slowly and gently depress the brake pedal, there is a point where I can definitely feel the car slowing due to the brakes physically engaging, yet the brake switch is not yet triggered (and the cruise control is not disengaged nor are the brake lights on).

 

Specifically the issue is that there is what I would consider a significant amount of brake pedal travel before the brake pedal switch is triggered.

 

I am comparing them to my Focus and Cougar (and any other vehicle I've driven) where the slightest hint of touching the brake pedal (just brushing it with your foot) triggers the brake pedal switch, shutting off the cruise and lighting the brake lights.

 

Hi hairen :D . Thanks for the clarification. However, in this case the "ten cent Internet diagnosis" remains the same. It seems the switch is bad, maladjusted etc..

 

According to your description, it takes too much pressure/travel to activate the switch. Bottom line is you need to take the car in for diagnosis and repair, as soon as possible.

 

It should not take "a couple of inches before the brake light switch is triggered". A couple of inches is a lot travel. There is not much more than a couple of inches of travel in the first place (perhaps you are slightly overestimating the actual travel). That would mean your brakes lights do not come on in most braking situations. That is not only dangerous concerning the deactivation of the cruise control, it is also dangerous for drivers behind you. It means your brake lights are often not coming on when you have pressed the brake pedal (every time you press them less than "a couple of inches").

 

Anyway, your next step should be a Dealer visit tot let the Service Department check things over.

 

Let us know the outcome.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited April 11, 2010 by bbf2530

[hairen]

Thanks for the responses. That is what I suspected, but I wanted to make sure it was not common on this model before I sought service. I will take it to the dealer in the morning and see if I can get it resolved.

 

Thanks again.

[danager]

Hi hairen,

 

I just noticed the same thing while on vacation last week. I do not use the cruise control that often, it was nice to have for the longer drive. As I approach another vehicle, I will typically tap the brakes a bit to disengage the cruise and slow down a bit. I noticed it was consistent. I played with the cruise quite a bit, to really get a sense for how it will resume, and what will cause it to disengage. I have the manual trans, so pressing the clutch worked great. I am not sure if I was pressing hard enough for the lights to come on though. Hmmm... a call to the dealer in the morning perhaps... Whether it is the cruise control, the brakes or both, this is the kind of thing that I do not want to have a problem with.

[hairen]

Hi hairen,

 

I just noticed the same thing while on vacation last week. I do not use the cruise control that often, it was nice to have for the longer drive. As I approach another vehicle, I will typically tap the brakes a bit to disengage the cruise and slow down a bit. I noticed it was consistent. I played with the cruise quite a bit, to really get a sense for how it will resume, and what will cause it to disengage. I have the manual trans, so pressing the clutch worked great. I am not sure if I was pressing hard enough for the lights to come on though. Hmmm... a call to the dealer in the morning perhaps... Whether it is the cruise control, the brakes or both, this is the kind of thing that I do not want to have a problem with.

 

From the owner's manual:

 

Disengaging speed control

To disengage speed control, tap the brake pedal or clutch pedal (if equipped) or press CNCL.

Disengaging the speed control will not erase the previous set speed.

 

Note: When you use the clutch pedal to disengage the speed control, the engine speed may briefly increase, this is normal.

 

The issue is that the brake pedal switch is not triggering soon enough. The switch is mounted above the pedal and has a spring-loaded plunger that is held in when the pedal is up. When you press the brake, the plunger is allowed to come out of the switch body and this 'flips' the switch (which controls BOTH the brake lights and the cruice control cancel...SO if your cruise is not cancelling, your brake lights are not on either i.e. the cruise disengages and the brake lights come on simultaneously). There appears to be an adjustment for the brake pedal up travel, but I'm afraid that won't do in my case. I have to press the pedal enough that the brakes physically engage before the cruise control shuts off, so it would have to be adjusted to the point that the brakes are on all the time. Definitely an issue that will require service.

 

As a side note, I got in the car to take it to the dealer this morning and the check engine light was on. Not cool @ < 200 miles.

[hairen]

The dealer stated that the brake switch was incorrectly installed and fixed the issue. The brake switch now activates at the slightest hint of pedal motion. Thanks to all for the responses.

 

Off topic: The CEL is an evap leak at the wonderful EasyFuel capless fuel filler.

[bbf2530]

The dealer stated that the brake switch was incorrectly installed and fixed the issue. The brake switch now activates at the slightest hint of pedal motion. Thanks to all for the responses.

 

Off topic: The CEL is an evap leak at the wonderful EasyFuel capless fuel filler.

 

Hi hairen. :D Glad the Cruise Control issue was a simple fix.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

[danager]

I took my car in on Friday, and before the shuttle could take me home they had my car in and out.