Cruise control not working

[Wiz]

I was on my way to school using the cruise system and the switch on the steering wheel seemed sticky. So I turned off cruise by using the button on the dash and wiggled the switch around. Turned cruise back on and now its dead. I did a search on the forums and read that maybe I should try moving the switch slowly. I tried that a few times and it started working but its still being iffy. I think I need a new switch. The vaccume hose seems fine. Could the 19F weather up here be causing the switch to get sticky and not work right or do I need a new switch? My local subaru dealership wants $450 for what they call a multiswitch. I looked it up on subaruparts.com and its $55 or so. Subaru's own website quotes it at $72. How can it be $450. Maybe a mistake on the dealerships part. Im taking it up in 4 hours to have it looked at. Is the switch hard to replace?
Thanks

[mohrds]

Originally posted by Wiz
I was on my way to school using the cruise system and the switch on the steering wheel seemed sticky. So I turned off cruise by using the button on the dash and wiggled the switch around. Turned cruise back on and now its dead. I did a search on the forums and read that maybe I should try moving the switch slowly. I tried that a few times and it started working but its still being iffy. I think I need a new switch. The vaccume hose seems fine. Could the 19F weather up here be causing the switch to get sticky and not work right or do I need a new switch? My local subaru dealership wants $450 for what they call a multiswitch. I looked it up on subaruparts.com and its $55 or so. Subaru's own website quotes it at $72. How can it be $450. Maybe a mistake on the dealerships part. Im taking it up in 4 hours to have it looked at. Is the switch hard to replace?
Thanks

The switch in the dash pod takes about 30 seconds to replace with only a flat blade screwdriver and a rag to protect the trim being the only tools necessary.
The switch on the steering wheel assembly is a lot bigger issue but it sounds like yours is simply the in dash switch which seems to fail on many SVXs.

Most dealers suspect you don't have a clue and sock it to you (just my $.02)

83001PA010 Switch Box Assembly is probably what you need. Here's a picture of the switch banks.

Doug

[Wiz]

Originally posted by mohrds


The switch in the dash pod takes about 30 seconds to replace with only a flat blade screwdriver and a rag to protect the trim being the only tools necessary.
The switch on the steering wheel assembly is a lot bigger issue but it sounds like yours is simply the in dash switch which seems to fail on many SVXs.

Most dealers suspect you don't have a clue and sock it to you (just my $.02)

83001PA010 Switch Box Assembly is probably what you need. Here's a picture of the switch banks.

Doug

I don't think its the one in the dash. That one works fine. I can hear the relay click when I push it and the light comes on. Its the one in the steering wheel thats unresponsive.

[mohrds]

Originally posted by Wiz

I don't think its the one in the dash. That one works fine. I can hear the relay click when I push it and the light comes on. Its the one in the steering wheel thats unresponsive.

Oh, that's usually not the one that fails. That might be a lot more expensive.

You'll need: 83151PA010 Cruise Control Switch for about $55, but I've never taken one apart to see how long it would take to change. With an airbag, there is a special procedure to disarm it prior to removing the steering wheel.

Doug

[Wiz]

Originally posted by mohrds


Oh, that's usually not the one that fails. That might be a lot more expensive.

You'll need: 83151PA010 Cruise Control Switch for about $55, but I've never taken one apart to see how long it would take to change. With an airbag, there is a special procedure to disarm it prior to removing the steering wheel.

Doug

Great. That sounds fun. Not something I want to mess with. But I also dont have hundreds of dollars to pay for 5 hours of work. I can afford the switch easy but if it takes more than 2-3 hours to put in I'm screwed. I need a block heater too. I might have to put this off because the heater is much more important. Its getting really cold around here.

[svxfiles]

Wiz, before you spend any money, first pop the hood and make sure the vachume line is hooked up to the 2.5 inch long 2.5 inch wide vachume canister on the firewall infront of the driver. The one with the cable that goes strait to the throttle lyncage.

[svxfiles]

Sorry, I did'nt notice your vac line referance.

[mohrds]

Originally posted by Wiz

Great. That sounds fun. Not something I want to mess with. But I also don't have hundreds of dollars to pay for 5 hours of work. I can afford the switch easy but if it takes more than 2-3 hours to put in I'm screwed. I need a block heater too. I might have to put this off because the heater is much more important. Its getting really cold around here.

The home remedy for deactivating an airbag is to disconnect the cars battery and let the car sit for at least 24 hours. So if you have another car at your disposal, leave the battery out for a few days then remove the steering wheel with normal tools.

**Disclaimer - This is posted for information only. All actions are performed at your own risk***

Doug

[Landshark]

Originally posted by Wiz

I don't think its the one in the dash. That one works fine. I can hear the relay click when I push it and the light comes on. Its the one in the steering wheel thats unresponsive.

so you want to get the cruise control working now that the snow is coming, eh?

i haven't looked at it, but if it is accessible, try spraying the switch with electrical contact cleaner, available at Radio Shack, auto parts stores, etc. you may have to remove the plastic steering column covers. you'll only be out about $6?, and even if it doesn't fix the switch, its nice stuff to have for other problems.

on my last car the cruise control didn't work, and on a tip i removed the CC computer and re-heated all 100 or so solder points with a soldering iron. to my amazement it came back to life! my proudest car repair moment!

[Wiz]

Thanks for all the tips. It seems to have started back up by it self. The switch is working most of the time. It seems to have devolped a bit of a personality. An annoying one at that. By the way things are going I think it may end up coming back completely. I just dont think it liked it when I tried to loosen it up (moving it in all directions). I won't try that again. I had my the dealership check the spark plugs and put in a block heater. Plugs are fine. They said they can't even get the part I'm talking about (the switch) for $55-72. They say they get it as part of a package. So if it ends up becoming a problem I'll just get it online and pay them to install it.

Oh, on this online repair manual they said I only have to unhook the battery for 10 min to kill the airbags. http://e-toolbox.com/ads/
But the airbags are not really as much of a problem. The problem is I have no clue how to actually open up the steering wheel and remove everything. If I did, I'd do the whole thing my self.

I'll also try the contact cleaner a bit later on. Its a 20mile drive to radio shack and I want to wait until i have more reasons to go to that area.

[oab_au]

Disconnect the battery earth for about 30 seconds and stand to the side when removing the air bag. Just remember that it is an explosive, so treat it carefully.

The paddle is not hard to replace. It is the same paddle for all the Subarus. Just remove the two little covers that are each side of the wheel, they just lever out with a small blade. The 4 Torx T30 screws that hold the air bag can be taken out, the air bag assemble can then be unplugged and stored safely. The paddle can then be replaced.

About a 15min job.

Harvey.

[nordique14]

If I remember correctly, the screws are Torx security screws that have the bump in the middle and require the Torx security bits that have the hole down the middle. Regular Torx bits won't work.

Wiz, if you do take the steering wheel apart, let me know. I have an extra steering wheel with the paddle unit. I can ship it too you and you can give it a try to see if the paddle unit is the problem.

Matt

[Wiz]

Originally posted by nordique14
If I remember correctly, the screws are Torx security screws that have the bump in the middle and require the Torx security bits that have the hole down the middle. Regular Torx bits won't work.

Wiz, if you do take the steering wheel apart, let me know. I have an extra steering wheel with the paddle unit. I can ship it too you and you can give it a try to see if the paddle unit is the problem.

Matt

Thanks, if I do I will let you know. Sadly I have no where to work on my car so it would be a spring/summer project. Its below freezing all the time now and I don't have a garage. Maybe something will come up and I'll get some space. But around here, when its winter and you don't have a garage all bets for working on your car are off sadly.

[Wiz]

Well, it was working fine yesterday. But this morning it was not working right again. I'm begining to think this has more to do with the cold (parked under trees at my house so no sunlight) than that switch because as the day goes on and the car stays warm (sits in the sun at school) it starts working better at the end of the day. Is this even remotly possibly the cause?

maybe it can help: