My 1996 Buick Century Station Wagon has a cruise control that has become intermittent. When it works it works fine but about 80% of the time when I press the button to set it nothing happens. A few minutes later I may press it and it engages and works fine. Is it all electrical or is there vacuum involved. I have tried with and w/o A/C on, tapping the breaks, turning it on and off all of that seems to make no difference. What are the components of that system I should be checking and where are they located? I am pretty good at troubleshooting if I understand the system but I have no idea how cruise control works on this car.
There are many components in the cruise system. That system does not work with vacuum. The first thing I would check is the multi-function switch (the turn signal, wiper, cruise switch arm). On the back side of the turn signal arm is a plug that plugs into the steering column. Make sure that it is seated, or plugged in firmly. If you have had any work done recently on the steering column like turn signal switch replacement. That plug my have been disconnected and not reconnected completely. These multi-function switches do go bad. They are easy to replace though but a new one will cost over $100. Also the wire harness in the steering column do sometimes break off. The next thing I would check is the control unit. The cruise control unit is on the drivers side of the engine compartment right by the strut tower and the brake master cylinder. It has a cable attached to it going to the throttle body. Find the wire-harness plug on the back side of it and make sure that it is seated firmly in place. Considering the age of the vehicle My first guess is the multi-function switch. I have had to replace mine twice in my '96 cutlass, but I have also had to replace the wire harness in the steering column as well. It could be the switch on the brake pedal, or the vehicle speed sensor. I hope this gets you started in the right direction.
Some people have reported that after market LED light bulbs interfered with some cruise control units. Removing the bulbs fixed the problem.
Something to consider.
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