I was already having transmission problems. Will constant use of Cruise Control further deteriorate it? Will it cause CC problems?
I was having transmission problems. I'd notice that when I'd put on cruise control it'd often speed up on its own, or when reducing the set speed it'd make a noise and kinda make the car feel as though it's stalling but still on. Could the transmission be the reason behind the crazy cruise control problems?
My car has an automatic transmission.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi, thanks for writing in. The cruise control uses some of the same sensor inputs the transmission uses and can indeed affect the transmission and cruise control. If the transmission is slipping then the cruise control may not control the speed steady. Have the transmission problem diagnosed and fixed then see if cruise control problems go away.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Hi, thanks for writing in. The cruise control uses some of the same sensor inputs the transmission uses and can indeed affect the transmission and cruise control. If the transmission is slipping then the cruise control may not control the speed steady.
2011 Ford Escape transmission problems could include shifting delays, grinding or jumping during acceleration, a feeling of shakiness, or whistling noises or a burning smell coming from beneath the hood.
Overall, Ford Escapes are slightly more prone to problems (most notably, transmission problems) than similar models of similar years. The Ford Escape has 4,167 reported issues on CarComplaints.com, with transmission issues accounting for many of those.
Luckily, cruise control does not damage your car. In fact, quite the opposite—cruise control is often better for your can than constant acceleration and deceleration.
Examine the vacuum lines to ensure that they are intact and not leaking. The photo at the beginning of the article shows the most common failure of cruise control systems, vacuum hoses that are leaking or deteriorated to the point they will not stay attached to the cruise control servo.
Cruise control work with a manual transmission just the same way it does with an automatic. Drivers set their cruising speed with a button press, and the system works the throttle automatically to maintain the desired cruising speed as evenly as possible.
Replacing a 2011 Ford Escape transmission is not cheap or straightforward, with prices for the part alone, ranging from $2,157 to $3,520.
Ford`s PowerShift dual clutch transmission was used in 2010. Vehicles impacted are the Ford Fiesta (model years 2011-2016) and the Ford Focus (model years 2012-2016) equipped with a PowerShift transmission.
If you`re thinking of buying a Ford Escape, you should avoid the 2008 and 2014 model years. The 2015, 2019, and 2020 models are some of the best years instead.
If the cruise control switch fails, it will not be able to deactivate the cruise control system when the brake pedal is depressed. This will cause the vehicle to continue to accelerate as the brakes are being applied, which can cause them to overheat and damage the components.
The constant speed can increase the chance that your tires will hydroplane and you could lose control of your vehicle. Only use your cruise control when the roadways are dry and clean, and never during rainy or icy conditions.
Is cruise control bad for your car? Absolutely not. Acceleration that costs fuel also causes wear and tear on the driveline, so cruise control is good for the car.
The actuator itself is controlled by the vehicle`s ECU (engine control unit), which monitors the speed you have programmed and the speed of the vehicle from wheel sensors. Say you set the cruise control to 70 mph.
The cruise control system controls the speed of the car by adjusting the throttle position, so it needs sensors to tell it the speed and throttle position. It also needs to monitor the controls so it can tell what the desired speed is and when to disengage.
Because cruise control usually just relies on the throttle to control speed and not the brakes, there`s very little way the system can do to prevent the car from `running away` down a hill.
Having a transmission expert rebuild your transmission may take a little longer and cost a bit more upfront, but it can result in a longer-lasting and better-performing transmission.
Rebuilding a transmission can save you a lot of money over the short-term, while keeping car payments out of your monthly budget. For many, rebuilding their transmission is worth the initial cost. Rebuilding a transmission may cost you twenty-five hundred dollars or more, which is a significant chunk of change.
But a blown fuse No. 38 becomes a likely candidate causing a loss of power to the transmission solenoids.
The average cost for Ford Escape Transmission Fluid Change is $529.
When a transmission is goes bad, there is the option of having it fixed by replacing only the parts that are damaged. Or you can buy a used transmission from a scrap yard and hope it works. Most mechanics will tell you the best and most sound way to fix your transmission worries is a transmission rebuild.
One of the most common issues is gear slippage. This occurs because the TCM is not giving the correct commands to shift, which can cause sudden shifting or not shifting at all. Another common symptom is failure to accelerate as usual. If your vehicle cannot change gears correctly, your car`s acceleration will suffer.
Despite the Ford F-series being a top-selling vehicle in America for four decades, it has faced numerous recalls, complaints, and transmission issues.
Legal filings representing current and former owners claim that their 2012-16 Focus and 2011-16 Fiesta cars were prone to “shuddering, slipping, bucking, jerking, hesitation while changing gears, premature internal wear, delays in downshifting and, in some cases, sudden or delayed acceleration.”
A properly maintained Ford Escape can easily reach 100,000 miles without any issues. In fact, many owners even report clocking over 250,000 miles on the odometer without having any major problems.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I was already having transmission problems. Will constant use of Cruise Control further deteriorate it? Will it cause CC problems?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. The cruise control uses some of the same sensor inputs the transmission uses and can indeed affect the transmission and cruise control. If the transmission is slipping then the cruise control may not control the speed steady. Have the transmission problem diagnosed and fixed then see if cruise control problems go away.
Having intermittent problems with cruise control on my car
ANSWER : Hello. This can be caused by a number of different issues. Most of the time this is caused by a bad brake switch. If the switch is shorting out, then it will cause the computer to think that the brakes are being applied, which turns off the cruise control. If the switch is fine, then it may have a bad speed sensor or the cruise control switch itself is bad.
One of the easiest tests I do is simply have someone drive behind me and see if the brake lights are coming on without touching the pedal. If it is, then you should replace the switch. If not, then further testing of the circuit has to be done. If you need to have this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your cruise control problem.
Adding cruise control on a factory non equipped car.
ANSWER : The unfortunate truth is the dealer is correct. What you are doing is in theory feasible but not common at all. I haven’t run across anyone who has done what you are doing and I have often wondered how such an endeavor might work. My point here is, I am not surprised the dealer isn’t sure because it’s likely they have never done this themselves. The dealer doesn’t set up the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) in the cars they sell. The manufacturer does and guessing what happened when a car is being built is not common knowledge.
Anytime you modify any car, there are always details such as this that you will possibly have to address. When you choose to modify a car, you are now the engineer. The simple answer is that I can’t tell you with certainty whether or not the PCM in your car has cruise control capability. The only way to find out is to allow the dealer to check in out. Independent shops might possibly be able to, but the equipment they have is aftermarket and not produced by Mazda. The electronic equipment the dealer has is. The dealer equipment will most likely be able to do what you need.
Weird problem using cruise control on hills
ANSWER : I did not have to look very far to find that this inconsistent shifting is a common issue across all models of the F-150 and transmissions used. Ford has several Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) that may cover your issue. The latest one I found is TSB 13-11-3 dated Nov. 1, 2013 and calls for your PowerTrain Control Module (PCM) and Transmission Control Module (TCM) to be reprogrammed with the latest calibrations. These updates are the result of engineers at Ford testing and adjusting their programs in response to customer complaints like yours. This should fix your problem, however, I would suggest you still have YourMechanic thoroughly test your vehicle and verify you do not have other problems and to verify your vehicle qualifies for the calibration update. After a calibration update the TSB calls for a through road test to ensure that the transmission shifting and engine work together smoothly.
Kia Optima 2004 v6 LX new engine old transmission no problems before with transmission now my transmission is shifting a high rpm
ANSWER : Hi There,
This may be an issue related to the communication of the PCM and the TCM (Transmission control module). As you may know, the TCM relies on the PCM to transmit information related to RPM’s, which the TCM then uses to determine when to direct the transmission to shift. The transmission control module has various sensors such as vehicle speed sensors, wheel speed sensors, throttle position sensors, turbine speed sensor, and transmission fluid temperature sensors that all direct information to it in order for it to perform it’s function. Other functions controlled by the TCM are components such as a kick down switch, traction control system, and cruise control module. Any of these may also affect the way the transmission control module performs and controls the transmission and the shifting of your vehicle. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your transmission problem.
This may be an issue related to the communication of the PCM and the TCM (Transmission control module). As you may know, the TCM relies on the PCM to transmit information related to RPM’s, which the TCM then uses to determine when to direct the transmission to shift. The transmission control module has various sensors such as vehicle speed sensors, wheel speed sensors, throttle position sensors, turbine speed sensor, and transmission fluid temperature sensors that all direct information to it in order for it to perform it’s function. Other functions controlled by the TCM are components such as a kick down switch, traction control system, and cruise control module. Any of these may also affect the way the transmission control module performs and controls the transmission and the shifting of your vehicle. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your transmission problem.
When disabling cruise control, SUV kept accelerating to 115 mph
ANSWER : From your description it sounds like the throttle body became stuck. Since this vehicle does not have a throttle cable it is possible that a sensor malfunctioned and caused the throttle to stay on. These vehicles have been known to break the gears inside the throttle body and cause the symptoms you described. It is possible that the throttle body may need to be cleaned or replaced. Also, in the future, if the throttle sticks the best course of action is to simply turn the ignition off. Don’t turn it all the way back because that would lock the steering wheel. Only turn it back one position to the accessory position.
PO341 code – cruise control kicks off, engine light and vsa lights go on.
ANSWER : There could be an issue with the cruise control switch and the brake switch. The VSA light refers to the brake system and the light maybe coming on for the brake switch not functioning properly causing the cruise control switch to disengage. The code P0341 refers to the camshaft position sensor, which could be coming on for the sensor malfunctioning. If the camshaft position sensor is not reading properly, then the cruise control will disengage as the engine is not in time correctly. If you need further assistance with your cruise control disengaging on its own, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
My problem is Check Engine Light on. Cruise control does not work, loses power on hills, as if it does not want to pull hill.
ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you have provided, there is several possibilities for your vehicle’s drivability problems. Your vehicle’s Check Engine Light may help diagnose the lack of power and inoperative cruise control. Accessing the vehicle’s computer for codes stored, could direct you to the area of concern. The vehicle’s lack of power does not sound like a transmission or timing chain issue. It could be a fuel pump volume problem. It could be a restricted exhaust system ie; partially plugged catalytic converter. The inoperative cruise control could be related to the lack of power. I recommend your vehicle’s lack of power diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician from YourMechanic.
