cruise control problem when towing

TimfmCT,

Thanks for posting your solution. I missed your original post, but I had a problem with my Workhorse Chassis when towing. My magnetic add-on lights weren't working properly (the directionals weren't blinking as bright as they should, and the lights didn't look as bright as they should) and the cruise control on the motorhome didn't work when towing. It thought it was a bad ground/bulb/socket/etc. and checked all of those on the lights. All looked good.

I tracked it down to the Workhorse supplied 4-wire connector on the motorhome near the hitch. One of the wires at the connector had an open in it. Apparently, when the lights were connected, it set up some strange feed-back signal that messed up the cruise control. I'm guessing it thought the brakes were on. You wouldn't think an open would cause that type of problem, but it did. When the lights weren't connected, it worked fine. :h

Changed the connector, no problems since. Hopefully your problem is fixed. But if not, change out that 4-wire connector on the motorhome.

~Rick

wilanddij wrote:
Working w/o toad - not working w/toad = problem in toad, or cable to toad. I'd make sure I was passing a solid ground from toad to rv. By make sure, I mean add a ground wire, don't depend on passing ground thru the towbar.

Also, you may want to pull the cable connectors apart to check for loose wires inside. The blue coiled cables have small set screws holding each wire in place, and if they become loose all kinds of strange problems happen, but only when you tow.

It's been a long time coming, but the problem seems to be fixed. Ended up removing and replacing both of the system's tail lites on the ranger.
The techs spent 7 1/2 hours on this mess. Fortunately because they said "it's only a four wire complete system" I was not charges for the whole time.

Carvin Marvin wrote:
Lift up on the brake pedal with your toe. If that corrects the situation then the problem may be the brake lite switch adjustment.

Carvin,
May sound silly, but the cruise control is energized when driving. How can you lift the brake pedal in the toad? Or can the cruise control be energized parked?

Bessie-Hunter wrote:
Check the toads' brake light switch, if its activating the brake lights, the back feed to the RV may be disengaging the cruise control.

Thanks for your reply. I use the Brake Buddy that physically pushes the brake pedal. Been using the Brake Buddy for years. Any ideas on what could be different recently.

Check the toads' brake light switch, if its activating the brake lights, the back feed to the RV may be disengaging the cruise control.

Wil,
Thanks for your reply. I've replaced the blue coiled (blue ox)
cord. Wow was it expensive. Problem still there.
The front plate came with a wiring kit that included two light bulbs and sockets. Maybe I can add a ground to them.
I think I have to hook up the Ranger and see if the regular ranger lights are being used.

Working w/o toad - not working w/toad = problem in toad, or cable to toad. I'd make sure I was passing a solid ground from toad to rv. By make sure, I mean add a ground wire, don't depend on passing ground thru the towbar.

Also, you may want to pull the cable connectors apart to check for loose wires inside. The blue coiled cables have small set screws holding each wire in place, and if they become loose all kinds of strange problems happen, but only when you tow.

randallb wrote:
9 times out of 10 the problem is pedal/switch related. My most recent experience happened 2 weeks ago on the way back from MN/ND. The switch locking nut had backed off and the cruise was sporadic. Crawled under the dash and the problem was clearly visible. I have also seen the L-bracket that the cruise or BL switch mounts on (switch mount varies by vehicle) bend and the adjustment changes.
Randy

Thanks fore the replies. Because it works normally when not towing the ranger. I'm suspecting brake pedal switch is ok.
The sockets in the ranger look good. That's why I don't know where else to start.
Can I add a ground somewhere in the Ranger?
BTW: I did attempt to check the brake pedal when the problem occurred even wwhen not towing. I defy a person 5ft 7in to even get their hand on the switch let alone check the nut. :)

9 times out of 10 the problem is pedal/switch related. My most recent experience happened 2 weeks ago on the way back from MN/ND. The switch locking nut had backed off and the cruise was sporadic. Crawled under the dash and the problem was clearly visible. I have also seen the L-bracket that the cruise or BL switch mounts on (switch mount varies by vehicle) bend and the adjustment changes.
Randy

Lift up on the brake pedal with your toe. If that corrects the situation then the problem may be the brake lite switch adjustment.