1976 Commercial Chassis Cruise Control on / off switch

[jmdugas]

I have a 1976 Commercial Chassis and working on troubleshooting an inoperative cruise control.  The car has the cruise control ON-OFF-CRUISE switch (The one that sits in the dashboard), however I do not know if this switch should be an ON/OFF switch or a Momentary ON switch?

Thanks.

Jean-Marc Dugas

[TJ Hopland]

Its not momentary. Just regular On when up, Off when down.  This is the system power not the one you use to actually engage the system.  On should have a light behind it that is lit when its on.   

The cruise label is a light that lights when the cruise is engaged.  The engage button is in the end of the turn signal stalk.  Its a 2 stage button, you can tell by the notch cut out of the forward side.  If you just partially depress it so your finger stops on the notch that is the plain engage function.  If you fully press it so your finger is recessed this disconnects/resets the speed to zero and is expecting to get a new set speed as you release the button. 

With some age on these it can sometimes help to release slowly and or dwell on that half way point for a little extra time to make sure it engages. When they were new you didn't have to think about it but we are all a little older these days.

[jmdugas]

Thanks TJ. 

The switch was operating as a momentary switch so I opened it up to have a look.  Will need to source a new one.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

In a 1976, the master switch (on dash) should have only two positions (on/off) and the cruise set button is at the end of the turn signal stalk.