Cruise control is a speed control system that maintains a desired vehicle speed under normal driving conditions at vehicle speeds above 40 km/h (25 mph). Steep grades may cause variations in the selected vehicle speeds.

The following are the main components of the Cruise Control System:

The Cruise Control System will engage and adjust vehicle speeds, based on the activation of the following cruise control switches:

The powertrain control module (PCM) monitors the cruise control set/coast and resume/accelerate switch signal circuit in order to determine when to capture and maintain the vehicle speed. The PCM monitors the vehicle speed sensor (VSS) signal circuit in order to determine the vehicle speed. The PCM uses the throttle actuator control (TAC) module and the TAC motor in order to maintain the vehicle speed. For further review of the TAC System, refer to Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) System Description in Engine Controls - 3.4L.

The cruise control switches are located on the steering wheel.

Ignition voltage is supplied to the cruise control switch from the 2 ampere CRUISE fuse, located in the instrument panel (I/P) fuse block. The cruise control function switches are arranged in a resistive ladder design, with each cruise control function switch having a different resistance value. The PCM detects a specific voltage value that is associated with the cruise control function switch being activated. When the normally open cruise control On/Off switch is turned ON, the switch closes and the PCM detects a predetermined voltage signal on the cruise control cruise control set/coast and resume/accel switch signal circuit indicating that the On/Off switch is active. Similarly, when the resume/accel switch or the set/coast switch are activated, the PCM detects the predetermined voltage signal on the cruise control set/coast and resume/accel switch signal circuit. To engage the Cruise Control System, turn the Cruise Control System ON by momentarily activating the cruise On/Off button On and momentarily activating the set/coast switch. The PCM will engage the Cruise Control System and the TAC module will record the vehicle speed. The set/coast switch or the resume/accel switch will remain inactive when the PCM has not received the predetermined voltage signal from the On/Off switch. Pressing the accelerator pedal, while the Cruise Control System is engaged, will allow the driver to override the Cruise Control System in order to accelerate the vehicle beyond the current set vehicle speed. When the accelerator pedal is released, the vehicle will decelerate and resume the current set vehicle speed. The driver can also override the current set vehicle speed via the set/coast switch and the resume/accel switch. When the Cruise Control System is engaged, activating and holding the set/coast switch will allow the vehicle to decelerate from the current set vehicle speed without deactivating the Cruise Control System. When the set/coast switch is released, the vehicle will maintain the current vehicle speed. When the Cruise Control System is engaged, momentarily activating the set/coast switch will allow the vehicle to decelerate at 1.6 km/h (1 mph) increments for each time that the set/coast switch is activated, with the minimum vehicle speed being 37 km/h (23 mph). Activating and holding the resume/accel switch, when the Cruise Control System is engaged, will allow the vehicle to accelerate to a greater vehicle speed than the current set vehicle speed. When the resume/accel switch is released, the vehicle will maintain the current vehicle speed. When the Cruise Control System is engaged, momentarily activating the resume/accel switch will allow the vehicle to accelerate at 1.6 km/h (1 mph) increments for each time that the resume/accel switch is pressed, with the maximum vehicle speed total of 16 km/h (10 mph) over the current set vehicle speed . Momentarily activating the resume/accel switch will recall the previous vehicle speed, after the Cruise Control System is disengaged by pressing the brake pedal.

The powertrain control module (PCM) disengages the cruise control operation based on the information received from the throttle actuator control (TAC) module. The TAC module and the PCM monitors the signal circuits of the following switches:

The cruise/brake switch and the stop lamp switch are incorporated into an assembly and are mounted to the brake pedal bracket. Pressing the brake pedal while the cruise control is engaged will disengaged the Cruise Control System. The PCM monitors the stop lamp switch signal circuit and the TAC module monitors the TCC brake switch/cruise control release signal circuit. When the brake pedal is pressed, the normally closed cruise/brake switch opens and the normally open stoplamp switch closes. The PCM detects a high signal voltage on the stop lamp switch signal circuit and the TAC module detects a low signal voltage on the TCC brake switch/cruise control release signal circuit. The PCM sends a UART serial data message to the TAC module indicating the status of the stop lamp switch. The Cruise Control System will also disengage when the cruise control On/Off switch is turned off. The vehicle speed stored in the memory of the TAC module will be erased when the cruise control On/Off switch is turned to off, or the ignition switch is turned off.

The Cruise Control System will disengage when the PCM detects that the driver has the accelerator pedal override active for approximately 60 seconds.

The powertrain control module (PCM) inhibits the cruise control operation when any of the following conditions exist: