GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Your vehicle may have cruise control. With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.

Cruise control does not work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).

When you apply your brakes, the cruise control disengages.

Caution: Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use the cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and you could lose control. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.

If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. See Traction Control System (TCS) . When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise control back on.

Setting Cruise Control

    Caution: If you leave your cruise control on when you are not using cruise, you might hit a button and go into cruise when you do not want to. You could be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise control switch off until you want to use cruise control.

  1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
  2. Get up to the speed you want.

  3. Object Number: 808623  Size: B3
  4. Press the SET button at the end of the lever and release it.
  5. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.

Resuming a Set Speed

Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off the cruise control. But you do not need to reset it. Once you are going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can move the cruise control switch from ON to resume/accelerate (R/A) briefly. You will go back up to your chosen speed and stay there.

If you hold the switch at R/A, the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster, do not hold the switch at R/A.

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control

To increase your speed while using cruise control, do one of the following:

    • Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. Press the SET button at the end of the lever, then release the button and the accelerator pedal. You will begin to cruise at the higher speed.
    • Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch. To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the switch to R/A briefly and then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.

The accelerate feature will work whether or not you have set an initial cruise control speed.

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control

To reduce your speed while using cruise control, do one of the following:

    • Press the SET button at the end of the lever until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
    • To slow down in very small amounts, press the SET button briefly. Each time you do this, you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.

Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control

To pass another vehicle while using cruise control, use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.

Using Cruise Control on Hills

How well your cruise control will work on hills depends upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and do not use cruise control on steep hills.

Ending Cruise Control

To turn off the cruise control, do one of the following:

    • Step lightly on the brake pedal.
    • Move the cruise switch to OFF.

Erasing Speed Memory

When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise control set speed memory is erased.