[mechengstud1122]

This is my first time posting. I have looked through all the cruise control related threads I could find with no luck. I have ruled out the brake and clutch switches, I believe I have ruled out the turn signal stalk (i even tried replacing it with a new one), and my cruise control still doesn't work. I tried the diagnostics sheet from thesaabsite.com and got as far as step ten. After releasing the on/off switch the light remained on. Im assuming this means I have an issue with the "on/off function" but how do i fix it? The rest of the manual isn't posted...

PLEASE HELP!!! I have to drive 1600 miles next week in 2 days and it would be awesome if i could get it to work.

Thanks in advance for all the help!

 

['97 Saab SE Turbo]

Does the speedometer work? Is the ABS alarm or Triangle alarm on? Are you driving at least 25 mph?... Ron

 

[mechengstud1122]

Does the speedometer work? Is the ABS alarm or Triangle alarm on? Are you driving at least 25 mph?... Ron

Yes the speedometer works, I have no alarms or dash warnings of any kind, and I am testing it on the highway down the street at 65mph.

Thanks for the quick response!

 

[chromatic]

There's actually a SAAB NG900 cruise control diagnostic proceedure that may be able to tell you exactly what is wrong by testing each component in sequence simply from the driver position and without tools:

http://www.thesaabsite.com/900new/FAQ--cruise-category--cruise-control-diagnosis.html

 

['97 Saab SE Turbo]

He's already run the test procedure from the saabsite.com. See post #1... Ron

 

[chromatic]

Aah, missed that.

So, as per OP's diagnostic results, is the following correct? When car is running normally (not in cruise diagnostic mode), hitting the turn/cruise stalk's on/off momentary toggle switch does not cause the CRUISE dash light to indicate? I'm just trying to parse the significance of getting to step 10 and not just to step 9-- so, it lights up the 'CRUISE' indicator on step 9, but on step 10 when releasing the momentary on/off toggle, 'CRUISE' indicator remains lit?

 

[mechengstud1122]

Aah, missed that.

So, as per OP's diagnostic results, is the following correct? When car is running normally (not in cruise diagnostic mode), hitting the turn/cruise stalk's on/off momentary toggle switch does not cause the CRUISE dash light to indicate? I'm just trying to parse the significance of getting to step 10 and not just to step 9-- so, it lights up the 'CRUISE' indicator on step 9, but on step 10 when releasing the momentary on/off toggle, 'CRUISE' indicator remains lit?

When I hit the cruise on switch during driving the cruise light comes on, but I can not set the speed. When I hit the switch for step 9 it clicks on the cruise light, when I go to click it off for step 10 it doesn't go off.

Thanks!

 

[mechengstud1122]

I took the car to a mechanic today just to have it looked over by a professional to make sure i didnt miss anything. He said the car is in great shape. I had him take a look at the cruise control. He said it was a wiring issue (which i think is just his way of saying they had no idea off the top of their head and would have to spend hours diagnosing it). I told them not to bother because in the end it isn't very important to the functioning of the car and i didnt want to pay all that labor. Anyways, while i was there i was able to get him to print me off a description of the individual components of the cruise control system and the electrical diagram. I was then able to check the three wires that run from the on/off switch on the stalk to the ten pin connector at the cc module for continuity with an ohm meter. They all checked out fine.

With this new information my logic is telling me that since I know the switch/turn signal stalk to be good and the wiring from the on/off switch to the cc module to be good, then there has to be something wrong with the wiring in the cc module?

What are your oppinions?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[mechengstud1122]

Okay, so Im officially stupid....

So in other forum posts diagnosing cruise control issues they had said to tape the brake and clutch switches closed to make sure that the problem wasnt that the clutch and brake pedals weren't closing the circuits because of brake/clutch wear or switch displacement. I had done this....

Unfortunately/stupidly, i had forgotten to take the tape off the sensors before running through the diagnostic procedure...which is why I got stuck at step 10....

Soooooo.....I was finally able to get all the way through the diagnostic procedure. YAY!
What I noticed though was at step 16 when it says there should be a slight increase in engine idle speed after releasing the brake pedal, instead i get a horrible grinding noise from the passenger side of my car.

I'm guessing this means my stepping motor is bad.

New questions:
1) Where is the stepper motor? Im guessing it is part of the cc module.

2) Is it possible to fix or do i need a new stepper motor/cc module?

Thanks for all the help thus far! I think we are almost done

 

[BobSaabit]

If you look at the TB, there are two cables attached to it. One goes to the accelerator pedal. The other goes to the engine compartment passenger side, at the end is the mechanical stepper.

 

[mechengstud1122]

Is it possible to repair the mechanical stepper?

Thanks!

 

[BobSaabit]

Can't help you... maybe someone else has tried. I'd be thinking of the junkyard as I'd be hesitant to "fix" one and have it make a mistake on the road.

 

[chromatic]

On the bright side, the cruise control servo module salvage pulls can be had on ebay for as little as $19.95+S&H. Sadly, that probably isn't much help. I guess you have nothing to lose by examining yours, maybe it can be unjammed...

 

[mechengstud1122]

Luckily I was able to find one at a used auto parts salvage about 45 minutes from my house. The only one they had, for $100. Do you guys know if there are any special installation or calibration/adjustment procedures I should be following or is it just plug n' play?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[chromatic]

It should just be plug and play. In the WIS, there's no discussion of calibration or other installation procedures beyond the throttle linkage and wiring harness connection. Assuming the throttle cable is sound, it should just work.