Cruise control dropping out...

[emax]

German and maybe European drivers in general do usually not have drop outs every 10 or more kilometers - because we can normally not drive such distances without manual intervention, braking or even full stops. Too much traffic.

 

[bigleonski]

Mine has dropped out occasionally if I hit a large pothole, sharp bump or sudden sideways movement due to poor quality road surface.

Yep, mine was dropping out haphazardly though, bumpy and smooth stretches.

 

[Steveo]

An update to this topic: The control module mounted on the steering column failed - I gather this is a glitch that is being dealt with. I pulled the fuse to the wipers (permanently working) and drove to Cairns very carefully (330 km) with warnings that brakes and steering may not be performing properly. Our Cairns dealer Westco took a new unit out of vehicle they had just received and got us back on the road to Townsville in not much more than and hour - our thanks to the guys there - Nathan and Fabrice.

The new control module had no impact on the cruise control drop-out which average out at somewhere between every 10-15km. This issue has been escalated up the chain and hopefully will eventually be corrected. One piece of information that must mean something, but I don't know what. Driving north about 150 km from Cairns, you pass through a very small place called Mary Farms. The approach to the bridge is a long sweeping curve which you can happily take at 100 kph. The last three times I have driven this road, cruise control had a double drop-out in exactly the same place on this curve. Can't be a coincidence, but what does it mean?

Is it a left-hand curve @ericge ? On a recent trip from Melbourne to Adelaide and back I had the cruise drop out mostly on faster LH curves. Wasn't touching anything (except the steering wheel )

 

[ericge]

UPDATE: I have been nagging away about this problem and have a result (of sorts) to report. Westco Cairns took the vehicle for 3 weeks (!) to try a figure things out. Their technician lives 80km away and he drove it back and forwards every day and learned how to induce a drop-out in less than 700 metres, and yes, LH curves are definitely involved. Nothing related to sensors or loose wires was relevant. Apparently, back at Starship INEOS, they now have enough reports globally to confirm there is a problem with some vehicles and they are working solve the issue.

And a shout-out to Fabrice and Glenn at Westco for their careful tech analysis and measuring on this one.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Mine will drop out if the car is slightly turning left going up a hill (say a sweeping bend), even a slight hill will trigger. It does NOT happen slightly turning right up a hill.

The turn must be enough for the side thread on the tyre to grip a little more - I think that is what causing it. Once you straighten up you can re-engage cruise control, but you cannot if you are still turning (even slightly).

 

[ericge]

Mine will drop out if the car is slightly turning left going up a hill (say a sweeping bend), even a slight hill will trigger. It does not happen slightly turning right up a hill.

The turn must be enough for the side thread on the tyre to grip a little more - I think that is what causing it. Once you straighten up you can re-engage cruise control, but you cannot if you are still turning (even slightly).

I don't have an idea of how it happens, but why doesn't your explanation also apply to RH curves?

 

[TheDocAUS]

I don't have an idea of how it happens, but why doesn't your explanation also apply to RH curves?

It only happens with left hand turns, NOT right hand turns. No idea why.

I will recheck what I posted.

 

[ericge]

It only happens with left hand turns, NOT right hand turns. No idea why.

I will recheck what I posted.

The Westco technician made it drop out that way, and reported it up. But mine can also drop out on a straight smooth road. I'm hoping the next software update will fix the issue...

 

[Snipewench]

I suffered a cruise control dropout whilst driving home from a 4WD camping weekend, but that dropout also included a bunch of warnings appearing. In my case, road conditions were wet, but highway (M7 Sydney) driving, cruising at 100kph.

Several people on FB suggested I have a wheel alignment done, and the dealer suggested it may have been a grounding issue.

I had a wheel alignment done (increased caster angle to 2.5 RHS and 2.8 LHS, to get the vehicle to track straighter, as well as do a steering wheel centering adjustment.

I’ve just driven up to the GC and XHQ, sitting on cruise control the entire way from Sydney up the M1 Pacific Highway. Not a problem with the cruise control, and an absolutely wonderful smooth drive up.