1997 Cruise Control Won't Engage

[ecjerrell3]

I recently purchased this gem of a T-Bird that has just over 49k original miles. However, as the title says, the cruise control won't engage when using the "Set Accel" button.

Now I should point out a couple of things: First, the previous owner had adaptive equipment installed, including a rooftop-mounted wheelchair lift that *MAY* have been wired somehow to run using buttons on the steering wheel... buttons that nominally would've been used to turn the cruise control on. In fact, when I bought the car, the On/Off button was completely fragged. So, second, I replaced the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel with a pair that I purchased off Ebay. Now the "On" button doesn't seem to turn on the cruise control, but pressing the "Set Accel" does, even though "Set Accel" isn't actually engaging the cruise control at this point.

Any idea what I should look at next?

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[biddle]

A bad clockspring is often the culprit. It can start affecting the horn too, especially on a Ford. Usually the cruise works intermittently and then stops working all together. Same with the horn.

 

[ecjerrell3]

A bad clockspring is often the culprit. It can start affecting the horn too, especially on a Ford. Usually the cruise works intermittently and then stops working all together. Same with the horn.

I wondered about the clockspring, but the horn works fine. Cruise control turns on (according to the dash indicator), it just won't engage when I hold "set Accel" and give it throttle.

I've bought a Chilton's for this gen/model Thunderbird that should arrive next week. Watching Youtube videos about this issue, too, but none of them feature a 89-97 Tbird. Good times ahead, it looks like.