64 cruise control not working

[Sonoma89]

Cruise control not working. Vacuum door locks work and I understand the cruise control works off vacuum. Any ideas how to troubleshoot it? Thanks

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[stevetheweave1]

Does your speedometer work? If you apply a vacuum to the bellows does it hold it?Is there a fuse for the cruise control? Can you send a picture of the Bellows?

 

[Sonoma89]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for responding. The speedometer does work. Can you tell me where to locate the bellows? I don't know if they are working. I will check the fuse box. Thanks

 

[Critterpainer]

Is your cruise OEM or aftermarket? Did it ever work under your ownership? Decades ago I installed a factory 66 Tbird cruise in the 66 convert that I had at the time. If I Recall correctly, it took a special fluid in the mechanism that controlled the diaphram for the throttle. I used brake fluid and it worked for me. This is NOT a recomendation as I sold the car in 1977. The system in my car was nothing like the aftermarket vacuum systems.

 

[Sonoma89]

Thank you. Good information. I just got the car and the cruise control looks original but has never worked for me.

 

[stevetheweave1]

Sonomma I too am having cruise control problems in that I don't know if it's an add-on or factory (just got car). One thing I do not see is switches to engage it. Where and what do your engage switches look like?

 

[Sonoma89]

My switches are on the center console. There is a wheel embedded in the console for speed adjustment and a half wheel with a square switch in the middle of it that you pull up to engage. when the car is off, if you pull up on the switch it just drops back down but if the car is running, when you lift the switch up, it stays up unless you force it down. Not sure if this is due to vacumn. Still don't see the bellows.

 

[Critterpainer]

As i stated earlier my car was a 66 and the speed control was on the steering wheel IIRC. I had to change the turn signal and horn harness and add the brush contacts to the wheel. The controls were next to the horn bars on the wheel. There was a vacumn switch on the brake to disable when brake was applied. The left inner fender was where the control box mounted. I don't recall if there was a splitter on the speedo cable and an auxillary cable went up to the control box, but I have a hunch there may have been. Either of you have an owners manual or shop manual? Operation should be in Owners manual and how to fix in the shop manual,

 

[stevetheweave1]

Bellows is left of center at very back of motor on my car. I have the switches you described now I know what they are. You might have to remove air cleaner to see the bellows.

 

[Sonoma89]

So. It appears the bellows were removed when the engine was rebuilt 8 years ago. I'm not going to make this a priority as I would like to convert the front brakes to disc brakes at this time. On the bright side, I got the clock to work!