'95 850 Cruise Control points of failure?

kiddynamite · Post by **kiddynamite** » 02 Feb 2009, 15:42

So getting the cruise control working is the next big item on my list for my 850, especially as the weather starts to warm up again and I start thinking of some longer trips I'd like to take.
I've had the car for about 7 months and the cruise control has never worked.
The left stem on the steering wheel works for signaling, but the sliding switch and rocker switch that control the CC don't do anything.
Is the stem the likely issue or is there somewhere else I should be looking?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 02 Feb 2009, 15:59

The stem could be the problem. On my S70, I took it apart and found a broken wire in it. After soldering the two ends together and shrink wrapping the connection all was good. However, this is not usually the point that is the problem. Usually, it's a broken hose on the cruise control pump that resides under the battery tray or the stop/brake light switch that is associated with the brake pedal. I checked both of these places out first before finally taking my turn signal stalk out and apart. Good luck and let us know how things go.

larryh · Post by **larryh** » 02 Feb 2009, 18:08

it was the brake switch on my 850

Post by **findude** » 03 Feb 2009, 12:35

We had the same problem with our 850 when it was a couple of years old. It was the brake switch.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 03 Feb 2009, 14:40

It could be anywhere. Download the manual from here:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/downlo ... vo_850.zip

Once you unzip it see the file called cruise control system.pdf. It outlines a full series of tests that you can run from port B-2.

...Lee

rubyvette · Post by **rubyvette** » 03 Feb 2009, 18:06

I had a bad cruise control relay in my 94. How many miles on the car?

kiddynamite · Post by **kiddynamite** » 03 Feb 2009, 18:23

Just turned over 198K, so I guess at this point it could be anything.

I'll start running down the stuff in the manual this weekend

thanks

rubyvette · Post by **rubyvette** » 04 Feb 2009, 17:22

I saw a relay listed on eBay and in the description it said they're known to fail after 140K. I got a low mileage unit from the local pick'n'pull yard for REAL cheap money and it worked for me. It's located under the fuse panel cover on the driver's side.

jonofmac · Post by **jonofmac** » 05 Feb 2009, 20:06

I wanted to throw my 2 cents in as well. I had this very same problem.

Ultimately it was the brake switch that prevented cruise control on my 94 850 as well. But for some reason, some idiot had reversed the vacuum lines on the pump so instead of creating a vacuum, it was pumping air into the valve for the gas. So i switched those out and all works good.

Download the manual and it tells you how to diagnose the problem. It is great! I love reading those pages and learning as much as I can about my Volvo!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 05 Feb 2009, 20:25

kiddynamite,

If your controller is bad I think I have 2 or 3 of them in my "Box O' relays". PM me and I will test one on my car and then I will send you one for the cost of mailing it.

My bet is that your problem is the vacuum lines or the pedal switches though.

...Lee