Password12345678

Good morning all,

My 98 XJ no longer has cruise control. The cruise button has always been kinda funky because you have to press it down pretty hard to have the cruise light pop up on the dash. It began to become intermittent, and then it stopped working entirely. So, to be clear: I press the cruise button and the cruise light does not come up on the dash. I have no vacuum leaks, no blown fuses, and no airbag light (horn still works, too). I tried blasting the button out with compressed air with no luck, so I disassembled the switch and cleaned up the contacts inside but that didn't seem to do anything. I also cleaned the cruise control module connector under the hood with electrical cleaner. Does it seem safe to say that I should pick up a "new" button and see if it fixes it, or is there other troubleshooting I can do?

Thanks in advance.

dave1123

You could check the cruise module plug under the hood for power, but I wouldn't power up the button circuit at the wheel with the airbag sitting on your chest. Testing each clockspring circuit would be difficult also unless you remove it.

Sig220

The cruise control in my 99 XJ didn't work when I got it. I first had to replace the vacuum reservoir, then I had to replace the switches on the steering wheel. Got those at the local Upullit yard. Then finally had to replace the clock spring.
It works now, and it also fixed the horn and the airbag light. The only reason I knew my cruise switch was bad, was that it was hardly there. Broken with the cover missing. My vote, would be to go shopping at your local JY if you have access to one.

ThunderThighs

It’s likely the clock spring. It’s easy enough to replace yourself, you’ll just need a steering wheel puller.

Password12345678

Thanks for the replies. I think I am going to try to find resistance values for the buttons and see if my readings line up. My nearest JY is about an hour away and I don't have time to go there soon. I'll update you all once I can tear into the Jeep a little.

Are you sure it could be the clock spring? Again, horn still works, no airbag light.

don M

Can I jump into the clockspring discussion? I am replacing mine and wondering if a TJ Clockspring same year is interchangeable with my Cherokee

ThunderThighs

No, I can’t be sure if it’s your clock spring, but they are known to fail and your cruise control plugs into it. Yours might be at the early stages of failing. My cruise was the first to go, then I started getting intermittent air bag lights coming on. It wasn’t all the time though. My horn never had any problems. I ordered a new one off amazon and replaced it and my cruise started working again and my airbag light never came back on. No problems since and I replaced it like 3 or 4 years ago. I would be cautious about a used junkyard part to be honest.. just only for a clock spring because it involves the airbag. But that’s just me.

Sig220

Just to clarify, I would not use a junkyard clock spring either. What I was referring to using from the junkyard was the cruise switches themselves.

When I went on my part pulling adventure to fix my 99 XJ Sports ails, I pulled the reservoir, switches and the drivers side airbag at the junkyard. (The airbag in it had a split in it that I didn't like.) When that didn't fix all the problems, I ordered my clock spring online. That completed my repairs!

Idunno

To engage the Cruise Control on my 98 I have to simultaneously push the Cruise button and Coast button, then release them, to engage and disengage the Cruise function (make the light come on/off).

dave1123

The clockspring is a plastic tape with many circuits embossed on it similar to a solid state circuit board. Those conductors tend to crack since they are being flexed constantly. I've heard of people who have taken them apart and tried to micro-solder the cracks, but if it ever works they never last long. To me it's just an exercise in frustration.

Password12345678

Thanks for the replies guys, really appreciate the help. I think I'll replace the clock spring once I have time or the airbag light comes on as I'm short on both time and money. My cel popped on today and gave me a code p0700 and p0705. Probably my nss acting up again. Does anyone know if the ground for the cruise control is the nss or it it passes through it in some way?