Cruise control doesn't work!

[Captaine]

Hi, I'm from Quebec, Canada. I bough my first ever american truck like few month ago. I have always had japanese cars!
I bought my 2002 Yukon XL only to pull my drift Hardbody truck (tow pig). And finally I love it so much that I'm using it as my DD now!!
(My GF also prefer it more than my tuned Subarus... )

Actually, the truck has few electrical flaw. The worst of them (according to me!!), is the cruise control that doesn't work.

I'm planning a long trip for next weekend and I would really like it to work.

The actual truck state:
- The truck has 315000 Km 5.3L motor
- Bone stock, no modifications, air ride work properly
- TB drive by cable (if it matter!!)
- ABS light always on (no module communication code)
- 3rd brake light doesn't work
- stupid evap cel always light
- Airbag light come and goes some times
- Cluster speedometer doesn't operate perfectly smoothly. We can see some very subtile step when the needle move.

I heard that generally it's a faulty Cruise/whiper/flasher switch.

Is there anything else that can prevent the CC from working?
(by example, on my Subaru's, if a cel appear, the CC won't work)

Thanks in advance!!

 

[doc_sun]

Congrats on the purchase and welcome. It is a standard safety feature (at least In the U.S.) that if a brake light is not working, then neither will the cruise control. The ABS issue may play a part in that too, but I would fix the the 3rd brake light and check the others to ensure they aren't dim, then go from there.

Cel could affect it too, but depends on the issue. On my old 03 the cel was on all the time for O2 sensors and didn't affect the cruise.

 

[Captaine]

Thanks doc_sun!!

Yesterday I discovered that the ABS fuse was not correctly in and the contact weren't touching.
So I just pushed the fuse in place to "repair" the ABS!! Easy!!

I deleted the cel (P0446 "evap" and P0300 "random missfire") and bingo, my cruise control is working now!!!!!!!!!

In conclusion: The CC doesn't work if the ABS doesn't work!!


Now, this rise a new annoying problem: The ABS itself.... I understand why the previous owner slightly pulled the fuse. When I'm almost stopped, the brake pedal shake and the truck loose a lot of braking power for 1/2sec. It's not happening in hard braking situation. Only when slowing down slowly to a complete stop. It's like braking on a ice spot at around 5-10 km/h...
But that's an other story!!!

 

[t.stimpson]

sounds like the abs is kicking in and that makes you feel like your loosing braking power. This is most likely either a bad abs sensor in the hub or a bad hub bearing. I've heard you can sometimes remove the sensor and clean it and that fixes it.

 

[Captaine]

Thanks, when I get a chance, I will take a look on these sensors.

I hope I will be able to remove them without breaking anything!! Generally, it's not easy to remove these little pieces on rusted parts...

 

[t.stimpson]

yeah i have heard they can brake when removing them. Just use some penetrating oil and take your time. If the plastic is brittle and cracking then there is not much you can do. My local auto parts store says they have two of these sensors, one for $79 and the other for $178. Not sure why the big price difference but the more expensive one is about the same price as a whole new hub with sensor included. So depending on prices near you, you may be better off replacing the whole hub if the sensor is bad. Though like I said I've heard they can sometimes be cleaned and they work fine.