Cruise control stopped working when I changed Cabin air filter

I have changed my cabin air filter (behind the glove box) on my ‘07 Tacoma and very soon after, when I tried to engage my cruise control, it wouldn’t engage. Also, The button on my dash for the cabin air filter (by A/C controls) on and off stopped working (light on the button wouldn’t turn on), but the cabin filter button would work intermittently.
For both issues: I’m assuming I dislodged a wire when I was putting the cabin filter back in, but when I pulled everything back out and looked around, I could not tell that anything was obviously out of place.
Also to note: When I pulled the glove box out on the second attempt, and took the cabin air filter out again, it went in a lot nicer and then the cabin air filter button began working like a charm again.
Since there is a mess of wires down behind the glove box, I’m just reaching out to see if anyone knows how to identify the wires for the cruise control and the cabin air filter switch (from the glove box area). I’m aware that the cruise control issue may also be in the steering wheel area, but since I didn’t mess with anything in that area, I’m thinking the culprit is the glove box area.
For now, my cruise control only turns on when my steering wheel is heavily turned to the right or left, but that makes it basically impossible to use because I can only engage it with the wheel turned and you can’t logistically do that while driving at speeds to turn the cruise control on. And even if I did engage it once the wheel was turned at a slow speed, I couldn’t set it or adjust speed or anything, so the issue is still there.
If it matters: I have an 07 Tacoma, prerunner, 4x4, suicide cab.
I’d appreciate any help, pictures, or advice. It’s not the end of the world, I know, but I’d like to have everything on my truck in functional condition.

 

There is no cabin air filter button so I'm guessing your talking about the recirculate button, it will not come on if your mode is set to defrost or defrost/floor. As for the cruise it must have been a coincidence, based on your symptoms (having to turn the steering wheel to a certain spot) it's likely the clockspring in the steering wheel that is failing, do any of your other steering wheel controls not work (horn, radio, etc)?

 

If the cc turns on when wheel is turned it is clockspring. Mine did this until replacing it. Airbag light wasn't on but cc wouldn't engage unless wheel turned left or right about 90 degrees which isn't convenient at hwy speeds. There was recall for these. You might get a free one. Chk and see.

 

Thanks for the quick responses!
In regards to my my air recirculating button: it would flash and click on sometimes after pushing it a few times in a row. But after I reinstalled the air cabin filter the second time, the button worked every time, but the cruise control was still problematic.
Also, the CC issue does seem like the clock spring issue, maybe it was just a coincidence. I’ll look into the recall option.
However there are no buttons on the steering wheel, just an old school steering wheel with a horn and airbag (and light signals which are fine)
If I have further issues, I’ll repost my findings. Thank you!

 

The clock spring goes to the cruise control and horn if you have nothing else.

 

In regards to the recirculate light flashing, you said you had trouble getting the filter in the first time I'm thinking mabe it was mabe in the wrong position and blocking the recirculate door from moving, that would explain a blinking light.

 

Exactly, mine is just 2013 base wheel with cc.....no audio or fon controls

 

Then the only functions that go through the spiral cable are CC and Horn.

 

Correct, not sure what all OP has on his wheel...........

 

Just wanted to say thank you for this thread.

Installing cruise on my 2014 base and I've checked so many possible problem areas that I was about to creat my own post to ask for ideas. But I did one last search before posting just to make sure I didn't overlook something already addressed. This was the first I'd heard of the button working when the wheel was turned. Since I don't have cruise and this is a new install, I had no baseline to guess what the problem was. I ended up with a harness that only had the 2 wires and no ground, so I ultimately ended up depinning the ground from the old one and transferring it over. Prior to doing that, the horn didn't work (obviously) and neither did the cruise. So even though it didn't seem to add up, I thought maybe I still needed that ground for the cruise to engage. So I did that yesterday. The horn worked, but still no cruise. I checked and thought maybe it's just not pre-wired (even though I added the backup camera with no issue). I checked and found the wires (at least what I was 99% sure was them).

After reading this post, I went out to the truck, turned it on, cut the wheel to the right -- no luck. Figured it's a bad part. Cut the wheel to the left -- it works (first time I've seen cruise display on my dash).

Luckily, I'd bought a new clock spring prior to all this. So now I just need to take it apart again and install that.

Never would have thought of turning the wheel to engage the cruise. So thank you for the help.