Can the cruise control be adjusted ?

2007 Base w/2.7 auto

I have a work cap and a full ladder rack on this truck. The cap sticks up blunt about 3-4" above the roof - and then the full ladder rack is of course above that.

With the cruise control on and set the speed gradually eases down until the CC then almost-floors the gas to get back up to the set point. This happens every minute or two on a flat highway and the cycle annoyingly repeats forever.

My theory is that the CC would stabilize the speed of a standard truck - counter the wind resistance on a flat road. But the work cap and ladder rack require more throttle to stabilize the speed and the CC does not know to provide that. And that is what creates the endless cycle of drift down / speed up that the CC does at this point.

My question:

Can the 'stabilized point' of the cruise control be set a little higher? So that a constant causing speed could be routinely sustained?

PHM
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The CC is governed by an input signal directly from the speedo to engine ecu. I do not see a way to alter it as it appears to constantly feed back the speed to the ECU and will give up at a certain point if the speed drops too much.

 

The CC is horrible on these trucks. I have not used it in many years.

 

You are carrying too much refrigerant

 

How could you possibly know that?

PHM
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PHM, do you know the last time your truck had a software update? Did it have the "gas pedal chop" recall done? The reason I ask is because some of the automatic guys commented on better cruise control with the newer software after 2010 or so. If you have not had the above recall done, you can get it done and the software update is part of that - so a "free update" if you will.


Other that that, there is no adjustment, and no mechanical parts to the CC.

 

Try taking the truck out of overdrive/5th. Sounds like the engine doesn't quite have the torque to maintain the speeds you're setting it at, so it gear hunts.

 

You sure it's not because it's a 2.7L loaded down?

 

This! When I have my 2.7 loaded up I have to set the cruise around 67MPH on the interstate to keep it from doing that. Just slow it down a little and try a couple of different speeds and you can find a spot that it can maintain.

 

This works well. Drove from Pennsylvania to Texas a year ago, drove with cruise control 90% of the 1600miles. I had the truck in 4 rather than D the whole time because I had the bed loaded down and a trailer loaded as well. There were very few times my truck had to down shift, and my gas mileage was only 1mpg less than normal. Although my truck is a V6, I'm sure this will be very affective for you 4cyl as well.

 

CC is beyond horrible on Tacomas. It's either nothing or MASH ON THE GAS. CC on our Honda Pilot is so precise you can barely feel the acceleration. I can live with it, except on long trips. Can barely walk after driving 4-5 hours.

 

Well; yes. By wind resistance - as I stated. The load on the bed doesn't seem to impact the CC actuation much, if at all. Shoving a 'bigger box' through the air is what 'loads' the truck I feel.

But my point is that I can maintain any speed I want smoothly and accurately with my foot - with the truck as it is. So why can't the CC control do the same thing? It really is as someone else described: "full throttle - then back off too much" a minute later: "full throttle - then back off too much".

The 'over-loading the baby engine' idea seems like a weak argument because I can easily maintain any road speed - smoothly and accurately . . . . . so long as I use my foot on the pedal. <g> The 2.7 can do whatever I want - even with heavy-weight loads actually in the bed. That's why I didn't immediately think: "oh; it's just under powered for this duty." It's just that, as I said; I can smoothly maintain whatever road speed I want - with my foot. With the CC - nope. <g>

I'm going to try the no-O/D idea today and see how that works.

BTW: I only have half a cylinder of R-407 in the truck so I know it won't be an 'excess refrigerant' problem. <g>

PHM
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I have a 2014 Corolla which is much like that - pretty darned smooth in cruise-control mode. Of course the Corolla is completely stock too. That is some of what made me wonder if the cruise-control can be 'calibrated' so as to back off Less as a way of reaching a better balance / require less constant correct of road speed - in light of the greater wind-resistance I've put onto the Tacoma with the work cap and the big ladder rack

PHM
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I want to drive to Florida soon but maybe I can get that done.

I avoid the dealerships in general.

What, exactly, will they do to my gas pedal?

I guess I Have to take it in for the frame check - but I'm not sure I'll have time here. I'll call tomorrow and see how fast they can get me in.

Thanks.

PHM
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On my CC it's not really as much a matter of hard acceleration of the engine, but rather it's more the downshifting of the transmission that I notice on hilly terrain. Seems that the CC applies "more Throttle" to maintain speed then you might do yourself, which causes more downshifting.
I am curious if someone with a Tundra, or some other 8 cylinder truck with more horsepower and torque experiences the same effect, or it's just a consequence of a somewhat smaller, less powerful engine.

 

I have not had any issues with cruise control.
On a previous vehicle my cruise control worked flawlessly till i lifted it and put on bigger tires. Then it started to act the same as what the OP is describing.

 

The cruise control is pretty bad, it waits too long to unlock the converter, then it's downshifting to get back to the set speed.

It's not bad on fairly flat terrain, but hilly areas and high altitude make it worse.

 

I used to frequent a forum you belong to. I'm in the trade as well. You're name sticks out

 

THAT'S where I've seen that nic before!

Only 1 jug? pfffft!

 

Do not recognize you however. I use my initials on all forums