Cruise control won't turn on

Hey everyone! So, my cruise control has been sort of intermittent the last year or two. Sometimes I push the little button and the icon on the dash comes on, sometimes I push the little button and nothing happens at all. I think we're now in a phase where nothing happens at all and it's not gonna happen until I fix it.

I'm (embarrassingly I guess) not very savvy on vehicles (but I can do a lot of other stuff and I'm learning more about my truck all the time). From when I'm reading, I'm not really able to just replace a fuse and have it work. I don't think anything else is wrong with my vehicle apart from occasionally the VSC OFF and VSC TRAC and that set of lights will come on for no reason at all (I noticed a while ago that they'd come on when my fuel gauge got to about half but now it's just whenever it feels like it). That's the only other thing this truck does or doesn't do. If someone can point me in a direction there, cool, otherwise I'll look up more stuff about that later.

My main priority is my cruise control. If a list of what has already been dealt with is helpful for some reason (to maybe eliminate other issues?), over the last 4-6 years we have replaced
The alternator
Tire pressure sensors ("we" didn't do it, but the tire shop did)
The ABS sensors and wheel hub assembly in both front tires

Where should I start with fixing the cruise control? Thanks so much for any insights! My dad usually helps me with truck fixes, so together we're usually able to do a lot of things. We did *a lot* of work on my old F150 before I finally decided that I was done pouring money into it and got my Tacoma.

 

I personally can't provide an answer, maybe somewhere in these threads:

Search Results for Query: Cruise control stopped working | Tacoma World

 

Most likely the clock spring but not always......

My truck didn't have working cruise when I bought it. It ended up being a short in the wire that goes from the cruise switch to the clock spring. I could see a big black mark on the outside of the wiring. It was a $40 part from Toyota and I replaced it myself.

Good luck.

 

This happened on an old car of mine, it’s been a while but if I remember correctly it ended up being a stuck plunger/button under the brake pedal (or clutch)? Idk maybe worth a quick check under there.

 

do the turn signals and/or horn work?

 

My 1st thought was the clock spring as well, but you mentioned the ABS.

If you have a bad wheel speed sensor, the cruise isn't going to work.

I'm leaning towards a bad wheel speed sensor.

You should get the truck scanned when that light comes on to find out which one is going bad.

 

Check for P0500 code, if that code comes up check the instrument cluster(known failure point). Send the instrument cluster out to get rebuilt or exchange it for a rebuilt one.
The cruise will go out if the ecm does not see a speed sensor input, but the speedometer will continue to work from the wheel sensors.

 

My 2013 has an odd cruise control problem that might be yours too. I can turn on the cruise and the light comes on the dash but it doesn't engage most of the time unless I move the stalk up and down and wiggle it then hold it in the down position and it will engage. Don't know if this will help you but may be worth a shot!

 

If you have vsc stuff popping up, get all your wheel speed sensors checked

 

Ok this is weird. I had the same issue, no cruise control and a p0500 code. Dealership said instrument cluster was the problem and I have been waiting 10 months for one. About 10 months ago I put in a aftermarket radio and did not install the interface for the steering wheel controls. I installed the interface over the weekend and my code cleared and the cruise works.

 

Check the easy stuff first. Look at the plunger under the break pedal. Make sure it is not stuck down or in contact with the break pedal.