Yep, another Cruise Control is Flashing Thread...

Hi folks! I'm admittedly new to the community here, and I'm struggling with diagnosis a non-functional cruise control system on my 2001 Tacoma SR5 4WD MT.

I purchased the truck with about 200,000 miles on it, and when I bought it the previous owner said that at some point the cruise stopped working, and he didn't fix it because he rarely used it.

I'm interested in fixing it now, and I can tell you how it's acting, and what I've tried. First let me say I think I've read all the previous posts on this problem for this generation of Tacoma, and it's where I've gotten ideas on what to try so far.

What it does: Cruise light turns on when you activate it on the stalk. It does not set the speed when I try to set it at any speed.

What I've done is mostly to throw parts at it (All OEM Toyota), because it's relatively inexpensive to do, and there aren't that many parts -

1. I replaced the cruise control module in the passenger's footwell area with one that was purported to be unused, though off ebay. Same part number as original 88240-04050. No change in behavior after replacing it.

2. I replaced the cruise actuator with a used one that was purportedly tested and functioning well. Same part number as the original (88002-04030). No change in behavior after the part swap.
3. Replaced the Brake Light Switch on the brake pedal. Same part number as original (84340-04030), again, no change in behavior.

4. Checked all cruise related fuses in the dash and the engine bay, none blown.

While testing the original control module swap, I watched the video on YouTube of the guy who found his clutch pedal spring was a bit weak, and his Cruise Control didn't work unless he slipped his foot under the pedal and pulled it up. My truck also have the weak clutch spring, and so it sags to the point where the cruise switch is sitting disengaged, but it doesn't make the system work when I lift the pedal up and engage the switch.

So the current state is, I go out to test it, I turn on the cruise control at the stalk, and the light comes on solid, not flashing. I put my foot under the clutch pedal and lift it back up that last half inch, and that doesn't change the status of the cruise indicator light.

I then try to set the cruise, and the light starts flashing, but the cruise doesn't set.

One other bit of diagnosis....If I don't lift up the clutch pedal to engage the cruise cut-off switch and I do the entire process outlined above, the cruise light never starts flashing. Just stays solid on. And the cruise doesn't set. As soon as I lift up the clutch pedal and set the cruise, the light starts flashing.

So....After having typed all of that, I think I'm going to replace the clutch pedal switch and maybe the spring, but I still have a question or two until I get that done:

1. Does anyone have any ideas on where to go with this?
2. Would a code reader be helpful? If so, would you have any suggestions on brand, model?

 

Horn work? Goes through the same clock spring as the cruise control.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World
Yes the search bar is very handy for diagnosing issues, you didn’t mention anything about your tail lights or brake lights, often owners will install whats called a tail light converter box with harness that allows a 4way flat plug to hook up to a trailer for lights, these boxes will fail after years of use. Any issue with tail light wiring at all will cause the cruise control not to engage, i had an issue where with cruise engaged put my turn signal on to pass another vehicle it would kick off……found the answer in search bar, removed the black converter box, cleaned up wire harness fixed it, hope this helps.