I have a 1997 Honda civic lx 5 speed with 200k miles, ever since I bought it a few months ago the cruise control has been acting funny. When i go to set the cruise control at 60mph, the light comes on and then it drops to about 55mph before it kicks in, and it will not hold a constant speed, if i set it at 60 it will go + or - 5 MPH from there, so I typically set it at 55ish so I don't get pulled over.

So that leads to the ultimate question, what do I need to do to make it work properly?

 

Do you have a CEL code for the VSS?

Start here:

 

No CEL, just the fluctuation of speed

 

Does the CEL work? Does the speedo always work?

 

Spedo has not always worked, after I swapped transmissions the speed sensor was dead, so I replaced it and the spedo works now, just not the cruise, and it has done that fluctuate since I bought it last year.

How do I check if the CEL is not working?

 

Have you read and done what is described in the diagram of post #2?

When the key is turned from off to ON(II), the CEL should turn on and then off after 2 seconds. Does this happen?

 

my check engine light does not flash when I turn the key to on, and it has never come on before even when the VSS was dead..

And that graph is confusing, what do they mean by "free play" in the actuator?? are they talking about the cable itself or the little white thing with the wire in it? and 11+ or - 1mm?? its supposed to be 11mm of room??

 

Remove the cluster and check whether the CEL bulb has been removed or is blown.

Use a ruler to measure the free play as described in step 3.

 

How exactly do you remove the cluster? I have never done much electrical work on cars...

 

 

Wow you are a fountain of knowledge and graphs!

Now I am just still confused on what I am measuring on the cruise control to 11mm + or - 1mm..

 

Have you located the actuator assembly near the power steering pump reservoir under the hood?

 

I know my way around a GM car, not so much with the imports, but yeah I know all that I am just wondering what exactly am I measuring the slack of? the white thing in there with the wire on it, or the diaphragm of the CC itself?

 

In step 3, pry the rubber boot cover from the actuator to expose the black actuator rod. As you slowly slide the actuator rod into the actuator, you will eventually reach a point where the engine idle speed increases. Measure the distance that the rod moves just until that point.

 

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