Does your cruise control modulate your gas pedal?

[Syringer]

In all the cars I've driven in the past activating the cruise control meant the car would press and release the gas pedal as needed to maintain the current speed or to accelerate when called upon to do so.

However we rented a new Chevy Uplander a while back, and I noticed that using cruise control wouldn't have any effect on the gas pedal at all..is there any difference between the two systems?

 

[AaronB]

Newer vehicles without throttle cables (drive by wire) don't affect the pedal as the cruise control modulates the throttle. Older vehicles with the cable forced the pedal to move as the cruise control opened and closed the throttle.

 

[vi edit]

Probably drive "by wire" in that vehicle. It means that the accelerator has a sensor that judges how far you are pressing the pedal and relays info via electrical signals.

The older systems were mechanical. Those probably controlled the pedals with the cruise.

 

[Syringer]

Ah, very interesting.

 

[Rock Hydra]

The cruise control in my Grandma's Pontiac Montana does, but my Mom's Impala doesn't.

 

[RU482]

knowing how sensors love to fail with time, doesn't it just make you feel safe knowing there are 'accellerator by wire' and 'steering by wire' vehicles out there...aging

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: redly1
knowing how sensors love to fail with time, doesn't it just make you feel safe knowing there are 'accellerator by wire' and 'steering by wire' vehicles out there...aging

I dont see it being a problem.

 

[spidey07]

I thought drive by wire vehicles were pretty uncommon?

Meaning they don't rely on a throttle cable. That was one of the "weird" things about the TL - drive by wire, in this case by electronic signal rather than a throttle cable.

-edit-
in my TL I know the pedal does indeed depress for acceleration.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: redly1
knowing how sensors love to fail with time, doesn't it just make you feel safe knowing there are 'accellerator by wire' and 'steering by wire' vehicles out there...aging

Mechanical things get stuck, frozen and broken too. It's just that those are a lot easier for a shop to diagnose and fix.

 

[sharkeeper]

Wait until they replace your steering wheel with a potentiometer.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Wait until they replace your steering wheel with a potentiometer.

In the new Malibus, they actually have a steer-by-wire system that feels very, very unnatural. The wheel just feels completely disconnected from the road.

 

[sharkeeper]

In the new Malibus, they actually have a steer-by-wire system that feels very, very unnatural. The wheel just feels completely disconnected from the road.

Yep this is bound to happen. Along with automatics that have no gears (CVT) that have great efficiency by maintaining engine RPM in the peak of the power band.

Before you know it, driving a car will be like playing a video game. From active suspensions that remove the bumps, to digital control systems that take over all mechanical tasks. If manuals make it, imagine a clutch button! Everything is becoming so GD vague. And to think I used to bitch about the vagueness of Dodge's cable shifter on the A525 transaxle.

I won't even get into the control systems that limit speed according to traffic volume and/or weather conditions. :frown:

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Wait until they replace your steering wheel with a potentiometer.

In the new Malibus, they actually have a steer-by-wire system that feels very, very unnatural. The wheel just feels completely disconnected from the road.

Aren't most fighters/passenger planes "fly by wire" with a mechanical backup?

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Wait until they replace your steering wheel with a potentiometer.

In the new Malibus, they actually have a steer-by-wire system that feels very, very unnatural. The wheel just feels completely disconnected from the road.

Aren't most fighters/passenger planes "fly by wire" with a mechanical backup?

I have absolutely no idea.

 

[Yzzim]

I R TEH WINNAR

 

[sonoma1993]

how do those steer by wires system work? do they still have a steering shaft connected to the steering whee? or is it a sensor on the steering wheel and some motor that turn the front wheels?

 

[Nocturnal]

It would be nice if you could just sit back and let the car drive you to work lol.

 

[stonecold3169]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: redly1
knowing how sensors love to fail with time, doesn't it just make you feel safe knowing there are 'accellerator by wire' and 'steering by wire' vehicles out there...aging

Mechanical things get stuck, frozen and broken too. It's just that those are a lot easier for a shop to diagnose and fix.

Oh god, one of the scariest moments of my young driving life involved my '87 Rangers throttle freezing wide open

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
It would be nice if you could just sit back and let the car drive you to work lol.

I'm waiting for transporters!

 

[TallBill]

my pedal moves..