Ford Cruise Control Recall

Feb 9, 2005
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From what I understand, Ford is recalling millions of trucks because brake fluid could leak from a cruise control switch and corrode the wiring, causing a fire. Their "fix" is to put a fuse in the wiring to prevent a fire. What about all the brake fluid leaking from the brake system? Will these trucks eventually lose their brakes? Why isn't Ford fixing the leaking switches? And how about the poor owner who discovers his cruise control doesn't work somewhile after Ford "fixes" the problem, and the fuse blew? He goes into Ford to have his cruise control fixed, only to be told the unit, wiring, and switch has to be replaced, at the owners expense! Real nice, Ford!
Glad I don't own a Ford... hope you don't. And watch your rear-wiew mirror, there may be a 3 ton Ford truck coming your way without brakes!
 

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
Originally posted by: my sons father
From what I understand, Ford is recalling millions of trucks because brake fluid could leak from a cruise control switch and corrode the wiring, causing a fire. Their "fix" is to put a fuse in the wiring to prevent a fire. What about all the brake fluid leaking from the brake system? Will these trucks eventually lose their brakes? Why isn't Ford fixing the leaking switches? And how about the poor owner who discovers his cruise control doesn't work somewhile after Ford "fixes" the problem, and the fuse blew? He goes into Ford to have his cruise control fixed, only to be told the unit, wiring, and switch has to be replaced, at the owners expense! Real nice, Ford!
Glad I don't own a Ford... hope you don't. And watch your rear-wiew mirror, there may be a 3 ton Ford truck coming your way without brakes!

the brake fluid is NOT within the brake fluid resevoir.

as you said "brake fluid could leak from a cruise control switch" FROM a switch, which means it is located somewhere within that switch i forget exactly how it works, it is a small resevoir or something that can go bad and short circuit.
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
The switch does not leak fluid out. What happens is the fluid leaks past the membrane that separates the fluid from the electronic sensor.

brake fluid+electronic devices=bad
 

arcenite

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
10,660
7
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Originally posted by: Squisher
The switch does not leak fluid out. What happens is the fluid leaks past the membrane that separates the fluid from the electronic sensor.

ford=bad

Fixed

 

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
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Originally posted by: my sons father
From what I understand, Ford is recalling millions of trucks because brake fluid could leak from a cruise control switch and corrode the wiring, causing a fire. Their "fix" is to put a fuse in the wiring to prevent a fire. What about all the brake fluid leaking from the brake system? Will these trucks eventually lose their brakes? Why isn't Ford fixing the leaking switches? And how about the poor owner who discovers his cruise control doesn't work somewhile after Ford "fixes" the problem, and the fuse blew? He goes into Ford to have his cruise control fixed, only to be told the unit, wiring, and switch has to be replaced, at the owners expense! Real nice, Ford!
Glad I don't own a Ford... hope you don't. And watch your rear-wiew mirror, there may be a 3 ton Ford truck coming your way without brakes!
I glad your smart enough to understand the whole issue before shooting your mouth off. And I'm sure the car company that hired you to design their vehicles is glad that they don't have any recalls.

BTW this is a repost. Learn to use the search feature. :|

 
Feb 9, 2005
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My bad....about the 20th repost on this subject.

NOURDMROLNMT1:
If the brake fluid is NOT from the brake fluid resevoir or a line connected to it, how did it get there?

SQUISHER:
Is the switch so completely airtight that brake fluid could get in from one side and not make it's way out another?

QUIXFIRE:
What the hell do you know about this beside shooting YOUR mouth off? That you knew it was a repost. Well, good for you! I'm an industrial engineer with 27+ years in mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, and I can tell you if brake fluid under pressure can breach a seal and enter a switch, it will certianly find a way to get out the other side. Ever have an oil pressure switch fail on a car and spray your engine with oil? I've seen it happen. Same thing, different fluid. 6613+ posts? I hope you had something better to say than this. Quit being insulting, your showing you age.

Sorry to everyone else for the repost.
 
Feb 9, 2005
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One last thing, Quixfire, had I actually been put in charge of designing the cruise control system for Ford, I would have used a sensor on the brake lever inside the car to disengage the cruise control, probably combined with the brake light switch. That way in the event of a loss of hydraulic pressure in the brake system, the cruise control would still disengage. I could have saved Ford a lot of trouble on this one. How would you have designed it, or isn't that your field?
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
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Originally posted by: my sons father
My bad....about the 20th repost on this subject.

NOURDMROLNMT1:
If the brake fluid is NOT from the brake fluid resevoir or a line connected to it, how did it get there?

SQUISHER:
Is the switch so completely airtight that brake fluid could get in from one side and not make it's way out another?

QUIXFIRE:
What the hell do you know about this beside shooting YOUR mouth off? That you knew it was a repost. Well, good for you! I'm an industrial engineer with 27+ years in mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, and I can tell you if brake fluid under pressure can breach a seal and enter a switch, it will certianly find a way to get out the other side. Ever have an oil pressure switch fail on a car and spray your engine with oil? I've seen it happen. Same thing, different fluid. 6613+ posts? I hope you had something better to say than this. Quit being insulting, your showing you age.

Sorry to everyone else for the repost.

You have no idea who Quixfire is, do you?
 

Cattlegod

Diamond Member
May 22, 2001
8,687
1
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you are retarded

i'd like to know what you have to say about toyota's 1 million vehicle recall that happened on the same day.
 
Feb 9, 2005
79
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Retarded? College grad, I take it. How about this from a Ford forum...


http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11308

nhaverla (quote)

My 97 had this problem.
The cure was to replace the small sensor on the end of the brake piston assembly. This is a $30 dollar dealer item. Check your brake fluid level because when this sensor diaphram ruptures, brake fluid escapes each time you stop. On my unit the wires connected to the sensor were covered with fluid but very hard to see. Unscrew the sensor, replace it and plug on the wire and you will have cruise system working again. This sensor switch will not allow the cruise control to be turned on while you have pressure in the braking system fluid. Not all vehicles have this...it took me a while to find the problem!!

(unquote)



So you see, BRAKE FLUID DOES ESCAPE FROM THE SENSOR, AND LEAK OUT OF THE SYSTEM! Maybe all this mechanical stuff is above a computer geek's head.

BTW: I don't know Quixfire, and don't care to, considering his demeaner. Maybe he needs a girlfriend, so he will stop replying to forums as if he knows what he's talking about. I'm sure he does a brisk business browbeating everyone around here into believing he knows what he's talking about, but he failed here.
 

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
65,426
408
126
Originally posted by: my sons father
Retarded? College grad, I take it. How about this from a Ford forum...


http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11308

nhaverla (quote)

My 97 had this problem.
The cure was to replace the small sensor on the end of the brake piston assembly. This is a $30 dollar dealer item. Check your brake fluid level because when this sensor diaphram ruptures, brake fluid escapes each time you stop. On my unit the wires connected to the sensor were covered with fluid but very hard to see. Unscrew the sensor, replace it and plug on the wire and you will have cruise system working again. This sensor switch will not allow the cruise control to be turned on while you have pressure in the braking system fluid. Not all vehicles have this...it took me a while to find the problem!!

(unquote)



So you see, BRAKE FLUID DOES ESCAPE FROM THE SENSOR, AND LEAK OUT OF THE SYSTEM! Maybe all this mechanical stuff is above a computer geek's head.

BTW: I don't know Quixfire, and don't care to, considering his demeaner. Maybe he needs a girlfriend, so he will stop replying to forums as if he knows what he's talking about. I'm sure he does a brisk business browbeating everyone around here into believing he knows what he's talking about, but he failed here.

Quixfire Last Visited On: 09/08/2005 04:55 PM ;)

 

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
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I'm also curious why ford chose to use a pressure sensor for their cruise control - AFAIK all the cars and trucks I've owned have had a very simple electric switch on the brake pedal, right next to the one that turns the brake lights on.
 
Feb 9, 2005
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Now we're getting somewhere..I liked "Total Recall", too!
Thanks flot for the back-up.
Take care, guys, especially around Fords!
 

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
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0
Originally posted by: my sons father
QUIXFIRE:
What the hell do you know about this beside shooting YOUR mouth off? That you knew it was a repost. Well, good for you! I'm an industrial engineer with 27+ years in mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, and I can tell you if brake fluid under pressure can breach a seal and enter a switch, it will certianly find a way to get out the other side. Ever have an oil pressure switch fail on a car and spray your engine with oil? I've seen it happen. Same thing, different fluid. 6613+ posts? I hope you had something better to say than this. Quit being insulting, your showing you age.

Sorry to everyone else for the repost.
Wow I didn?t realize with my few words you where able to determine that despite my experience as a mechanic and technical advisor to Ford Motor Company I don?t know a thing about Ford speed control systems. I mean I guess since I don?t own an affected vehicle or have worked with the engineers on this particular issue I should just post a rant on these forums blasting Ford for something I don?t understand completely. I mean I must know as much as Ford engineers do about the issue since I heard about on CNN or some other news source even with my limited education.

The funny thing is when an engineer or designer makes a mistake and it very easy in hindsight to blame someone or a company for a faulty component in a system when you don?t understand the reasons behind the design or the failure. Fact is the failure rate on these switches on the 3.8 millions is less than 2% which is way below the limit set by the Federal government but since there is a potential risk of a fire Ford is issuing a voluntary recall to fix the affected vehicles.

But you sir felt you need to launch a personal attack on Ford Motor Company and their engineers based on a news report with no understanding of the causal component or the designed repair procedure. Then you attack me with out knowing my background or knowledge of the situation. I personal don?t care if you think you can design a better system because that won?t help the customers who own a vehicle involved in the program. Your ranting about Ford and their products won?t help anyone either. Ford is doing their best to accommodate the consumer and eliminate the potential fire hazard in the shortest time possible, which is more than I can say you are doing to help the situation.

Good Day Sir,
Quixfire

P.S. 3 ton Ford Trucks don?t have this type of speed control system.
 

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
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0
Originally posted by: flot
I'm also curious why ford chose to use a pressure sensor for their cruise control - AFAIK all the cars and trucks I've owned have had a very simple electric switch on the brake pedal, right next to the one that turns the brake lights on.
Flot, I've been asking the same questions myself but that answer doesn't help the affected vehicle owner so we are working forward to provide the customers with a fast solution to the problem in the shortes time possible. Now if we can only get all the customers to have their vehicles fixed in a timely matter. :(

 

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
65,426
408
126
Originally posted by: my sons father
Now we're getting somewhere..I liked "Total Recall", too!
Thanks flot for the back-up.
Take care, guys, especially around Fords!

:roll:

 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: Quixfire
Originally posted by: my sons father
QUIXFIRE:
What the hell do you know about this beside shooting YOUR mouth off? That you knew it was a repost. Well, good for you! I'm an industrial engineer with 27+ years in mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems, and I can tell you if brake fluid under pressure can breach a seal and enter a switch, it will certianly find a way to get out the other side. Ever have an oil pressure switch fail on a car and spray your engine with oil? I've seen it happen. Same thing, different fluid. 6613+ posts? I hope you had something better to say than this. Quit being insulting, your showing you age.

Sorry to everyone else for the repost.
Wow I didn?t realize with my few words you where able to determine that despite my experience as a mechanic and technical advisor to Ford Motor Company I don?t know a thing about Ford speed control systems. I mean I guess since I don?t own an affected vehicle or have worked with the engineers on this particular issue I should just post a rant on these forums blasting Ford for something I don?t understand completely. I mean I must know as much as Ford engineers do about the issue since I heard about on CNN or some other news source even with my limited education.

The funny thing is when an engineer or designer makes a mistake and it very easy in hindsight to blame someone or a company for a faulty component in a system when you don?t understand the reasons behind the design or the failure. Fact is the failure rate on these switches on the 3.8 millions is less than 2% which is way below the limit set by the Federal government but since there is a potential risk of a fire Ford is issuing a voluntary recall to fix the affected vehicles.

But you sir felt you need to launch a personal attack on Ford Motor Company and their engineers based on a news report with no understanding of the causal component or the designed repair procedure. Then you attack me with out knowing my background or knowledge of the situation. I personal don?t care if you think you can design a better system because that won?t help the customers who own a vehicle involved in the program. Your ranting about Ford and their products won?t help anyone either. Ford is doing their best to accommodate the consumer and eliminate the potential fire hazard in the shortest time possible, which is more than I can say you are doing to help the situation.

Good Day Sir,
Quixfire

P.S. 3 ton Ford Trucks don?t have this type of speed control system.

pwn3d