Having a "surging" problem with my '01 Excursion's cruise control.

It's equipped with the 5.4L gasoline engine and I'm only having problems at about 70 MPH.

Doesn't seem to matter if I'm driving on level grades or up and down hills. However, the surging is greater when going up and down hills.

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks in advance.

 

Is the speed surging or the RPM surging? Could it be the overdrive is kicking out/in and you hear the engine change RPM?

My wife's Escort does that, constantly changing RPM. We took a long trip this weekend and I noticed it more than usual. Kicked the cruise control "Off" and drove it with my foot. RPM did not change near as much going up/down hills or slight changes in terrain.

Try driving with the overdrive off, if it's the rpm surge, and see if that doesn't help troubleshoot the problem.

 

With these heavier trucks, running cruise close to the 55mph area +/- has the engine rpm to low to make enough torque to pull the truck when loaded by a small hill, and will shift down to try and satify the speed set on the steering wheel control, so will hunt more than seems prudent.
It's normal. Try it at 65 and see if it does it much less with the engine making more power.
My 4.6 will keep the speed come hell or high water unless I haul it down.
Find it actually uses more fuel in hilly country on cruise.

 

I have the same problem with my 5.4L 01 Excursion. Ford has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) concerning the problem. I have not had an opportunity to read the TSB. If anyone has read the TSB, pease advise concerning the cause and fix for the problem. THANKS!