Cruise control recall. Is this dealership clueless?

Old Jun 14, 2008 | 12:00 PM
  #16  
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I took my '01 in for the recall in late '06. The switch was not leaking, so they just replaced the harness with a fused one (2 amp fuse BTW). A few weeks ago, my cruise quit working and I found that my brake switch was leaking, but the fuse was not blown yet. I took it back to the dealer and was told "too bad, the recall work was already performed on your truck". So after going around with the service manager, they did replace the switch. From what I understand, Ford expects the switch to eventually leak, they just go the cheaper route of the fused harness if it is not already leaking when the recall work is performed.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2008 | 12:07 PM
  #17  
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The recall was done to keep your truck from burning up, not to prevent failure of the switch.

Just because the switch was leaking doesn't mean the fuse will blow. It takes a certain sequence of failure for that to happen.

Steve
 
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Old Jun 14, 2008 | 06:04 PM
  #18  
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I realize that, but the cause of the fire would be due to the switch leaking brake fluid. The brake fluid leaking from the non-fused switch is what catches fire and burns the truck up. The switch is the problem, and in my opinion, Ford should fix a known problem instead of putting a band-aid on it. A fused harness is a cheap patch for a faulty part that they know is going to fail.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2008 | 01:54 PM
  #19  
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I emailed TascaFordParts to get a price and shipping costs. If it is reasonable I will order it if not I will be adding a fuseable link myself with a 2 amp fuse. Thanks to everyone that replied.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2008 | 02:08 PM
  #20  
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It's less than $15, and that INCLUDES shipping, at the link I gave. Part is IN STOCK.

5 minute install.

What's the holdup?
 
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Old Jun 16, 2008 | 04:42 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by jward
It's less than $15, and that INCLUDES shipping, at the link I gave. Part is IN STOCK.

5 minute install.

What's the holdup?
I ordered yesterday from the link you provided, but according to the website they will charge me like $12.95 shipping for the $11 part.

Oh well. I saw an obvious cruise control fire on a SCrew about 1 block from my house last Friday, so I ordered anyways. Just never have time to take the truck to the dealer.

Photo below taken 06/13/08.

 

Last edited by dirt bike dave; Jun 16, 2008 at 04:45 PM.
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Old Jun 16, 2008 | 04:54 PM
  #22  
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Really?

I only paid like $3 for shipping. Though that was a couple of years ago.

I appologize if I mislead.


Still, cheaper than what a fire would cause.

If you need installation instructions, just ask.

 
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Old Jun 16, 2008 | 05:18 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by jward
It's less than $15, and that INCLUDES shipping, at the link I gave. Part is IN STOCK.

5 minute install.

What's the holdup?
I looked at it and it looks to me like it is just the switch. My switch is not leaking. I have not had time to call them yet to confirm if the harness comes with that. No one in the USA ships to Canada for 3 bucks unfortunately it will be more like 25 bucks and if they use UPS they tack a hidden brokerage fee of around 40 bucks on top of that. What can brown do for you? If your in Canada they can charge you 65 bucks to ship a 12 dollar part. I have ordered from Tasca before and he ships USPS, no hidden brokerage fees so I will see what he has to say first.
 

Last edited by grizzstang; Jun 16, 2008 at 05:29 PM.
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Old Jun 16, 2008 | 05:28 PM
  #24  
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Man, that sucks.

But yeah, it's the switch AND the wiring harness. The new switch will not plug into your existing harness. The harness that is sent with the new switch is the between part connecting your existing harness with the new switch. That is for the particular part number.

Can't say for other part numbers.

Hope that's not confusing.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2008 | 07:40 PM
  #25  
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Just got my confirmation that mine has shipped.

Subtotal: $11.05
Shipping: $12.95
Tax: $0.00
------------------------
Total: $24.00


The $12.95 is their minium shipping charge. Would have been much more for 1 or 2 day delivery.

It was the only place I could easily find to get one ordered, and seeing a burned out truck got me motivated. FWIW, I almost never use cruise control and I've got no signs of a brake fluid leak. But I just finally got tired of putting it off, and a trip to the dealer would cost me more than $24 of my time.


Any recommendations (or links) for a clean and simple install would be appreciated.
 
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Old Jun 17, 2008 | 10:04 AM
  #26  
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It's pretty easy. Just disconnect the wire to the old switch, use a wrench(can't remember what size) to unscrew the old switch, put few drops of brake fluid in the new switch, screw the new switch in place, connect the new wire harnes to the old wire(a small dab od dielectric grease between connections is not a bad idea), then the other end of the new wire to the new switch. I think they'll send a ziptie with the package. You can ziptie the excess wire to something close. I saw no need, but others want a "cleaner" look.

No need to drain any fluid from the MC.

Good luck
 
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 12:13 AM
  #27  
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The First recall involved my truck. It included a new switch with a harness adapter to connect the old connector to the new switch with no fuse. The second recall involving all the others, millions of trucks, uses a fuse to blow if the circuit sees a short. No new switch Ford saved a bundle by not replacing the switch. The switch is a redundant switch anyways. If for what ever reason your cruise doesn't disengage you automatically press harder on the brakes. This switch sees the increased pressure and cuts power to the circuit turning off the cruise.
Ever see those chase scenes on TV news where the police are escorting some fool who cannot get the vehicle to stop? This switch is for them.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier
 
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Old Jun 18, 2008 | 03:40 PM
  #28  
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I just got off the phone with Dominic at Tasca. There are two options you can get:

The harness and the switch ($10.27) if your switch is leaking (I think he also said the switch was 4 part numbers newer than the standard switch. Is it improved? Maybe).

Or you could just get the harness ($8.18).

For the extra $2.09 I will get the harness and switch and compare the switch to what I have. Shipping USPS to Canada is $18.00. So for $28.27 I can have peace of mind that my truck is not going to burn down my garage. Thanks for everyones input.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2008 | 08:58 PM
  #29  
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I got the harness and switch using the part # and link jward provided. Ford included a zip tie in the bag, too.

As mentioned before, the harness alone does not work with the old switch.

Wiped the area down, put a rag under the master cylinder to catch any leaks. The old switch was a 15mm wrench. The new one took a 7/8" (I think that is about 22 mm).

The entire installation took maybe 2 minutes. Less than 5 if you count finding and putting away the tools. Super easy. I think anybody could do it.

For me, ordering online, paying $24 and taking 5 minutes to put a part on is way better than driving to the dealer, sitting around while they do my paperwork, waiting for a tech to be available, etc... Plus they would try to convince me I needed a brake job, coolant flush, tire rotation, etc...
 
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Old Jun 23, 2008 | 11:05 AM
  #30  
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I agree with ya, DBD.

Glad to hear you "got 'er done!"

Good job.

 
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