96 Accord Cruise control problem

My 96 Accord (Canada) developed an intermittent problem with the cruise
control.
When it is not going to work, as you engage cruise it works but only for a
second (and the light in the dash comes on well), then everything goes off.
If I keep insisting (it will take many tries) it will eventually work for a
while. The condition has been present for some years but it used to
extremely infrequently.
Anybody run into a similar problem? Any ideas as to what might be the
culprit. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Mike

 

The brake light switch at the brake pedal is used to turn off the cruise
control when you step on the brakes. If this switch were to become
flaky, you could get problems where the cruise disengages at will. The
switch has two sets of contacts, one normally open, the other normally
closed. Only one of the contact sets are used for the brake lights, but
the cruise control uses both sets. Thus it is possible for this switch
to be bad and still have working brake lights. On some Honda's there is
a small rubber / plastic pad on the part of the brake pedal arm that
touches the switch. People have reported problems with this cap falling
off or disintegrating over the years. Finally, it could be that the
switch is not properly aligned. To adjust, loosen the lock nut on the
switch, screw the switch in or out until the threaded neck of the switch
barely touches the pad, back off 1/4 turn and tighten the lock nut.

If the car has a manual transmission, there is a switch at the clutch
pedal as well. To align this switch, loosen the lock nut, screw the
switch in or out until the tip of the switch touches the pedal, screw
the switch in an additional 1/4 - 1/2 turn and tighten the lock nut.

 

Thanks for the tip.
Had it checked this morning and both switch and terminals seam fine. If
anything it had just a bit too much clearance. The little rubber pad on the
pedal itself is also like new.
For the first time dough on the way to the shop it failed to engage
altogether, not a thing. On the way home this afternoon it worked fine first
try.
Any other ideas?
Thanks Mike

 

Too much clearance is what will cause problems. Did you have the
clearance adjusted?

 

Yes indeed. The gap is now almost non existent. The tail lights work as they
should as well (they always did)
I'm told the switch tested OK.
Are there any sensors or relays the cruise rely on for operation that might
be
needing attention?