How to use Cruide Control on Civic EX (US version of Si)

Good day,

I have just recently purchased an 1999 Honda Civic EX (automatic
transmission), which is the US version of the Si. My question is, how
do I use the Cruise Control? When I was test driving the car the
other day, I tried playing with it, but for the life of me I couldn't
figure it out. Here is what I did:

1) Get up to speed I desire (around 100 km)
2) Click the 'Cruise button" on the dash. The button is located on
the left side of the dashboard (left of the steering wheel). It turns
green when activated.
3) Click the 'Set' butto on the right hand of the steering wheel to
lock inthe cruising speed. HIt 'Accel' to increase the cruising
speed.
4) Seems pretty easy, but when I take my foot off the gas, the car
deaccelerates.

Is there a problem with the cruise, or am I doing something wrong?

HELP
Please email me at dmregyesi @ truecontext dot com

 

I can think of two issues:

1. Not going fast enough. On my '94 the cruise control will not engage
below 25 mph.

2. Not pressing the "set" button long enough. If I am too quick on the
button, the cruise control sometimes will not engage. If I press a good
half second it always engages.

 

hold down the accelerate button for 5 or 6 seconds, the cruise may be set
very low. And leave the master cruise switch on.

 

In addition to what everyone else stated, if the cruise cable it a little
loose it can take a few seconds for the servo to take up the slack and start
controlling the speed.

 

a bad vss will also do this, the speedo may still work but not the
cruise. i've done 2 this week that were like that. does the dash
light that says cruise in the lower left of the guage cluster ever
light up?
Chip

 

Chip,

I know some cars (including some Preludes?) have had an old-style
mechanical speedo cable from the transmission to the instrument cluster
and a mechanical speedometer with a VSS mounted to it. On cars with this
setup I can see how the speedometer could work and the cruise control
not work when the VSS is bad.

The Civic has had a single VSS at the tranny since '92 (or perhaps
earlier) and I don't see how this could give rise to a situation with
the speedo working and the cruise not working doe to a bad VSS. Am I
missing something?

 

Does it _never_ catch up? I ask because my 95 Sol is very slow to
respond when it's set. I get going the speed I want and press the set
button. If I take my foot right off the accel, the speed drops 3-5 MPH
and then slowly comes up to the original set speed.

I guessed that was just a Honda 'thing' like the speedos being wrong (at
least that was the case on the two I've owned).