Vanagon Cruise Control Repair

[@williac43]

Thanks a bunch. Great video. One thing to add. The tip of the switch...the little yellow button, seems to be made from some kind of hard waxy material??? Whatever. The buttons broke off when a removed them from the column. Anyway, the buggers (switches) cost about $50.00 each for the whole switch. I drilled out most of the remaining wax material and made replacements using the plastic plugs that are used for garden irrigation hose. It worked great along with the method for cleaning the contacts. Just cut off the large tip (just the tang) that goes in the hose. Insert that end into a drill and sand off the tang on the other end until it is a snug fit in your switch. Remove from drill and cut off the remain and press softly into the switch.

[@michaelluciano1980]

Thank you for shedding light on how this system works. I'm understanding my Vanagon more and more one day at a time haha

[@montanaharkin]

Great video! I followed the guide, and I ended up needing to remove the o-rings and add petroleum jelly to those too in order to get a good seal.

[@robdalton8990]

Maybe should use silicone grease, in case vaseline ruins the O ring?

[@tommiller8416]

Great video Ken, thank you!

[@chadhiob5243]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@fixthevan]

After this, If you do go trying to diagnose the Control Unit as per Bentley and are looking for it, it’s behind the glovebox on my ‘89. Took me awhile to figure that out. I couldn’t figure out step #1 though, connect pin #8 to “positive connection.” Don’t know where that positive connection is. Jumper cable to the battery? Hmm...

[@michaeldonald-we4tc]

The bottom center of your cigarette lighter is positive.

[@tombauereiss4931]

Van-Again never went back and verified that the electrical resistance between the two contacts was near 0. Just for other people watching this, like the vacuum switch, the electrical contacts will read infinite resistance when the switch (plunger) is not pressed and then will go to very little once pressed. So in this troubleshooting video, Van-Again should have been testing the resistance with the switch (plunger) pressed down. If the resistance is high there, you need to clean the contacts. HTH.

[@connormouse]

Ken, I know you have installed the lowest cruise control unit... at least, I think that was your name I saw on the Samba list... I have the same kit. Any suggestions or things I should watch for ?? Barry

[@Surf_Vidz]

The rubber piece on my vacuum unit is dry-rotted and ripped. Do you know of anywhere that sells these? Been looking everywhere. Thanks in advance.

[@VanAgain]

I can get a unit that is similar but not exactly the same. The rubber part is not available new except in this other version.

[@Surf_Vidz]

@@VanAgain Well that explains why I can't find them. Anyway to direct me as to where I can get one? Thank you for the reply.

[@VanAgain]

www.vanagain.com/product/cruise-control-actuator-for-86-92-vanagon-with-factory-cruise

[@DMX-PAT]

what year is your Vanagon, does the 83 have cruise control?

[@VanAgain]

It was a 91. I have a cruise control kit that you can use to add cruise control to your van. Unless it is a diesel. They didn't do factory cruise control until after 1987.

[@DMX-PAT]

thanks man, appreciate it!!

[@Camp_Runamuck]

What I'd give to have Cruze on mine