Cruise Control dropout Outback

[grove]

Automatic 2004 Outback 2.5i Safety.
Cruise control was set to 110kph and we were pulling up a long incline.
The speed had dropped back to around 100kph. Without warning the cruise
control dropped out. Disturbing.

Pulled to the side and was engine idling normally - then drove off
normally. Used CC all the way home for the next 150km no problem.

About 10 minutes after the event I glanced at the display (which was
set to outside temperature at the time). It was flashing and showing
something like [20 0] for just a few seconds - like an error message.

At service a few days later the local dealer could find no problems or
stored errors - but apparently these are cleared if not repeated with
80 km or a certain amount of driving time occurs without a repeat
error.

Any thoughts.

 

[Michael Pardee]

Automatic 2004 Outback 2.5i Safety.
Cruise control was set to 110kph and we were pulling up a long incline.
The speed had dropped back to around 100kph. Without warning the cruise
control dropped out. Disturbing.

Pulled to the side and was engine idling normally - then drove off
normally. Used CC all the way home for the next 150km no problem.

About 10 minutes after the event I glanced at the display (which was
set to outside temperature at the time). It was flashing and showing
something like [20 0] for just a few seconds - like an error message.

At service a few days later the local dealer could find no problems or
stored errors - but apparently these are cleared if not repeated with
80 km or a certain amount of driving time occurs without a repeat
error.

Any thoughts.

Most or all of the cars and trucks I've driven lately drop out the cruise
control when the speed drops more than a certain amount on hard uphill
climbs. 10 kph sounds about right. Haven't had any set warnings afterward,
though.

Mike

 

[grove]

thanks Mike,
You are certainly right for manual vehicles. For my auto Outback, it
would normally drop back to 3rd at about 100kph rather than drop out of
cruise.
I guess that's what's got me interested.
The Subaru mechanic who took me on a test drive said he had the same
problem with his Holden Commodore (GM) and that they had no solution.
I guess you just have to be aware.

John