Cruise Control Sloppiness??

[david11697]

When I would set the Cruise Control on my previous cars - a Ford
Explorer
and a Ford Ranger - the car would maintain the exact mileage set. If I

set the Cruise Control for 62 mph, the Explorer would maintain 62 mph
-not
slow to 61 mph, and not speed up to 63 mph .

In contrast when I set the Cruise Control on my 2006 Forester to 62 mph,

the car will vary in speed between 60 mph and 64 mph, depending on
whether it is going uphill or downhill.

Is this condition the result of a design deficiency in the Subaru

Cruise Control, or is my Forester's Cruise Control malfunctioning?
The Service Manager at the Subaru Dealership seems to think this is
normal behavior for a Subaru.

 

[Blair Baucom]

This is normal on my manual 5 speed 2005 Forester.

My 1996 Ford Ranger with automatic would hold the speed more closely but it
would use full throttle and downshift to do it which does not help with fuel
economy much.

When going downhill the only slowing affect is engine braking, which in
overdrive is minimal, so I have heard of cars with automatics that downshift
to maintain speed when using cruise control.

The Forester has less wind drag than the Ranger & Explorer so it will coast
downhill faster.

Blair

 

[JohnO]

When I would set the Cruise Control on my previous cars - a Ford
Explorer
and a Ford Ranger - the car would maintain the exact mileage set. If I

set the Cruise Control for 62 mph, the Explorer would maintain 62 mph
-not
slow to 61 mph, and not speed up to 63 mph .
the car will vary in speed between 60 mph and 64 mph, depending on
whether it is going uphill or downhill.
Cruise Control, or is my Forester's Cruise Control malfunctioning?
The Service Manager at the Subaru Dealership seems to think this is
normal behavior for a Subaru.

I've had some success with this on two vehicles, my OB and a Mercury
Villager. On top of the carb/fuel injector thing whatever it's called
now there are two throttle cables, one goes to the accelerator pedal
and the other goes to the CC controller. Remove the play from both
these cables, just like adjusting the brakes on a bicycle. The cruise
should set right where you hit the button. It might or might not help
the overshoot, but it can't hurt.

-John O

 

[Victor Roberts]

When I would set the Cruise Control on my previous cars - a Ford
Explorer
and a Ford Ranger - the car would maintain the exact mileage set. If I

set the Cruise Control for 62 mph, the Explorer would maintain 62 mph
-not
slow to 61 mph, and not speed up to 63 mph .
the car will vary in speed between 60 mph and 64 mph, depending on
whether it is going uphill or downhill.
Cruise Control, or is my Forester's Cruise Control malfunctioning?
The Service Manager at the Subaru Dealership seems to think this is
normal behavior for a Subaru.

My 2006 Forester manual does the same thing. My old 97 OBW
and current 02 Passat hold the set speed batter than the
Forester.

 

[Phil]

My Japanese made 05 Outback does the same thing. Varies 2-3 kph.