Cruise won't turn on and traction control won't turn off

[Bubba_mcnabb]

Got a new to me 2001 lincoln ls with 75k on it. I can't get the cruise control to turn on or the traction control to turn off? Are they related or 2 different problems? Glanced at the fuses they look good but they are hard to see. I've read a little about the clockspring but my volume controls and horn still work? Wasn't sure if they still would work if it was broken. Thanks in advance

 

[joegr]

Cruise and traction aren't strictly related. Which do you have, traction control (spinning wheel), or AdvanceTrac (wavy lines)?

What do you mean by you can't turn traction control off? You do understand that when the light is on, the system is off? Are you sure that it's not that you can't turn it on (light goes off when it is on)? If it really is that you can't turn it on, then you need a Ford specific scan tool that can read the ABS codes to know where to look for the problem.
Is your ABS light also on?

It is possible for just one circuit of the clockspring to fail (first, anyway), but there are several other possibilities too. I had one of the cruise buttons itself to fail on my 04, so I had to replace the button pod. Since you have a gen I, you have the old electro-mechanical cruise module. It could have a fault, or the cable to the throttle could have failed, or the brake safety switch might be the issue. Again, a really good all-module code scanner could help to diagnose this.

 

[Bubba_mcnabb]

Think it's the advance track, and I hit the button the lights won't come on...

 

[joegr]

Think it's the advance track, and I hit the button the lights won't come on...

Does the light come on briefly when you start the car? Have you tried to start a slide to see if it activates? I suppose it could be the switch itself.

Is this the V6 or the V8? The V8 has a message center that would give a redundant indication even if the light it burned out.

 

[Bubba_mcnabb]

Does the light come on briefly when you start the car? Have you tried to start a slide to see if it activates? I suppose it could be the switch itself.

It activates when I hit ice just can't get it to deactivate. The light doesn't come on at all

 

[joegr]

I'd start by replacing the burned out bulb then.

 

[1LoudLS]

Think it's the advance track

no need to guess...

go out and look at the button and know for sure.

 

[grizzlyls]

In your gen 1 you should also get a message on your message center with the on/off function of the button saying same. For the traction lok anyhow.