1973 Centurion Cruise control question

[gr_speedy]

Hi,
my 73 Centurion has Cruise and while i looked at the engine bay i could see that the rubber membrane is ripped (i am going to find one). My question is how was the cruise working at this time? On my turn signal lever i only see one push button that's it? Thanks in advance. Foti

[gr_speedy]

Hi, thanks a lot. Don't have a manual for it yet. I bought this car last week and i am buying stuff in advance to have them ready.

[Robroy]

Speaking of Cruise controls, mine isn’t working. It’s an after market type installed during the 80’s.
Anyone who knows what the typical fault causes on these units are? The fuse is checked...

[73 Centurion]

The speed sensor is a common failure point. It needs to be near but not touching the magnets strapped to the drive shaft. Sometimes the magnets come loose, or the sensor gets knocked out of alignment.

[Robroy]

The speed sensor is a common failure point. It needs to be near but not touching the magnets strapped to the drive shaft. Sometimes the magnets come loose, or the sensor gets knocked out of alignment.

Thanks John!:)
Now I have something to go on, approx. where is the sensor located?

[73 Centurion]

Most aftermarket systems have a sensor on a universal "bend to fit" strap. It's usually a black cylinder with some wires coming out of it. It should be positioned near the driveshaft. The driveshaft should have some magnets wired or strapped to it right near the sensor. The cruise control knows how fast the car is traveling by the speed the magnets swing by the sensor.

John

[Robroy]

Once I get under the car I will for sure find it with the help of your good description.
Car part denominations are always tricky for me not having English as my mother tongue, but I’m learning.

I will check this out when doing the winter maintenance.

Thanks!

[Robroy]

The speed sensor is a common failure point. It needs to be near but not touching the magnets strapped to the drive shaft. Sometimes the magnets come loose, or the sensor gets knocked out of alignment.
I was working under my car yesterday and took the opportunity to try and locate that speed sensor for the cruise control. I was unable to find such along the driveshaft though, so I had a look at the device up in the engine bay instead and followed the wires/hoses.
Seems like mine is operating via the speedo cable, the brand name is ARA by the way.

No 1 is a wire to the carb, 2 is a vacuum connection, 3 go through the firewall (to the speedo I guess) and 4 to the speedo cable connection on the transmission.

The principle of how these works should be the same, its leaning on taken the device apart…..
Anyone that has any experience of this type of cruise?

[Robroy]

I got my cruise control to engage for the first time today!
By pushing the Resume Speed Slide a few times the car suddenly kept its speed. The push button (SET) at the end of the turn signal lever doesn’t work though, but it seems like the Resume Speed Slide does and it can be used to set the speed too.
Will come handy for longer trips :beers: