Hey Guys,
To make a long story short, Big Red is my Dd right now as I was in my Dakota one evening and a lady ran a redlight and hit me as I was making a u turn. Anyways, my cruise control has stopped working. About once a month, I make a 4 hour drive back home to visit the folks and family, and I would like to have cruise next time. Any ideas on where to start? Could it be a vacuum issue? Also, I'm only averaging about 17.5-18 mpgs on the highway, any ideas for a little more mpgs? I'm still getting more than my Dakota, but I'd like a little more. Thanks!

 

hey my cruise control went out right before i drove home from cali to massachusetts haha. but i was told to start checking for vacuum. theres a servo on the drive side fender wall under the hood. look like a little circle and has a tube going to the middle of it im sorry i dont have a pic, if you send me your number i can text you a pic. but be carefull cause it has a nipple that the hose connects to and i broke that off so i have to fix that now before i can move forward. i also took my steering wheel apart and checked the switches and wires going to them with a test light. but im not expert but thats what i was told to do but now im at a road block. i also am getting crappy mpg like 16 now i was getting 21avg max 24 and bad day was 18 before i turned my pump up but people tell they are getting 24+ with the pump turned so im in the same boat. first thing im doing is advancing the timing 1/8" and im also lucky and putting in a getrag 5spd which helps alot.

from what i understand you want the best fuel to air mixture so youre not dumping fuel into the engine (black smoke everyone loves) and having your stock ( slow spooling) turbo trying to catch up to burn the fuel ( when the black smoke stops). so ideally you want a little black smoke but you want it to go away quickly. that is if youre into performance. i was thinking of going to a diesel performance shop and having my truck tuned but i like doing things myself and not spending lots of money if i dont have to. also taller narrower tires will help a little gears you have and if you have an auto with a overdrive gear or not or a manual makes a huge difference. hope this helps ill let you know if i get more info.

 

I drive by my fuel pressure gauge. If that needle moves I'm spending extra $$. So unless I'm in a hurry or pulling i try to keep that needle as still as possible.

 

Turn your fuel pin back that should help mpg.

 

Ill start checking for vacuum leaks. Thanks! Yeah I think I'll try that, or ill leave it turned and maybe back off the star wheel a turn. The truck tends to haze a bit at wot, does that mean I am dumping too much fuel?