Hi all
I am new to this site in fact I just found it a week or so ago.
Aug. of 2003 I purchased my first diesel. A 1993 dodge ram with 53K miles on it. I boutght it for $7K. It is a 4WD with 5speed manual trans.

I have a boat that weighs close to 6000# and my 1/2 ton ford gas rig did not like pulling it around the mountains here is southern Or.

I have two questions that I would like information on. The first is when I use the cruise controll the truck surges. Speeds up/ slows down. Is there a simple fix for this one that I could do myself?

The other question is, is there a resonable micro brake on the market. When I back the boat down the boat ramp I put the transfer case in low, the trans in 1st gear and shut off the engine, I set the foot brake. I would also like to lock the brakes. I don't realy trust the foot brake and am depending on compression to hold the truck.

Any thoughts from you people would be appreciated.
Thanks
Charlie.

 

Welcome, this is a great group of guys with a lot of of good information. I do not have a factory cruise controll on my 93 so I cant give you much info. I did however put an after market one on and it allways would surge. I would turn it on and there goes the black smoke and then it would let off. Black smoke again and so forth. Never did get it to work right. I am sure some one else can come up with an answer or some place to look.

Great price for the pickup. OH YEAH watch out for that bug that goes around some times when it bites it wont let go.

Stomp

 

Thanks Stomp;
Since I don't know beans about diesels trucks I have a lot to learn.
Charlie

 

Glad to see you here. I can't help you directly but do some searchs and keep reading, you'll learn a lot here.

 

I don't know about the surge but my 93 just keeps speeding up when I put the cruise on. it use to work fine but not anymore. I set it at 60 and before too long its at 70MPH.
DM01

 

kcprecision;
Welcome to DTR
The cruise works off a speed sensor mounted on the rear of an auto trans (also inconjunction with the PCM & crank shaft speed sensor) I'm not sure where it's mounted on a 5sp, most likely on the rear of tran also. Any way I would check your conection (plug in) If its oil soaked then disconect it and use some contact cleaner on it and, try it. If dosen't fix it replace the sensor. If the sensor has oil leaking from the end of it where the pins come out of it replace it (the speed sensor will come with a new plugin that has a improved lock). If your seeing any fluctation of your speedometer I would also suspect the speed sensor. Hope this helps.
ramguy

 

Thanks people for the replays. Ramguy I will check out your suggestions. Hopfully I can get it done latter this week, Thurs/ Friday.
Thanks again.
Charlie

 

Your cruise control has "learned" to do this from "driving with the buttons". Find a nice comfortable stretch of road and drive up to 60 and hold it steady for a moment then turn the cruise on and hit set then a few moments later, turn cruise off, then turn back on and hold 60 steady again and hit the set button. This must be repeated 10 or more times truning the cruise on and off. Your computer has to relearn how you drive with your cruise on. If you just constantly resume from way below the set speed and the cruise must make up a hugh margin, say 30 back up to 60, then it starts to do that all the time.

 

Ok blowndodge, this is something else that I will check.
I believe that I can get my friend to put the truck on the rack and we will give Ramguy idea a try as it will be easy to check. If that looks good I have a nice streach of road to try the other idea out on.
Thanks
Charlie

 

As for holding your truck steady on the boat ramp, try getting a "pedal holder" from a local tool truck/shop. They use these when doing alignments to lock the front service brakes. It simply locks against your seat to keep the service brakes engaged. I belive you can get them for about 30 bucks too.

 

maybe im on crack or something , but when I adjusted my TPS right it seemed to eliminate the cruise wander you describe. mine would also speed up 10 to 15 mph more then slow down after on flat ground. just a thought for you.

 

I had the same experience but I had too small of tires on the truck, when I put the bigger tires on, the factory size the surging went away, wiered.

 

DM01 when you set the cruise control you than have to take your foot off the acculator.

A pedal holder now that is an idea that I will work on. I probably can build one in the shop. Thanks for the idea.

I have 16 inch rims on the truck now, but why would the size of the wheel have any thing to do with the surging?

I know there is a page with the common short hand words but what is TPS?

Thanks guys I have something to work with now.
Charlie