If your vehicle has this feature, you can maintain a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, or the clutch pedal if you have a manual transaxle, the cruise control shuts off.
Caution: Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use the cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and you could lose control. Do not use cruise control on slippery roads.If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional enhanced traction system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. See Enhanced Traction System (ETS) . When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
- Move the cruise control switch to ON.
- Get up to the speed you want.
- Push the SET button at the end of the lever and release it.
- Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Caution: If you leave your cruise control on when you are not using cruise, you might hit a button and go into cruise when you do not want to. You could be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise control switch off until you want to use cruise control.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed and then you apply the brake or clutch pedal. This, of course, shuts off the cruise control. But you do not need to reset it. Once you are going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can briefly move the cruise control switch from ON to R/A.
You will go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there.
If you hold the switch at R/A longer, the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the switch or apply the brake or clutch pedal. So unless you want to go faster, do not hold the switch at R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
| • | Use the accelerator pedal to get to a higher speed. Push the SET button at the end of the lever, then release the button and the accelerator pedal. You will now cruise at the higher speed. |
| • | Move the cruise control switch from ON to R/A. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch. To increase your speed in very small amounts, briefly move the switch to R/A then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. |
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using cruise control:
| • | Push in the button at the end of the lever until you reach the lower speed you want, then release it. |
| • | To slow down in very small amounts, briefly press the button. Each time you do this, you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower. |
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills. When going up a steep hill, you may have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake or clutch pedal takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
| • | Step lightly on the brake pedal, or push the clutch pedal, if you have a manual transaxle. |
| • | Move the cruise switch to OFF. |
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
