Honda Civic Cruise Control Not Working: How to Fix

Many Honda Civic owners have heard about the cruise control feature, yet, only a few have used it. If only they know what they are missing. This feature is very useful as it helps you to enjoy controlled speeds while driving.

Cruise control is sometimes referred to as “auto-cruise.” This feature helps you to maintain safe speed levels on the highway. It also ensures easier driving and gives the driver peace of mind. You can turn this feature on and off with the press of a button.

If you are conversant with this feature and use it often, you’d be frustrated when it stops working. You are probably in those shoes right now and wondering what the problem is. Not to worry, we will discuss the possible causes of this problem and show you how to solve it. Let’s get started.

Why is My Honda Civic Cruise Control Not Working?

There are times when this feature doesn’t work properly. The normal reaction is to find the nearest mechanic to help fix the issue. Do you know that you can solve most of your cruise control issues on your own? In this section, we will show you how to diagnose the problem with your cruise control feature.

Likely Reason 1 – Brake Pedal Switch is Faulty

Normally, your brake lights should come on when you step on the brakes. This occurs because of the presence of a “brake pedal switch.” If the lights don’t come on, it could be that the switch is faulty. The challenge with this is that it can also affect the cruise control feature of your Honda Civic.

You must be wondering why this occurs. Is there even a relationship between the brake pedal switch and the cruise control feature? Yes, there is. When you step on the brakes, it shuts down cruise control. As such, when the pedal switch is bad, the feature always thinks that it should operate manually.

Likely Reason 2 – Speed Sensor is Damaged

It is not difficult to know what the speed sensor is for. Of course, it senses the speed of your car. This means that it can tell how fast your car is traveling. If it is damaged, the speed sensor offers wrong readings or no readings at all. This could be a reason why the cruise control feature is not working.

Likely Reason 3 – Blown Fuse

This is one of the major reasons why your Civic’s cruise control feature is not working. if the feature is controlled electronically, it has an associated fuse attached. The fuse may fail when there is an electrical issue in the car. This happens so that the fuse breaks the circuit to protect the rest of the wiring.

Likely Reason 4 – Mechanical Damages

The cruise control feature in some Honda Civics is manual. This means that they have a number of mechanical parts or components. While this system is pretty simple, it can develop faults. For example, the vacuum actuator that connects to the throttle may start leaking. If this happens, the cruise control of your car will begin to malfunction.

Now that you know the possible reasons why the cruise control of your Civic isn’t working, let’s see some fixes.

Honda Civic Cruise Control Not Working: How to Fix

Like we mentioned earlier, some of the issues affecting your cruise control can be fixed at home. We will discuss some simple fixes in this section. However, we should warn that if you don’t have any experience, you may reach out to your mechanic for help.

Test the Cruise Control Feature

When you notice that your cruise control feature isn’t working well, it is better to double-check. You need to be sure that the cruise control feature is malfunctioning before you begin to diagnose the problem. How do you check the cruise control feature? Take the steps below:

Step 1 – Check the steering wheel for the cruise control button.

Step 2 – Step on the accelerator until you get to the desired speed.

Step 3 – Tap on the “cruise control” button located on your steering wheel. This will activate the feature and engage the system.

Step 4 – If the system is engaged, you should see a green light on your car’s dashboard.

When you see this light, then it means that your cruise control feature isn’t having issues. What if it doesn’t appear?

Check the Fuse Box Under the Dashboard

If the green light doesn’t appear, the cruise control didn’t engage. Now, we have to diagnose the issue. This will require checking the fuse box beneath the dashboard. Why are we checking the fuse box? As we mentioned earlier, one of the most common problems with the cruise control feature is bad fuses. It is always easier to begin with the most common issues. Here’s how to check for bad fuses:

Step 1 – Look at the fuse box that lies beneath the instrument panel and open it.

Step 2 – You must know what fuse is connected to the cruise control feature. To find out, simply check the “owner’s manual.” You should also note that the fuse numbers vary by year and model. So don’t make any assumptions.

Step 3 – If you don’t have the manual, you can check the fuse cover for the fuse map. This map shows the location of each fuse.

Step 4 – After locating the fuse, take it out using a fuse puller tool. If you don’t have one, make use of needle-nose pliers.

Step 5 – Check if the center strip is broken. If it is, replace the fuse. Also double-check that the amperage is right before you snap the fuse in place.

Check Your Clutch Switch

If the fuse isn’t having an issue, then it could be the clutch switch. It is the same as the “brake pedal switch” that we mentioned above. The most common issue with this switch is the wiring. Take the steps below to fix the problem:

Step 1 – Check to be sure that the wiring is in place. There should be a black wire and a pink wire extending from the connector.

Step 2 – If you notice that the wiring is out of place, talk to your mechanic to avoid further damage.

Conclusion

Now you know why your Honda Civic Cruise Control feature isn’t working. We have outlined some simple fixes. However, we suggest that you speak to your mechanic once the system is out of place and the problem seems complicated.