GL 1800 Cruise control

[Revran]

I was driving in almost freezing weather when my cruise control cut out when I pressed the ACCEL button on my handle bar. I couldn't get it to come back on by pressing the cruise button, but then it all of a sudden came back on it's own. Any ideas???

[Andy Cote]

Did the CRUISE ON light go out and then back on or did the CRUISE SET light go out and cruise would not set at any speed, then it started working okay again?

Could be a one time thing. Likely that you had heavy gloves on and you bumped a lever or the throttle. But if it repeats, a common cruise issue it the small switches that are activated by the clutch and brake levers. As the lever, the lever bushings and switches wear, they begin to lose proper contact and the cruise control thinks you are braking or shifting so it disengages. Often this occurs by itself and is inconsistent so hard to narrow down. One technique is to push forward lightly on the levers and see if it starts working again. You can also listen carefully with the engine off and move the levers. Each should have two clicks, the cruise disengage switch and either the start switch for clutch or light switch for brake.

It's also possible that the handlebar switches are sticky. This can easily start to happen in colder weather. You can spray some contact cleaner in and around the buttons or take everything apart. Be careful of small parts and springs.

[Revran]

My cruise on light is stuck on permanently which is fine with me, but all of a sudden it went off and would not let me set the cruise, after a few minutes the "ON" light came back on and everything worked again.

[Andy Cote]

So that's different. Forget about the lever switches.

It's possible there is a loose or corroded connection somewhere or maybe a shaky fuse that doesn't like the cold. But, IMHO, the handlebar switch that was stuck on by friction, popped off and when you started troubleshooting, bumped it back to on but that's a guess. I would focus on getting the handlebar switches cleaned up so that you can control On and Off.

[Revran]

i am going to clean the handlebar switches, I tightened all connections earlier this summer when the cruise and tach both stopped working. I went right to the ECM checking all the connections which then started everything back up again.

[Motogordo]

Dec. 9,2021
When I purchased my 2004 Honda GL1800 with the ProwlerRT reverse kit, the cruise on/off button had to be held in for the cruise to work. It wouldn't spring back off.
I super glued the button in the on position and now it stays on with no problem. I purchased this bike last month from CycleSmartNJ.....I didn't want to pull the whole cluster off.

Motogordo

[GoldWingrGreg]

I was driving in almost freezing weather when my cruise control cut out when I pressed the ACCEL button on my handle bar. I couldn't get it to come back on by pressing the cruise button, but then it all of a sudden came back on it's own. Any ideas???

From my arm chair, I'll share a couple of things. First, your handle-bar c/c switches are probbaly getting kicked off by your handle-bar levers. In their at-rest-position, if you lightly grab onto the ends of the levers, and move them up/down, there is probably way to much up/down movement. If so, that means your front levers need removed, piviot pins, boots, and brass-bushing, needs cleaned, and inspected. All worn parts will need replaced. Sometimes aftermarket levers can be the cause also. Aftermarket levers are usually much heavier and cause the above wear much quicker.

Secondly, if that's the case, the above is strong envidance that your Wing is not getting the maintaince it needs, and that wear often represents a Wing that is poorly maintained, or the maintenace it is receiving is spotty. Be sure to follow the maintence schedule in the Owner's Manual by the book. Basically the brake and clutch system is suppose to be inspected every 4,000 miles. But here is the catch to that. The brake and clutch system starts at the levers. My 2007 has over 175k on the ODM, and although my levers get cleaned, and inpected at least every 8k, I'm probably on my 5th clutch lever.

[Asphaltmaniac]

My cruise switch stopped working one very very cold morning. It never worked again.
I eventually replaced the entire switch assembly. A little pricey but thats ok. I demand
that every thing work the way its supposed to.
And lets not forget....nothing lasts forever.