Cruise Control at lower speeds

[Mlarv]

Howdy. I was driving along a back road today and put cruise control on. I set it at 39 because the cops will stop you doing 40. I noticed while going down a grade the speed would go up to 44. Going on the flat and level or even up hill it held fine.

Anybody else notice this. I normally don’t use cruise control.

I had a Jeep JK wrangler rented a few other makes and they would drop speed by 5mph going up hill, but never had one speed up going down hill.

Thanks

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[DMEARC]

Howdy. I was driving along a back road today and put cruise control on. I set it at 39 because the cops will stop you doing 40. I noticed while going down a grade the speed would go up to 44. Going on the flat and level or even up hill it held fine.

Anybody else notice this. I normally don’t use cruise control.

I had a Jeep JK wrangler rented a few other makes and they would drop speed by 5mph going up hill, but never had one speed up going down hill.

Thanks

It‘s not that it purposely speeds up, it’s that gravity causes an increase in speed. Does your car have adaptive cruise? IIRC only models with adaptive cruise will brake when going downhill.

 

[Mark S.]

I noticed while going down a grade the speed would go up to 44. Going on the flat and level or even up hill it held fine.

As Mr DME notes, it’s likely just accelerating due to gravity. Try pushing the M button on the gear shift knob if your car has one and selecting a lower gear. If your gear shift knob has an L instead of an M pressing it will automatically set the transmission to a lower gear. Selecting a lower gear will keep the car from accelerating downhill.

 

[Major Kong]

Just a caution. I think you are fine on a back road.

In town at lower speed (say 35 mph) you should not use cruise control. I know this for a fact since a family member had an accident (not their fault) at an intersection resulting in a fatality.

For a fatality, there will likely be a heightened investigation including looking at the “flight recorder” (EDR) by a contracted engineering firm. Using cruise control at low speed is an item on the list they can use against you. Even if you hit the brakes. (Of course this varies by state. )

We were lucky since there were witnesses and cameras plus we took many photos at the scene. Other driver (70+) passed away later at the hospital. The seatbelt on his 1995 Avalon was latched behind his back (to keep the alarm off). The 2017 Ford blew 4-5 airbags, then called 911 on the drivers mobile phone (configuration required - do this now!) and left the driver uninjured. An Apple Watch alerted close contacts by text message with a location map.

helpful tip and will file to memory

 

[Major Kong]

As Mr DME notes, it’s likely just accelerating due to gravity. Try pushing the M button on the gear shift knob if your car has one and selecting a lower gear. If your gear shift knob has an L instead of an M pressing it will automatically set the transmission to a lower gear. Selecting a lower gear will keep the car from accelerating downhill.

I've been waiting for a post on the "L" selector
very little said on the functionality
sounds almost but not quite like the paddle downshift feature
my guess is it would be a very limited role in downshift control
that is to say I think it's a "one and done" option
you've had a downshift and that's all you're gonna get
you got your "L" on
you got your "L" off

 

[Mark S.]

you've had a downshift and that's all you're gonna get
you got your "L" on
you got your "L" off

By Jove, I think you've got it!

 

[Major Kong]

By Jove, I think you've got it!

Hello Spark Plug, do you read me

Spark Plug

Do you read me

Affirmative Kong, I read you

Spark Plug, I'd like to know what gear I'm in

I'm afraid I can't do that Kong

What's the problem

I think you know what the problem is Kong as well as I do

 

[Major Kong]

By Jove, I think you've got it!

Instrument panel
now if only........

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