I have a 99 Forester with 180,000 miles. Since it has gotten cold (below 30F) my cruise control will not engage, or when it does engage will not disengage unless I hit the brake. This continues even when the temp gauge is in the normal range. It seems to have a better chance of engaging after the car has been running for about a half hour.

 

Would appreciate any suggestions.

You may have moisture in the vacuum pump or in the actuator.

Update:

 

It seems that once I get the cruise control engaged, I have to hit the brake to disengage it, the lever on the steering wheel column will not disengage it. However, when I hit resume it will re-engage but I can't use the lever to reduce the speed. Again, this only happens in below 30F temps.

Update:

 

It seems that once I get the cruise control engaged, I have to hit the brake to disengage it, the lever on the steering wheel column will not disengage it. However, when I hit resume it will re-engage but I can't use the lever to reduce the speed. Again, this only happens in below 30F temps.

I'm having a similar problem on my 01 Forester S. Its been -25C all week and i am having trouble engaging and disengaging the cruise. I was going to replace the cruise stalk but today I left my car in the sun (still -25C) and the cruise worked fine on the drive home. So I'm thinking its dirt in the contacts or simply weather related. A lot of things don't work great at -25C!

vic,

 

Are you continually holding the stock down to coast, or just tapping it?

Got a '95 legacy whose cc gets real quirky when it gets cold. Won't engage, engages too low, won't disengage with the stalk, etc. Sounds a lot like your situation.

 

Unfortuately I have learned to just live with it, and can offer nothing to you other than sympathy...

 

Steve