Why cruise control on a car reviews. The principle of operation of cruise control and instructions for use. Probability of full-time work

The next time you find yourself driving a car in the rain, don't turn on the cruise control. If your car starts to hydroplane on wet pavement, cruise control can increase the risk of skidding and getting into a car. Why? We tried to figure it out.

Cruise control is a great feature in a car if we are going to go on a long journey by car. But be careful if it rains outside while the cruise control is on or you drive on a wet road after rain. Wet roads are dangerous because rainwater falling on the asphalt helps lift motor oil and various gear lubricants from the road surface, which, as a rule, has many stains of oil and other liquids, to the top layer of water.

This creates a layer on the asphalt of the road, similar to a layer of ice. Plus a layer of water also helps. The most dangerous thing is driving in the rain at low speed. Under such conditions, there is a risk of losing traction between the wheels and the road surface. If this happens, as a rule, it is called hydroplaning (another term for loss of adhesion between rubber and asphalt is hydroplaning).

Hydroplaning can occur at any vehicle speed. Even at speeds less than 60 km/h.

Cruise control increases hydroplaning, since the system for maintaining a given speed, if the vehicle speed decreases, automatically adds gas, which creates a huge risk, even with slight hydroplaning, of ending up in an accident as a result of loss of control of the car.

When it rains, you can turn off the cruise control. And if the car begins to behave unstably on a wet road, reduce your speed and be extremely careful.

Be aware that hard braking on wet roads can also result in sudden loss of traction due to hydroplaning.

If you turned off the cruise control on a wet road and reduced the speed, but this did not help you from skidding as a result of hydroplaning, then as soon as you feel that the car is starting to lose control, take your foot off the gas pedal, grab the steering wheel with both hands and turn steering wheel in the direction of skidding. If hydroplaning is not severe, then with such actions you will still have a chance to return the car to the correct movement, avoiding skidding.

Many of you know that most cars have a traction control system (stabilization system, etc.). This system helps the driver avoid unexpected skidding on slippery roads by automatically leveling the car. Some new car models do not yet have such systems. Just like old cars do not have this technology.

Cruise control is also not available in all cars. Remember that if your car has cruise, the biggest danger on a wet road is when driving at low speed. Also, sudden braking on a wet road can lead to skidding, especially in cars not equipped with ABS.

I would also like to note that, despite the presence of a stabilization system in modern cars, which in rainy weather will help you level the car, cruise control should still be turned off, since on a slippery road the stabilization system will reduce engine speed to level the car, which will not allow the ability to maintain a constant speed with the cruise control system.

Ford Mondeo is my first car with cruise control and automatic transmission. Moreover, if the car is equipped with an automatic transmission at the factory without any alternative, then the cruise was additionally installed at my request. I really wanted to try what it is and eat it.

I tried it and liked it. So much so that I wanted it, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.

I use cruise control very often - I turn it on at the first opportunity: no matter in the city, on the highway, for a short or long period time. Many people ask questions: where can we use a cruise, is it only for the highway, how do you use it in the city, and similar things. To clarify the practice of regularly using cruise control, I wrote this article.

A small digression - only with cruise control did I feel the beauty of an automatic transmission. The car itself maintains the speed, picks it up to a given value, the speed in turns is limited only by the instinct of self-preservation.

At the same time, I understand that using cruise control is not suitable for every driver. For example, my speed limiter did not take root, although more effort was spent activating it than installing cruise control. Therefore, there is no need to perceive the material presented in the article as dogma. This is just my experience that I share with my readers. I would even say a description of my practice of use.

So, the first thing you need to effectively use cruise control is:

ability to read traffic: anticipate and predict the actions of cars ahead
the ability to choose the speed of movement so as not to get on the tail of the car in front, but also not to lag behind it too much
the ability to choose a driving distance in such a way that it is sufficient to respond to changing traffic conditions: wedging traffic, braking of the vehicle in front.

As you can see, the necessary conditions are built according to the matryoshka principle, i.e. each next one is based on the previous one: without the ability to choose a comfortable speed and anticipate the actions of other drivers, it will not be possible to choose the optimal distance.

For me personally, the minimum acceptable distance is 3-5 cars.

Examples of the optimal distance to use cruise control

Using this distance allows you to move with the flow and not have to resort to braking every time the road conditions change. As a rule, the margin of distance is enough for the situation to stabilize.

Changing the lane of the jeep did not affect my speed in any way. If necessary, the margin of distance allowed us to reduce speed and change lanes.

Although the distance of 3 cars is not enough in my opinion. There is a higher probability that you will need to slow down or change lanes. Those. The main advantage of cruise control is that the monotony and stability of movement is leveled out.

Minimum comfortable distance when using cruise control. Especially in the picture on the right.

Above we talked about driving on highways and simply multi-lane roads. Driving on single lanes is easier on one side and more difficult on the other. Easier - because if you find the optimal speed, you can comfortably travel a very significant distance. It’s more difficult - in order to find such a speed, you need to evaluate the perspective (for example, with dense oncoming traffic and a convoy of fellow travelers, overtaking is futile) and often you need to reduce the speed, for example, by 5 km/h relative to the vehicle in front.

Cruise control on single lane. The distance is large due to the truck and tends to shorten. I would have stayed closer to the car.

For those who are used to squeezing out the car, this is not an option. From my experience - when driving on single-lane roads near Moscow, a comfortable speed of movement is 75-80 km/h - on the one hand, you stay in the flow, on the other, you keep a sufficient distance from the truck in front and do not catch anything under its wheels or from the hood the body flies/may fly out.

I’ll make a reservation right away - yes, I know that the maximum permissible speed in the general case is formally 90 km/h, practically 110 km/h. But before you become indignant at the need to “vomit,” I advise you to compare your real average speed according to the on-board computer with the maximum possible. Many discoveries await you - I guarantee it.

In the city, cruise control is also not a problem. Again, if you are ready to curb your temper and do not strive to realize your Schumacher potential. It helps a lot when you are looking for something in an unfamiliar place - set it to 40-50 km/h and look for your destination.

Cruise control in the city - no problem

I cannot help but note that for many, a reasonable distance between you and the car in the direction of travel acts like a red rag to a bull. This is especially true for multi-strips; single-strips are easier. But there will always be dissatisfied people - as they say: the dog barks - the caravan moves on.

In conclusion, I will repeat once again: for me, cruise control is an excellent feature that allows me to reduce stress while driving and has a beneficial effect on my driving style. I wanted to take measurements using a computer - what percentage of the time I drive with activated cruise control, but alas, I did not find such a technical possibility. Let me just say that on a recent trip to Tula, I would rather remember those moments when I turned off the cruise than when I was driving it. Because, without exaggeration, I drove almost the entire way - both on the highway and in Moscow - adjusting the speed on the steering wheel and using the brake before traffic lights.

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A modern car is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. An incredible number of different electronic assistants, complex systems and options allow you to greatly increase the comfort of driving your iron horse and save the driver’s strength and nerves. Today we will talk about such an indispensable assistant as cruise control, and its specifics with a manual transmission.

General information

To understand how cruise control works on a manual transmission, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the features of its operation in more detail and at least approximately knowing the structure of such complex electronics.

Cruise control is designed to maintain a constant vehicle speed without driver intervention.

In other words, the driver will not have to put his foot on the pedals again to adjust the speed and constantly ensure that the car does not lose speed on the highway.

Many claim that cruise control, as such, is a useless system and not so necessary on modern cars. The main argument in such a debate is that many cars in the recent past a priori did not have such an option even in the maximum configuration, and only a certain and fairly narrow range of premium models were equipped with the coveted set of keys on the steering column lever.

However, in a certain number of cases it will be quite easy to do without this option. To understand whether it makes sense to purchase an option package that includes cruise control, it is worth understanding where the car is most often driven.

If the car spends most of its time in the city, being pushed around in traffic jams and driving at variable speeds, there is no point in cruise control. Otherwise, you will have to constantly “play” with the controls and thereby constantly load the already sensitive and expensive electronics.

Things are completely different if the driver constantly needs to move along the highway, away from cities. For example, long-term driving on a flat, straight road requires constant effort applied to the accelerator pedal. If the driver constantly keeps his leg in the same position, it will quickly get tired and go numb. To prevent this from happening, you just need to activate the desired button, and the leg can be immediately released.

Instructions for use

As you know, cruise control is the prerogative of a car that operates with an automatic transmission. Indeed, in a car with an automatic transmission it will be much easier to operate cruise control - just press the gas pedal, accelerate your car to the required speed and lock the speed limit using a button on the steering column lever or dashboard.

However, no matter how surprising it may sound, there are a number of models on the market with manual transmission that also have cruise control. Mechanically, such a system has several features, expressed in the nuances of its use while traveling.

How to use cruise control? How does it work, and what do you need to know about such systems? Let's figure it out.

Typically, the cruise control control panel is located on the steering column stalk, which also controls the lighting or windshield wiper blades. The main controls are two switches with a two-way operating principle. They can be tilted left or right, depending on what needs to be activated.

The first switch is the cruise control lever. It should be moved from one extreme position to another, the system will be activated and will be ready to work in the specified mode. Immediately on the car’s on-board computer, the corresponding indicator lights up, and on the dashboard - an icon depicting a speedometer with a limited scale. It is often possible to use the same key to reset the established speed readings and deactivate the system.

Another switch is an adjustment of the operating mode and a key for fixing the current speed. So, on cars with a manual transmission, you need to select the desired gear, accelerate the car and press the lock button. The current speed will be displayed on the dashboard, and the car will maintain it automatically without driver assistance.

If for some reason it is necessary to adjust the speed, and the cruise control is already activated, then there is no need to reset the current readings and accelerate or brake the car yourself. It is enough to move the switch up or down, which is responsible for fixing the current speed. In this case, on the dashboard, the fixed speed value will change up or down, and the car will instantly accelerate to the set value.

In the car. Meanwhile, this is an old system that previously could only maintain the speed of the car, and the driver did not have to hold the gas pedal. This system provided additional convenience and comfort when driving on highways and highways. As a result of using cruise control, the driver becomes less tired behind the wheel. Also, in theory, this helps reduce fuel consumption, since the engine runs evenly when using the system, and its speed does not jump.

Why do you need cruise control in a car?

This system is needed to provide additional convenience when traveling long distances. For example, if a driver needs to get from one city to another, covering 500-600 kilometers, then in a car without this system he will have to hold the gas pedal for 5-6 hours (depending on the speed), which is actually equal to holding right foot in an awkward position. During the entire journey, you want to change the position of your leg, but you can’t do this. It seems like a small thing, but holding the gas pedal for 5-6 hours is actually very difficult.

By activating the cruise control function in the car, the driver can allow himself to release the gas pedal. The system will supply fuel to the combustion chambers not through the gas pedal, but through special pneumatic drives. The driver will be able to regulate the speed using buttons located on the steering wheel (usually there are 5 buttons).

System management

Now that we understand what it is - cruise control in a car, we can figure out how it works. Typically, to control this system there are 5 buttons on the steering wheel:

On/Off button that activates and deactivates the system.
Switch for fixing the speed mode and increasing the speed. That is, after accelerating to the required speed, the driver can use a switch to fix the current speed and release the gas pedal. Subsequent presses of this button will increase the speed by 1 km per hour.
If, while using cruise control, the driver had to suddenly accelerate or brake by pressing the gas or brake pedal, the parameters of this system are reset. To quickly activate cruise control and return to the previously set speed, the driver needs to press the Resume button.
Coast speed reduction button. Each press of the button reduces the speed by 1 km. In some models, the step of decreasing and increasing speed is 1.5 km.
The Cancel button deactivates the system.

Depending on the car model, this system may be represented by other buttons; the speed increase and decrease steps may differ. But the principle looks exactly as described above.

Kinds

There are several types of cruise control in a car. What does passive or active type mean? In the first case, the driver can only set the speed of the car. However, the second type involves the use of complex electronic devices that scan the space in front of the machine, which opens up additional control options vehicle depending on driving conditions.

Passive type (PPC)

As we have already found out, passive cruise control allows you to maintain a given speed, which is convenient for long trips over long distances. Due to the constant speed of the engine, fuel savings are ensured.

The control is turned off when the driver lightly presses the gas pedal. The design of such a system has a special pneumatic drive, which regulates the flow of air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber through a throttle valve. This eliminates the need to use the gas pedal.

Active (or adaptive) type

Adaptive cruise control is an improved version of the active type. In addition to the ability to maintain the speed limit without pressing the gas pedal, cars with adaptive cruise control can calculate the distance to the car in front, and also reduce or increase speed depending on the situation on the road. That is, if the system determines that the distance to the car in front is decreasing, then the system slows down the speed. The speed is reduced until the gap between the cars, in the opinion of the system, becomes optimal. If the sensor no longer sees an obstacle ahead, the car picks up speed and maintains this speed limit.

Safety

The adaptive cruise control system on the car is quite smart; it provides not only comfort when driving on highways and highways, but also the safety of the driver, who may be too relaxed on the road.

In addition, this system can perform not only emergency braking, but also evasive maneuvers. This greatly increases driving safety, and often such systems have saved the lives of people and the integrity of the car itself in various situations on the roads.

Note that adaptive (or active) cruise control is closely related to the operation of the ABS and ESP systems (stabilization and anti-traction systems), and if at least one of them stops working, then cruise control cannot be activated either.

Dynamic type

In addition to adaptive and passive cruise control, there is also dynamic cruise control. It is one of the varieties of the passive type. A special feature of this system is the control of engine operation, which saves fuel and engine life.

For example, when climbing a hill, the system slows down and slows down, which protects the motor from unnecessary loads. Also, the speed is reduced if any problems occur with the engine and when the car enters turns. After passing the turn, the previous speed is restored.

Now we have figured out what it is - cruise control in a car. Let's determine its main advantages and disadvantages.

pros

The advantages of this system are obvious to every driver. First of all, it is comfortable driving and reduces stress on the back due to the absence of the need to keep your foot on the gas pedal. Some drivers note fuel economy as an advantage of such a system. In theory, savings are achieved by ensuring uniform operation of the engine and the absence of differences in fuel injection. In addition, if adaptive cruise control is installed, it also provides additional safety for the vehicle.

Flaws

The main disadvantage is the high cost of the system. Cars with cruise control systems are expensive and unaffordable for most consumers. However, cars with conventional passive systems are already available to the middle class of consumers.

If you believe the reviews of some drivers who actively use this system, there is no fuel economy at all, and in some cases there is even increased consumption. Another serious drawback is the unsafe use of the system due to the fact that the driver may become too relaxed while driving the car. Constantly keeping your foot on the gas pedal, you won’t be able to relax much.

The next disadvantage is the inability to use the system on roads with frequent descents and turns, as well as on highways with heavy traffic flow. There is no need to talk about using the system in the city at all.

Many drivers do not recommend using this system on the roads after or during rain, since the driver needs to feel the car when braking. Otherwise, it may lead to an accident. This system is suitable only for those drivers who often travel from city to city. In city driving, the function is practically useless, since in the city there are no long sections of the highway where it would be possible to maintain a stable speed for a long time.

Conclusion

Now we finally understand what it is in a car - cruise control. Such a system is really useful and necessary - it should be in every car. Gradually, such systems appear in middle-class and even budget-class cars, but so far these are just passive varieties. In addition, this system can be installed even on a car in which this technology is not provided by the manufacturer. Special installations are sold in car dealerships.

We can put an end to this. We figured out what it is - cruise control in a car. Technology is useful in a number of cases, but you should not get carried away with it, since the driver must not lose concentration on the road.

Hi all! Today we’ll talk to you about what cruise control is in a modern car, why it is needed and how to install it on cars yourself.

We have already talked about the main essence and purpose of cruise control (CC) in the previous article. 'Cause I'll leave you , and you can follow it and read interesting and useful information. From it you will learn what cruise control means, what it is like and what its key features are.

In this material we focus on mechanics. That is, let's talk about how possible it is to equip the steering wheel with special buttons and connect equipment for the cruise to work if you have a manual one.

Many people believe that the system for maintaining a predetermined speed on a car is purely the prerogative of an automatic transmission. But you are wrong. Even in the standard brain of a car with a manual transmission, it is possible to install, if not active, but at least the simplest cruise control. The circuit is quite complicated, but if you understand how the device works, you can even do the work yourself.

Mechanics and cruise control

Not everyone has the opportunity to buy a car like the latest generation Toyota Camry, where adaptive cruise control is installed along with an automatic transmission. Someone also got an ordinary Vesta on their handle. But I still really want to equip the car with the function of maintaining a speed preset by the driver.

It is wrong to think that connecting to cars with cruise mechanics is something fantastic and impossible. If you figure it out and try hard, the function will appear on almost any car. Only you must first decide whether you need such a system, or no one will actually use it. Don't rush to spend money on something you won't need. Although the final decision is yours to make in any case. Your car, your rules.

Some systems such as , are already provided on many cars as standard from the factory. And here or the same automobile Often you have to buy and install separately. The question of their necessity in a car is as relevant as in the case of cruise control.

I don’t argue that the connection diagram for the CC on cars with automatic transmission is much simpler. Automakers have provided for the possibility of installing the system from the factory. Therefore, to connect, it is enough to buy equipment and install it in accordance with standard locations.

But when we talk about manual transmission, things are somewhat more complicated here. If the CC is not provided by the factory, you can still install the device. To do this, install universal equipment with your own hands or the hands of craftsmen. Experienced car owners advise giving preference to German systems. Their price is higher, but you get a unit of increased reliability. The overpayment is worth it. Only when purchasing, carefully check all the components and the possibility of returning the product if it does not fit.

Technically, you have to install an additional bracket and a special cable attached to the gas pedal, which makes it possible to maintain the speed at the specified values. Plus, buttons are mounted on the bottom of the deflector for control. But it will turn off whenever you press the gas pedal. Therefore, you will have to press the button again to activate the cruise.

Probability of full-time work

In functional terms, the CC installed on a car will differ little from a similar system on cars with automatic transmission. Therefore, it is not difficult to figure out how to enable or use the innovation.

The only question is why you need a cruise. Some only realize over time that it was a mistake to install such a system on the car. If you regularly drive on highways and highways where you can maintain one speed for a long time, then an additional lever responsible for cruise control will definitely not hurt. But when driving around the city in heavy traffic and constant stops, the cruise loses its relevance and becomes a completely unnecessary element.

It's like in the case of pre-launch for the engine. Drivers understand that they do not need them at all, since such systems are relevant only for the most severe climatic regions with cold winters. Although against the same I have nothing. A really useful assistant in case of poor visibility on the road.

If you need QC, it can be supplied quite quickly. In this case, management will not cause any difficulties. Check with the car service center to see if cruise can be installed specifically in your case. But practice shows that this is possible on almost any car.

But also keep in mind that there are some nuances here. Namely:

Departures on the rise. With such an uphill movement, the car will not switch to a lower gear on its own with manual transmission. This will have to be done manually;
To drive up a hill in 5th gear, you need to press the gas pedal yourself. Otherwise, you won’t get out on the climb;
With a gradual decrease in the current speed of the vehicle (on the same rise), the CC will automatically “turn off” at around 40 kilometers per hour;
If there is a RES button, the driver can reduce the speed by pressing it 2 times. If it is not there, you will need to press the gas pedal and determine the new required speed for the CC with the start button.

As you can see, there are some nuances here. But they are not critical.

That’s why you can increasingly find video instructions online, where garage technicians talk about the features self-installation additional equipment. In the case of cruise control, I would advise contacting trusted specialists and certified workshops.

Tools and materials

Before installing the CC, be sure to check all components and safety systems of your machine for malfunctions. Otherwise, do not be surprised that the cruise does not turn on, or the car behaves inappropriately when trying to maintain the set speed.

To complete such a task will consist of:

shaped screwdriver;
sharp scissors or awl;
knife;
suitable sized heads;
strong wrenches;
self-tapping screws or good screws;
cable for connecting the system;
universal QC equipment;
special bracket.

The bracket is required if the car is equipped with a sensor that regulates the position of the pedal responsible for accelerating (gas pedal). Then the bracket is connected to it. But in some cases the cable is already included with the cruise control. Therefore, check the package, and then collect all the necessary additional tools and materials.

Step-by-step installation

In general, installation usually takes no more than 2-3 hours. Some craftsmen can even do it in an hour. But keep in mind that then you have to check the operation of the system, correct any identified inaccuracies and make sure that all settings are correct.

Step by step it looks like this:

Selecting a location for CC. Most car owners install the equipment near the fuel filter, since this way the unit easily connects to the brake hose. Choose any place, but it must be dry and with the possibility of connecting the cable from the gas pedal to this point. There should be no strong bends;
Connecting the second cable to the gas pedal. Just don't cut off the excess right away. To begin, set the desired position on the installed sensor for monitoring the current position of the accelerator pedal, a special bracket, and only after that measure the required length of the cable. Now cut. The second end is brought and connected to the CC itself;
To properly connect the system to the car, find the wiring from the tachometer to which the universal CC is connected. You need to connect the green wire coming from the QC ECU to the wire of your tachometer. A red wire is needed to connect to the feet;
Setup button to turn the system on and off. It will correspond to double gray wiring. In order for the button to work correctly, ground must be connected (it runs along the black wiring);
The KK control knob is located on the steering wheel, so you have to disassemble it yourself. If there are airbags, they must be disabled and removed in advance. The handle is placed on the steering wheel, and it is assembled in the reverse order.

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