Unit will not turn on after installation

[mlherbig]

I bought an Area 451 Cruise Control from you on Sept 3, 2008 and just got around to trying to install it on a 2009 Smart.  After going through the entire installation the unit gave no indication of ever engaging (no red light on stalk cylinder) when moving above 15 MPH and better.  Pulled everything apart again, rechecked all pinning, cabling, etc and found no problems.  Test drove a second time with no success.  Gave up for the day, hit it again this morning for another install check and again found nothing out of order.  Had a couple of other people independently check it again with no apparent errors. Test drove a final time, and gave up to write this.  I really think something is wrong with the control circuit coming from/mounted to the new stalk cylinder/microswitch assembly.  Only guessing though.  In reading the area 51 threads, it seems like there has been virtually no defective control boxes, thus leading to my guess of the on/off/resume end of the installation.

One other thing comes to mind:  could the age of the unit and it being manufactured prior to the 2009 models have any affect (originally slated for my 2008)? Firmware version updates ?

[admin]

No, there's no difference between the 2008 and 2009 models.  Your firmware should be the exact same as everyone else's built after March '08.

It sounds like a defective switch, although I'm curious with how you worded this sentence:

After going through the entire installation the unit gave no indication of ever engaging (no red light on stalk cylinder) when moving above 15 MPH and better.

I just want to be sure you aren't simply confused on how it works.  Because the way you wrote that, it sounds like you expect the light to come on when the speed goes over 15 MPH.  The cruise will only engage when the speed is over 15 MPH, but it isn't automatic - you have to press (and release) the button to turn the cruise on.  At that time, the light should come on and the speed should be maintained.  I'm sure you knew that, I just wanted to be sure.

One thing to triple check is that your doors are all fully closed!  The cruise will not engage if any door is opened at all.

The only part of your installation that you may want to check again is to be fully sure that the long black switch cable is actually plugged into the cruise box and that it hasn't come loose.

Please contact the store where you bought it for a replacement switch if you feel it is defective.

Art.

[mlherbig]

Sorry for the confusion....I guess I wasn't very clear on that, huh ? just worded it badly.  After pressing and releasing the button at any speed over 15 mph the light didn't come on and the cruise didn't engage.

[mvaldes]

As Art suggested, a loose door or tailgate or rear window has gotten many of us at various times. FWIW, It also won't engage if the handbrake isn't completely released. I recall someone had it up "one click" and that turned out to be the cause of their problem.