I said:
As for the Cruise Control, I'm still researching some troubleshooting and testing information. I'll (of course!) share my findings here...
...and, so I shall.
I picked up (off Ebay) a CD-ROM copy of the Ford Motor Company 1993-1994 Workshop Information "Extensive Compilation Set" -- in short, it's the 1993 Ford Service Manual in electronic format. I highly recommend it -- lots of good information, detailed systems analysis and troubleshooting procedures for nearly everything on the car... and, it contains the part numbers, as well... if you feel like donating more money to Ford for parts, that is...
anyway.. best $6.00 I've spent in a while.
So... on to the Cruise Control issue with my vehicle: The manual indicates that, in addition to the
Clutch Starter Switch (which makes sure you have the clutch pedal depressed before it'll activate the starter motor), there is also a "Clutch Pedal Position Switch" (in manual transmission models, only) that makes sure you
don't have the clutch depressed when operating the Cruise Control.
So, I figure I've got a bad switch. I call the local Ford dealer, mainly out of curiosity, and ask for a price on a replacement switch. I hope you folks reading this are sitting down. $79.24....
and, it's not in stock; he'd have to order it. I declined, figuring I can either fix mine or find a replacement in the junkyard for quite a bit less money.
This evening, in the process of verifying that the Clutch Pedal Position Switch was, indeed, failing (using the testing/diagnosis procedures outlined in the aforementioned service manual), I found out
exactly what the problem with my Cruise Control is...
The switch is normally depressed when the clutch pedal is disengaged, and when you press on the clutch pedal, the switch 'opens'... well, mine wasn't working exactly that way... y'see, there's this little rubber piece that is supposed to be inserted into this hole in the angle bracket on the right side of the clutch pedal arm (
see accompanying diagram, below) -- it's not there. As a result, as I release the clutch pedal, the actuator arm of the switch goes through the hole where the little rubber piece is supposed to be mounted... and, thus, the switch is
not depressed as it should be... For those folks starving for technical details, and in the interest of being as accurate as possible, I'll note that the "little rubber piece" is actually called a "Switch Contact Point" ...I think, just for grins, I'll call over to the Ford dealership again tomorrow, and find out what kind of ridiculous price they put on THAT part! ...then, more than likely, I'll fashion one of my own making to complete the repair job.