February 2009 Technical Corner

Way back in 1987, Honda introduced the GL 1200 Gold Wing Aspencade with an electronic cruise control as standard equipment. In 1988, Honda introduced the GLX, later known as the GL 1500 Gold Wing which also came with an electronic cruise control. The Aspencade and Interstate models were re-introduced in 1990, but only the Aspencades and SE's came with an electronic cruise control, not the Interstate. The Interstate model was dropped after the 1996 year model production.

When you turn your key to the ignition position, your "reserve fuel" light, "cruise set" light, and "cruise on" light will come on for a few seconds and go off. This is a diagnostic check for the indicator lights only. It doesn't check the FUNCTION of the reserve indicator or the cruise control.

If you turn the "cruise on" switch to ON, the indicator light should go on and stay on. Start your Gold Wing and accelerate to a speed between 30 and 80 mph. With the transmission in 4th or OD gear, press and momentarily hold the "SET/DECEL" switch and release the throttle grip. The Gold Wing should maintain the set speed. Tap the "SET/DECEL" switch once. Your speed should decrease by approx. 1 mph. Press and momentarily hold the "SET/DECEL" switch. You should feel the Gold Wing decelerate as long as you hold the switch. Tap the "RESUME/ACCEL" switch once. The Gold Wing's speed should increase by approx. 1 mph. Press and momentarily hold the "RESUME/ACCEL" switch. You should feel your Gold Wing accelerate as long as you hold the switch. Releasing either switch should set and maintain the speed at time of release.

The cruise control should cancel any time you close the throttle, pull the clutch lever, pull the brake lever, or apply the brake pedal. The Gold Wing will accelerate to the set speed if you tap the "RESUME/ACCEL" switch if you didn't slow down to below 30 mph. If you did slow down to less than 30 mph, you can use the throttle conventionally until you are above 30 mph and then tap the "ACCEL/RESUME" switch.

When your cruise control is on, it's perfectly normal for the speed to vary slightly, particularly when you're riding in the Texas Hill Country, but if the speed varies more than plus or minus 5 mph, you may need to talk to a qualified Honda technician. If the set speed fluctuates excessively, the cause could be a leaky vacuum hose, excessively loose or binding throttle cable, faulty actuator (also known as a vacuum pot), faulty control valve, faulty check valve, or faulty cruise control computer (located under the travel trunk). Usually if a

check valve or cruise valve goes bad, its due to a dry-rotted cruise valve filter (see Page 55 in the April 1998 Wing World).

Don't expect your cruise control to operate properly if your speedometer isn't working properly. Early GL 1500's and '87 Aspencades used a speed sensor in the speedometer for cruise control and turn signal cancel. Later models use both speedometer and engine speed sensors for cruise control.

If cruise speed won't set, you might have a stuck cancel switch on your brake lever, clutch lever, or brake pedal. Squeeze your clutch lever slowly. You should hear a click when you first apply your squeeze and a second click when the lever is almost fully squeezed. If you don't hear that first click, the switch is probably stuck in the cancel position. Squeeze the brake lever slowly. You should hear a double click. If you hear only a single click, the cancel switch is probably stuck in the cancel position. Sometimes aftermarket brake and clutch levers need to be filed until they operate smoothly and return to their normal positions by themselves. You should also hear a double click when you press the brake pedal, but you'll need to get down on your hands and knees and listen very closely. If you hear a single click, once again, you may have a faulty cancel switch.

If you suspect a problem with the cruise computer, it would probably be best to take your Gold Wing to a Honda certified technician and let him/her check it out because it involves some stuff you may not want to mess with, like removing your travel trunk. The electrical cable that connects to that little computer is a 16-conductor cable and each conductor has its own special function. If you do decide to mess with it, make sure you have a Honda Gold Wing Service Manual for your year model Gold Wing and make sure you READ IT before you do anything else to your Gold Wing.

Howard Halasz, Chapter M2 Technical Coordinator

Texas Chapter M-2

Chapter M-2's Technical Corner