1981 cruise control
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Park Texas
1981 cruise control
Purchased a garage kept '81 with 41K miles a few months ago. Currently resurrecting / sweeping out cobwebs. Now runs fine, but cruise control is dead. Current turn signal lever has cruise control "on/off", "set", "resume", etc. switches. Thinking the problem may be the lever switches, I purchased a replacement lever for a 1981 model, and it's simply a push button on the end of the lever with "Cruise" and an arrow pointing to the button/switch; i.e., none of the "enhanced" cruise control switches. Can anybody tell me if my current enhanced lever is original equipment or was an upgrade previously attempted? Also, any input on the likely root issue of the dead cruise control would be appreciated (fuse is good).
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,596
Likes: 3,082
From: Shamong, NJ
81 was the first year that cruise control had the resume feature.
It sounds like you were sold a 79-80 stalk, not an 81-82. Chevrolet has discontinued the 81 stalk, and there are no repros that I'm aware of.
Have you checked the cruise control transducer, servo or vacuum lines? These are usually where problems with the cruise control occur.
The transducer is located below the master cylinder and the servo is at the left rear of the intake manifold. Rebuilt transducers are available for about $120, but the servos are discontinued.
You may want to look into purchasing the 81 Corvette Shop Manual, as it explains how to troubleshoot and repair the cruise control system.
It sounds like you were sold a 79-80 stalk, not an 81-82. Chevrolet has discontinued the 81 stalk, and there are no repros that I'm aware of.
Have you checked the cruise control transducer, servo or vacuum lines? These are usually where problems with the cruise control occur.
The transducer is located below the master cylinder and the servo is at the left rear of the intake manifold. Rebuilt transducers are available for about $120, but the servos are discontinued.
You may want to look into purchasing the 81 Corvette Shop Manual, as it explains how to troubleshoot and repair the cruise control system.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Park Texas
81 was the first year that cruise control had the resume feature.
It sounds like you were sold a 79-80 stalk, not an 81-82. Chevrolet has discontinued the 81 stalk, and there are no repros that I'm aware of.
Have you checked the cruise control transducer, servo or vacuum lines? These are usually where problems with the cruise control occur.
The transducer is located below the master cylinder and the servo is at the left rear of the intake manifold. Rebuilt transducers are available for about $120, but the servos are discontinued.
You may want to look into purchasing the 81 Corvette Shop Manual, as it explains how to troubleshoot and repair the cruise control system.
It sounds like you were sold a 79-80 stalk, not an 81-82. Chevrolet has discontinued the 81 stalk, and there are no repros that I'm aware of.
Have you checked the cruise control transducer, servo or vacuum lines? These are usually where problems with the cruise control occur.
The transducer is located below the master cylinder and the servo is at the left rear of the intake manifold. Rebuilt transducers are available for about $120, but the servos are discontinued.
You may want to look into purchasing the 81 Corvette Shop Manual, as it explains how to troubleshoot and repair the cruise control system.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Park Texas
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Park Texas
Seasoned80, yep, speedo works fine. I assume you would suggest it's a servo problem like dgood had above? I did order a shop manual today with the hope it will step me through the correct troubleshooting steps to confirm which component(s) is/are bad.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
There are two wires that go to the servo also. They are on the front of the servo, red and yellow I think and there are also some vacuum hoses going to it. I can't help you with the details on that because mine is apart while I am waiting on getting my speedo back from a Willcox overhaul.