Chrysler Repair: Cruise Control: On/Off function flaky, chrysler voyager, electrical contact

Question
If car is running the cruise won't work.  If you turn ignition to battery and turn the cruise on before starting the car, the cruise will work.  However, you can't shut it off once the car is running.  Very strange.

It is a 2001 Chrysler Voyager.  I am open to what would cause this as something is malfuctioning.

Answer
Hi Dave,
Now that I know which year/model you have, my thought is that there is some resistance in the 'on/off' switch contacts which is sufficient to interrupt its function when the vehicle is in motion, but not when it is at rest. The entire function of all 5 switches is based upon fixed resistances built into the switches, but the basic on/off swtich has no resistance, so it is based upon there being very good contact in its switch, with no resistance loss across the points. You can get to the switch by first removing the air bag/horn switch, then remove the air bag. You can then squirt some electrical contact cleaner from an electronics supply store inside the switch body to reduce any restitive loss due to poor internal contacts. There are also 3 separate electrical dis-connections between the switch and the body computer, at any one of which should there be less than ideal contacts, and so you may need to open those contacts and clean them as well.
Roland