Volvo Repair: 2004 S60R cruise control problem, cruise control system, volvo specialist

Question
I picked my car up from an auto shipper today because I moved 3000 miles.  When I got there, the right rear tire was slashed and flat.  We put the spare on and when I was driving home the cruise control did not work at all.  It would not even turn on and illuminate the cruise light on the control panel. I even tried setting it thinking maybe the light was just out. I reviewed the manual but did not find any help. Is it possible that there is some sensor that disengages the cruise control if you are using the spare tire? Or is it proabably a more serious problem? Thanks.

Answer
There are only a few sensors that will disengage cruise control and that wheel speed sensor is not one of them.  Some that will are the brake pedal sensor and the clutch pedal position sensor.  Check to make sure the other buttons on the steering wheel work though.  It is possible that the buttons have an issue not the actual cruise control system.  Regardless of which one the problem is, it will leave a diagnostic code in the computer so onve it is hooked up you will know right away what is going on.  As long as you don't have more than 50,000 miles you should still be under warranty.  Independent shops will not have the ability to read auxillary systems on the cat like a dealer, so I would recommend only the dealer for this problem unless it is a volvo specialist shop that has the same diagnostic computers as the dealer.

James