First the disclaimer:
Do not attempt these adjustments in rush hour traffic, on a residential street, or
anywhere else you might hurt yourself, anyone else, or your car. This is information only.
How you use it is up to you. If you get hurt or killed, don't bring any legal action
against me, AMC, Chrysler-Daimler, Sears, Dana, The US Government or any other inhabitant
of the universe. The existence of this text means you agree to all terms of this text,
whether or not you understand it or have even read it.
If your cruise control is working - don't mess with it. If it is working, but not well, skip step 2.
All the AMC TSM's state only the centering adjustment needs to be adjusted. If the only problem you are experiencing is the cruise control speeds up or slows down from the speed you desire, and then stays there, this would be the adjustment that need to be made. If you are trying to install a cruise control from a car with a different engine, or different axle ratio, more drastic measures must be taken.
There are three adjustments to the AMC Cruise Control. I have already mentioned centering. The other two are sensitivity and low speed cut off.
Here is the method I used to adjust the cruise control in my 1984 Eagle:
1) Find a lightly traveled road where a 50 mile per hour speed is not unusual and continues for several miles.
2) Place all adjustments to their mid-point.
3) Adjust the low-speed cut in so the cruise control will not engage below 28 mph.
4) Adjust centering so the cruise control controlled speed is 1/2 (0.5) MPH above set speed. This pulls the pedal away from your foot ever so slightly when you engage the cruise control.
5) Adjust sensitivity so the cruise control operates smoothly, and does not allow the speed to vary wildly up or down before compensating.
When adjusted properly, the cruise control works quite well. Speed will vary a bit going up and down hill, but on level roads will hold speed rock-steady. If your unit isn't quite perfect on the level, do the best you can and then use the unit. The unit seems to work better the more it is used.
Note: Steps 3 and 4 seem to affect each other. They may need to be repeated once or twice to get the adjustment just right.
Trivia: This cruise control unit looks to be just like the one I installed on my father's motorhome in the late '70's. That unit was purchased at Sears, and made by Dana. I've been hoping to find a copy of the installation instructions for that unit and have not been successful. If you have a copy you are willing to send to me, please send a note to n0kfb@mediaone.net. I came up with the instructions listed above after a lot of trial and error, and if I remember correctly it is the procedure listed in the manual that came with the Sears unit.
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