Vacuum Pump Assembly: Notes
The vacuum pump assembly contains three components:
- The vacuum pump.
- The vacuum control valve.
- The vacuum dump valve.
The vacuum pump provides the vacuum for the system while the two valves work in conjunction to allow the pump to increase the vacuum to the pneumatic actuator (increase vehicle speed) or release vacuum from the pneumatic actuator (decrease vehicle speed). See Fig 1. On vehicles from 2003 model year, the cruise control vacuum pump and pneumatic actuator assembly is fitted with a heat shield to protect the components from heat from the exhaust manifold.
The vacuum control valve opens to allow the vacuum pump to increase the vacuum in the pneumatic actuator to increase vehicle speed. When the vehicle reaches the set speed, the vacuum pump control valve closes to hold vacuum in the pneumatic actuator and the vacuum pump is turned off by the cruise control ECU.
The vacuum dump valve is normally open. When cruise control is active, the cruise control ECU provides voltage to close the vacuum dump valve. If power is lost, (e.g. when the brakes or clutch are applied or cruise control is turned off at the cruise control master switch) the vacuum dump valve will immediately open and cruise control will be deactivated.
The cruise control ECU provides power for all three components within the vacuum pump assembly. The cruise control ECU provides earth control circuits for the vacuum pump and the vacuum control valve. The vacuum dump valve is permanently grounded.