Actuator Tune-up
A unique service for Cruise Control Actuators
Mercedes-Benz part numbers: 001 545 75 32, 002 545 86 32, 000 545 51 65
Porsche part number: 408.201/1/5
$95.00
We have a service that is offered by no one else. The only way to know the true condition of a cruise control actuator is
to open it for visual inspection. The actuator and the amplifier are the main cruise control components. They are highly
interactive and the performance of one affects the other. In fact, so much so that a defective actuator can damage a good
amplifier and visa versa!
Actuators wear with cruise control use and not with total vehicle mileage. A cruise
actuator in a car with 300,000 miles can be pristine if the cruise control was never used. Conversely, an actuator in a
car with 80,000 miles can be heavily worn internally if the cruise system was used most of the time. Typical life of a
cruise actuator is around 50,000 miles of actual cruise control engagement.
It is possible for a cruise actuator to work reasonably well right up until the moment that it falls apart. Therefore a
bench test or even a road test cannot indicate how long an actuator will continue to function. It must be visually
inspected.
Inside the actuator there are three gears, a pc board with a potentiometer trace, potentiometer contacts, a small motor
armature, motor stator magnets, motor brushes, a diode, and other parts. Naturally, most of these parts wear with use.
There is occasional failure of parts that should not wear. We have seen broken magnets in the motor stator housing and
open windings in the motor armature. The original pc boards did not have tinned traces. The grease is slightly corrosive
and can dissolve a circuit trace causing failure of the unit.
If your actuator is internally in very good condition this is a great alternative to having a complete rebuild performed.
The procedure accomplishes the following objectives: 1) makes sure the actuator cannot damage the amplifer, 2) assures
there is substantial actuator life left, 3) adjustments are made for optimal performance, 4) grease is removed from areas
where it should not be and applied where it should be, 5) all internal and external components are inspected. Finally the
reassembled unit is tested for both proper function and electrical parameters.
The exterior of the actuator is NOT cleaned during the tuneup. Most customers say it doesn't really matter - it's in the
engine compartment. The interior of an actuator that qualifies for a tuneup is virtually perfect. If the actuator is
rebuilt the exterior is cleaned as necessary... even painted if needed... and looks very nice. Naturally a new actuator
looks perfect as well.
General Development Laboratories
121 Easter Street
Morro Bay, CA 93442
805 772-5588