We have a 2005 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 5.4L, 4x4 with 78,000 miles and we’re having trouble with the cruise control. If you’re going down the road and set the cruise control it might run for 2 minutes or 30 minutes and then all the sudden it will just disengage. If you reset it again it will do the same thing. It’s just like what happens when you hit the brake with the cruise control engaged; the cruise control stays “on” but it no longer holds the speed.

Any thoughts on what’s causing the problem and what I can do to fix it?

I think you may already be headed in the right direction with the brake switch.

brake switch sounds like a suspect to me..

you might have someone follow you and see if your brake lights are flickering when they shouldn't be as well. you might be "that guy" that seems to be extra touchy with the brake pedal

Does your horn work? Airbag light not on?

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you might be "that guy" that seems to be extra touchy with the brake pedal

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It would actually be "that girl" since the wife usually drives this vehicle

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Does your horn work? Airbag light not on?

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The airbag light is not on. As far as I know the horn works but I'll have to check as it doesn't get used very often. Are you thinking it might be a fuse?

Clockspring may have a short in it.

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Clockspring may have a short in it.

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This is a Ford man, it isn't a Rolex!

Is there someway for me to check this other than taking it to the mechanic? It also has the audio controls on the wheel so I assume if the clock spring was going bad it would affect those too?

Depends.

Clocksprings in Fords often fail but there may be something else at hand here.

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Clockspring may have a short in it.

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What in the heck is a 'clockspring'?

try replacing the fuse. it's under the hood, and i believe the number on it is 20.

my cruise control and horn constantly go out, and all i do is replace the fuse. i know i have bad wiring, but the fuse is always the problem

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What in the heck is a 'clockspring'?

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A clockspring or clock spring is a special rotary electrical connector which allows a vehicle's steering wheel to turn while still making an electrical connection between the steering wheel airbag and/or the vehicle's horn and other devices and the vehicle's electrical systems. The clockspring is located between the steering wheel and the steering column.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clockspring

With the steering wheel off (with the yellow stickers all over it):



This isn't a car clock spring, but kinda gives you an idea of how it works... I think:

I drove it back from our farm last night (~50 minutes) and it worked fine the whole way. Maybe I just had to threaten to fix it.