A minor correction to Ernie's post, (or perhaps a difference from other years): at least on my car (the Gold 68) the system automatically re-engages at the set speed without having to push the off-on-auto control again after using the brake pedal. However, you do have to push it to "auto" again if you turn off the key. Once the desired speed is set on the dial, it holds that speed setting until you manually change it, as the "memory" is purely mechanical (AKA known as "static friction"!) Ernie is right in that you have to bring it up to the set speed yourself, after tapping the brake - it doesn't accelerate back up by itself, the way a modern one does. One other difference, while I have your ear, is that the auto-pilot is an electro-mechanical device as has been well discussed, which as we know makes it immune to poor vacuum conditions (cause by a weak or poorly tuned engine, or high altitude, or a heavy load). That's all to the good, but because it depends on a lot of mechanical moving parts, there is wear, and wear produces sloppy operation. As a practical matter, this isn't a factor until the car gets up to well over 100,000 miles, but I have had them wear to the point where I had to take all the rotating parts apart and re-bush the bearings, and tighten up the ball socket where the actuating rod fastens to the accelerator pedal linkage under the floor. If the linkage is sloppy enough, the actuating rod can rub on the exhaust manifold near cylinder #7, this will cause erratic operation as the engine rocks over during heavy acceleration, and could conceivably lead to a locked wide open throttle condition - so take care of all those joints and rotating parts for good operation and safety. When everything is hunky-dory, it will hold to about +/- 2 MPH, in my experience. The modern type which uses the VSS sensor on the wheels, and is computer operated, is much more precise - but those are only on the really recent cars. The ones on the 69 and later Imperials are sort of in between, but they are of course vulnerable to low vacuum problems. As for speeding up on the downhill, all of the older designs will do that, as they are not designed to apply the brakes. Very modern cars will also apply the brakes, but that is not an Imperial related remark! Dick Benjamin -----Original Message----- From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ernie Stepney Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 3:08 PM To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: IML: Auto Pilot vs. speed control The major feature differences between the two systems are: 1) The modern system will resume, tap up and tap down; auto pilot does not, touch the brake and you are done until you go through the set procedure all over again. 2) Cruise remembers whatever speed you push the set button at, AutoPilot needs to be preprogrammed for the desired speed, then the car needs to be brought up to that speed (at which point you feel feedback through the pedal) then you set the set button to maintain that speed. 3) AutoPilot works as a speed warning device when not engaged, dial in the desired maximum speed and when you reach that speed the throttle effort increases substantially. Cruise control does not do this. Best regards: Ernie and The Black Bitc_!! ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm