To operate the cruise control system, the driver must first turn on the cruise/main switch. With the cruise/main switch on, the cruise main icon appears in the gauge control module, and the gauge control module will send cruise control commands to the PCM via the F-CAN line.
To set a speed, the driver presses the "set" button in the cruise combination switch. Once the speed is set, the cruise control system maintains this speed in the system memory until: A new speed replaces the current value, the cruise/main switch is turned off, or the engine start/stop button is pressed to select OFF mode, which erases the current value. To suspend the set speed, the driver can press the brake pedal or press the cancel switch in the cruise combination switch. When the set speed is suspended by the driver pressing the brake pedal or pressing the cancel switch in the cruise combination switch, the set speed value does not change. The driver can also increase and decrease the set speed by pressing the plus (?) and minus (?) buttons in the cruise combination switch. To maintain the set speed, the PCM monitors the actuator position using the throttle position sensor and controls the speed by commanding the throttle actuator to open and close as needed.

The system changes its cruise control throttle inputs depending on whether the vehicle's ECON mode is on or off. When the ECON mode is on, the system limits the throttle position to prevent excessive throttle application to improve fuel economy when there is a change in vehicle load - for example, it will take longer for the vehicle to accelerate to the set speed or applying throttle to maintain speed when climbing a hill. When the ECON mode is off, the vehicle will accelerate quicker to compensate for the change in vehicle load.