Cruise Control Issue

**Scott_Lee** · 28th October 2025, 10:52 AM

Hi team,

I recently bought a car fridge and have been plugging it in the 12v cigarette socket in the rear of the disco 3. Twice now I've been on the freeway with cruise control when the engine has cut out and had to roll to a stop. It's restarted after shutting everything down, but it seems to me that it's happening when the fridge kicks the compressor on and I'm in cruise control.

Would I be correct in assuming that the compressor is drawing too much amps, killing the battery management system? Or the 12V accessory circuit is the same circuit as the cruise control?

Anyone else experienced this?

Scott

**DiscoJeffster** · 28th October 2025, 11:00 AM

No mate. None of those things are accurate. The cruise and accessories are not connected. Also, it can’t draw too much power else the fuse would blow. Completely unrelated. You’ll need to read those codes in the ECUs to see what they show and go from there.

**loanrangie** · 28th October 2025, 11:48 AM

It is plausible that your battery may be weak and the little extra drain is enough to cause it but that would likely cause the full gamit of cascading faults not just for the CC.

**veebs** · 28th October 2025, 11:51 AM

The car has an emergency cutout, which prevents you from driving past a bottle shop if the beer levels in your fridge are low. Only kicks in when there is a fridge installed though.

Agree with above - get the codes read, otherwise we're just guessing.

**Captain_Rightfoot** · 29th October 2025, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by loanrangie

It is plausible that your battery may be weak and the little extra drain is enough to cause it but that would likely cause the full gamit of cascading faults not just for the CC.

Even a large fridge shouldn't be more than 4-5a? My engel is 2. You'd think the alternator would easily cover that with a lot of change!

**loanrangie** · 29th October 2025, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Even a large fridge shouldn't be more than 4-5a? My engel is 2. You'd think the alternator would easily cover that with a lot of change!

Thats if the battery/alternator are in good nic plus these cars are so power sensitive any hiccup can cause issues.

**DiscoJeffster** · 29th October 2025, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Thats if the battery/alternator are in good nic plus these cars are so power sensitive any hiccup can cause issues.

If the fridge turning on would trip it then the headlights would as well. Easy test then.

**loanrangie** · 29th October 2025, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

If the fridge turning on would trip it then the headlights would as well. Easy test then.

True, i'm not saying that this is his issue but its not implausible and you wouldn't see that in the daytime.

**veebs** · 29th October 2025, 11:20 AM

These things have something like 180A alternators in them - they laugh in the face of the power draw of an Engel.

**Scott_Lee** · 29th October 2025, 11:58 AM

Thanks every one for the feedback. Each time this has happened, the whole car has shut down.

What's interesting is that it only happen with cruise control on. No problem otherwise, lights on / off, aircon blowing.

Worth noting, I have had the occasional battery light on with startup, but it generally only lasts the length of my driveway and then gone.

Ill get a read on the SDD and see what the fault code is.

I'm assuming even if the battery is on its way out, the alternator should still compensate?

Thread: Cruise Control Issue

Thread Tools

Cruise Control Issue

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions