Suppose I should add that the cruise light on the dash dosn't light up.

 

my cruise didnt work when i got mine as well try checking the wires in the steering column under the plastice cover i actually had a cleanly broken wire i guess from all the years of bein tilted up and down.

 

My '96 stopped working, I just tilted the steering wheel up and down and it started working again...
My $.02

 

I guess pinched wires in steering column are a common cause of this problem.

 

anyone know which fuse handles the cruise?

 

Good luck... I'm still messing with mine 8 months later. UGH!

 

Check the usual culprits. Look for vacuum leaks, look at the cruise control actuator under the battery and make sure everything is hooked up properly. There is a vacuum connection for the cruise under the cowl from what I have read. The connectors on the steering wheel get messed up and need to be cleaned up. I read a write up on that many months back, it's not too hard, just be careful not to loose any of the small pieces. Check relays and fuses. The light not coming on simply means it's not engaging, nothing more.