Faulty cruise control switch or stalk, with worn or contaminated contacts; Wiring damage, chafing or poor connections in the cancel signal circuit; Faulty brake pedal switch or clutch pedal switch, or one out of adjustment, giving a wrong cancel input; Damaged clock spring or steering wheel switch wiring, on cars where the controls are in the wheel; Corrosion or water ingress at a connector or the control unit plug; Fault inside the engine control unit or the module that reads the cruise switch; Outdated or faulty control unit software, only if the manufacturer has documented this for the model.

P056C

Cruise Control Cancel Signal.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Low severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
5: AreaVehicle speed, idle control and auxiliary inputs
6C: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P056C relates to the cruise control cancel signal. The control unit has seen a cancel input from the cruise control switch or related circuit that is missing, implausible, stuck or out of range. How the fault is judged varies by model, so the exact set criteria depend on the vehicle.

Symptoms

Cruise control will not engage or drops out unexpectedly
Cruise control cannot be cancelled with the switch
Cruise control warning or malfunction light on the dashboard
Cruise control inoperative after pressing the brake or clutch
Other steering wheel or stalk buttons behaving oddly

Possible causes

Faulty cruise control switch or stalk, with worn or contaminated contactslikely
Wiring damage, chafing or poor connections in the cancel signal circuitlikely
Faulty brake pedal switch or clutch pedal switch, or one out of adjustment, giving a wrong cancel inputlikely
Damaged clock spring or steering wheel switch wiring, on cars where the controls are in the wheelpossible
Corrosion or water ingress at a connector or the control unit plugpossible
Fault inside the engine control unit or the module that reads the cruise switchrare
Outdated or faulty control unit software, only if the manufacturer has documented this for the modelrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and the freeze frame data, and note any brake switch, clutch switch or network codes alongside P056C.
Check the cruise control operation, noting which button functions fail or stick, and whether the fault is constant or intermittent.
Inspect the cruise switch or stalk, the brake and clutch switches and their connectors for damage, moisture and corrosion.
Check the brake and clutch switch adjustment and confirm brake lights work correctly and go off when the pedal is released.
Using a scan tool, watch the live cruise switch and brake switch status while operating each control and compare against expected behaviour.
Wiggle-test the harness and the steering column wiring while monitoring live data for dropouts.
Check the circuit for continuity, shorts and resistance against the manufacturer wiring diagram, since the circuit layout varies by model.
Check for relevant manufacturer service bulletins or software updates for your model before replacing the control unit.

How to fix

Replace the faulty cruise control switch or stalk.
Repair or replace damaged wiring and clean or replace corroded connectors.
Replace or correctly adjust the brake or clutch pedal switch.
Replace the clock spring or steering wheel switch assembly if found faulty.
Update the control unit software only if a documented fix applies, or replace the control unit as a last resort after confirming the circuit is sound.

Can I keep driving?

Low severity

The car is normally safe to drive without cruise control, so you can book it in. Make sure the brake lights work correctly, as a faulty brake switch can also affect them.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.