97 F-150 XL V6 4.2L Cruise control not working
 

It has a standard transmission, vacuum cruise control with no place or plug for brake release switch, no power windows/locks. I checked the vacuum lines and sealed them off, checked the fuses, and yet I still have no cruise. No indicator light shows when attempting to operate, and I have yet to find a replacement lever switch anywhere for it. Not sure if it is the switch or not.

check and see if the emergency brake is engaged

sounds like an aftermarket system to me. Can you post a picture of the controls?

i didn't think the XL's had factory cruise control in these years

If I am correct, the "Cruise" light wasn't added until late 99-00. My early 99 has no cruise light. Some models had the cruise cut-off on the bottom of the master cylinder, try there. As a quick check list: Does the horn work? Do your reverse lights work? Have you visually inspected the Clutch Position Sensor?

Your referring to the cruise deactivation switch at MC ( the front of it). Not sure what you mean by lever switch. If your vehicle has the correct master cylinder (it could of been changed in the past with one without cruise, by mistake), then it should be in plain site with fused recall harness connected. Your model was in the Ford recall group. So make sure you check the harness itself as it has a small in-line fuse you can't see. It's taped up in the harness. If you have the correct master, you can simply test the recall harness/fuse and cruise activation by removing the recall harness completely. Set it aside for now, then just connect directly to the masters deactivation switch instead. This is the way it came from the factory, it will connect direct. This is just to check the recall harness integrity, takes couple minutes to switch out. Take the truck for a ride, check cruise activation and deactivation. If it works, unwrap the tape from the recall harness, replace inline fuse. Just don't run it without the recall harness permanently. The truck can literally burn to the ground and take your garage and house with it...reason it was recalled.

But yea, make sure you have the correct master/parts first. Otherwise, you don't have cruise....yet.

That might be correct, but they are wired for it. The OP must have the correct steering wheel. He would need the right master cylinder. The only other reason it wouldn't work is if it wasn't programed for cruise....doubt that's the case.

I've never seen the cruise light in the gen 10 150's. The Navigators had them from the get go.

Yea, that's correct, deactivation switch is on the master. I'm not sure how the CPS integrates....seems like it would have to though. Not sure about that.

There is already a cruise control unit on the truck that is not operational. I have recently installed a servo as there were connections to install one, and I am going to replace the MC as well in hopes that this will give me CC again. Also, as to where I said lever switch, there are no buttons on the steering wheel, but instead a lever where the tilt would be.

Update
 

Installed new master cylinder, brake release switch, and cruise servo with the cable. Still no cruise control. Does anyone know if I need to rewire the switch in the cab to the servo?

pictures show new cc unit and old cc unit.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...142fe2316e.jpg
Old unit
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...635d774d6c.jpg
Throttle with new unit
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...4404def8e3.jpg
Complete setup
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...cb4e148356.jpg
Complete setup
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...64da23d2f2.jpg
Old in comparison to new

Everyone is forgetting the brake switch on the pedal. The wires break there or the brake light switch might be the culprit

I have no issues with my brake or reverse lights whatsoever