Question About Exhaust Brake

[Steve Martin]

Hello All,

I have a question about my 2013 2500 4X4 exhaust brake. When using my exhaust brake, it doesn't seem to be working unless I’m at speeds of 30-35 mph or higher. So my question is does the exhaust brake only work in either mode at 30-35 mph or higher??? If I’m pulling my 5,500 lb trailer down a grade at less then 30-35 mph I have no assistance from the exhaust brake. Is this normal??? Should the exhaust brake be helping me or working at lower speeds??? When do people notice the “lowest” speed they have the exhaust brake come on?? Thanks

 

[Powder Extreme]

It shuts off at a higher speed if you are not in tow haul mode.

Mine in tow haul slows down to roughly 5mph

 

[NIsaacs]

Hello All,

So my question is does the exhaust brake only work in either mode at 30-35 mph or higher??? If I’m pulling my 5,500 lb trailer down a grade at less then 30-35 mph I have no assistance from the exhaust brake. Thanks

What gear and rpm were you at? The exhaust brake is more rpm dependant than speed.

Nick

 

[Hoefler]

Engage Tow/Haul to take full advantage of the exhaust brake.

 

[LocoPilot750]

My '14 Laramie is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, I ordered in Oct 29th. I've never used an exhaust brake with an automatic, so will have to play with it for a while to figure it out. Once turned on, how is it activated? Is it when you take your foot off the accelerator, or does it come on when you use the brake pedal?

 

[slingshot383]

Make it a habit to turn on the exhaust brake ecah time you drive the truck, with the VGT turbo, it will help keep it clean. The new trucks have a smart brake feature so that when you are not towing or carrying a load you can coast when off throttle and not on the brake pedal.

 

[JSoloman]

The smart brake will kick in above 1500 RPMs

 

[Bug Out]

The 2013 e-brake is excellent. It will slow you to about 30-35 not in tow haul. In tow haul I've seen mine stay engaged to 20-25 MPH. "Auto E-brake" will keep you from slowing down on long grades if you want to stay at a particular speed. When mine is at 25K GCVW on a 6% downgrade the e-brake will slow me down too much, so I use auto e-brake and maintain my speed down hill. Real nice feature..Push the e-brake button 2x for auto brake.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The 2013 e-brake is excellent. It will slow you to about 30-35 not in tow haul. In tow haul I've seen mine stay engaged to 20-25 MPH. "Auto E-brake" will keep you from slowing down on long grades if you want to stay at a particular speed. When mine is at 25K GCVW on a 6% downgrade the e-brake will slow me down too much, so I use auto e-brake and maintain my speed down hill. Real nice feature..Push the e-brake button 2x for auto brake.

At the top of the grade set your cruise control and it should hold you. Also have it in the gear you came up the grade in.

 

[Steve Martin]

Thanks Everyone for the feed back on the exhaust brake. Mine does not to be working the way others have described here. What I have experienced is towing my trailer at 5,500 lbs. down a grade (in tow haul) in 2nd or 3rd gear doing approximately 20-25 mph with exhaust brake in the first (not auto) mode and nothing happening when I take my foot off the accelerator. When my speed gets to approx. 30-33 mph I then feel the exhaust brake in gauge. Once the e-brake starts to work, it will stay engaged until 15-20mph or lower. My problem seems to be getting the e-brake to engage below 30 mph hour, it just won’t do it!!! So, moral to the story is if I am going down a slow twisty down hill grade and do NOT get above 30 mph I don't get any assistance from exhaust brake. Does anyone else experience this same problem or is this normal??? Don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’m in a lower gear, tow haul on, exhaust brake set to full engage mode, and no exhaust brake working under 30 mph. Thanks

 

[Terry Jay]

In the 2012, and a lot of other applications, the trigger is 1,000 rpm.

Use the Tow/Haul and the Exhaust Brake and Cruise, but Cruise disengages at 35 mph, so watch the rpms and keep them above 1000.

 

[Steve Martin]

I was definitely above 1000 rpm, was in 2nd gear doing 25-30 mph and no exhaust brake....No matter what I do, i get no e-brake below 30 mph. I thought I read something about the e-brake will not engage under 30 mph... Anyone else see that written anywhere?? Not sure.

 

[crabjoe]

I was definitely above 1000 rpm, was in 2nd gear doing 25-30 mph and no exhaust brake....No matter what I do, i get no e-brake below 30 mph. I thought I read something about the e-brake will not engage under 30 mph... Anyone else see that written anywhere?? Not sure.

My '14 the same. Anything below 30mph and there's no EB...

 

[Steve Martin]

Crabjoe,

Thanks, I thought I was the only one having the same thing happening...He’s the big question....Is this normal?? Or does it need to go back to the dealer?? Has anybody found it written that this this normal?? Thanks

 

[crabjoe]

I think it's normal. From what I've heard, the EB only works when the TC is locked and there's some other parameters that need to be met for it to stay locked. I think the biggest issue is the TC and rear axle ratio. The TC won't lock in 1st gear and the 3.42s are to tall to allow for other parameters like rpm.

I've seen some say their EB stays on till they're almost stopped.. But the majority of these people have 4.10s...

 

[Wertles]

Steve and crab, what transmission do you have? I wouldn't think that there would be a difference in EB function between the Mopar and Aisin but I know that in tow/haul mode with 4.10's, it brings me almost to a stop.

 

[crabjoe]

Steve and crab, what transmission do you have? I wouldn't think that there would be a difference in EB function between the Mopar and Aisin but I know that in tow/haul mode with 4.10's, it brings me almost to a stop.

Being that Steve's is a 2500, he's got the 68RFE. I've got the Aisin in my 3500. Both trucks being SRW have 3.42s.. I really think the tall gear is causing the issue.. 3.42s are just to tall for the transmissions gearing, since the EB doesn't work in 1st gear.

 

[MelvinPierce]

Being that Steve's is a 2500, he's got the 68RFE. I've got the Aisin in my 3500. Both trucks being SRW have 3.42s.. I really think the tall gear is causing the issue.. 3.42s are just to tall for the transmissions gearing, since the EB doesn't work in 1st gear.

Does it work in 2nd? Seems like mine doesn't, but it kicks out around 20 mph anyway, so I am going slow then. Usually not needed at real slow speeds.

 

[Steve Martin]

Thanks Crabjoe...I was expecting the EB to help with down hill grades when on slow twisty roads....It seems to work great when on the freeway and on a long 5-6% downhill grade, but not happy when on a slow mountainous switch back roads under 30mph....Have to use the service brake lot...Still a great truck...very happy!!! Thanks

 

[slingshot383]

Another thing is the +/- control on the shifter, do your own downshifting, and the Exhaust Brake will stay on longer.