Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) BD exhaust brake not working...

[Jeff]

I've had this brake on my truck for about 3 years. . has been working just fine until about 3 weeks ago. Once and a while it wouldn't work... now it won't work at all. I have the red pull button on my stick shift and the micro-switch under the go pedal. I'm not much on electrical, but is there somewhere I should start to see which one it messing up? All the vaccum lines appear to be hooked up properly. I know it's going to be a trace thing... I was just hoping someone who works on them frequently might know the part (or parts) that wear out first and need attention. Thanks guys! Jeff

 

[PPeterson]

It sounds like something has "worn out" (wire or corroded connector) or a wire went from occassionally intermittant to finally broken. Inspect wiring to see if a wire has been "trod on" and possible broken or pulled loose, possibly from the control board which is probably mounted up under the dash somewhere. I can't get my head far enough under to see where the board is, plus it's raining and overcast here north of Seattle.



Do you hear the vacuum come on? "Psshhhh" when you activate the red button? That would indicate the plate in brake is stuck OR you don't have any vacuum. Newer Rams have added vac pump, I understand. There should be vacuum at the vac valveswitch--test it by pulling off the incoming hose from the valve.



Pull up the red button and then push the fuel pedal down with one hand and depress the microswitch. That would eliminate a misadjusted or broken microswitch but not wiring.



I don't have any diagram of the actuating board that receives input from the two switches and controls the vacuum valve.



I don't know if the two switches apply ground to the control board or if they are hot. I would guess they are in series and apply a ground to the board which then send voltage to the vacuum valve/switch.



Hope this gets you started.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I have one but I did not install the peddle switch as I like to just pull it on when I want it. The problems I had were with a sticking spool valve. If you determine it's getting power and vacuum check the spool valve. Take the little plate cover off the end opposite the solenoid being careful not to loose the spring, spacer and o-ring behind the plate. Get some needle nose plyers and pull the spool out and clean everything up real good. I also polished mine a little with some 2000 grit sand paper. Put it back together with a tiny amount of light oil. The problem I had with mine was it would stick on and the spring was unable to overcome it and push the spool back in.

 

[Woodenhead]

I had similar problems with my 4" BD remote. The 12 volt actuated vacuum switch was the culprit. Remove the vac. switch and disassemble it by removing the tiny screws at the ends, keep track of the small parts and orientation of them. Pull the little plunger out of the inside and you'll probably find it's a bit sticky (mine was seized after sitting for too long). Clean up the plunger and cylinder, lube it with something fancy (I used silicone spray lube). Put it back together in the opposite order you took it apart and I'm sure it'll work fine.



This happened to me twice after letting the truck sit for too long without using the brake.



Mike



On edit. I just read the post above, didn't realize the details were already covered... ... . I like his terminology better .

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

If the cleaning tips don't work or if you get into the valve and find the O rings are deteriorating (like I did) you can either order a rebuild kit $20 or a new valve $60 from BD. Of course being a cheap ba, errr... thrifty, I went with the kit.



Purchased the ebrake used from pwknapp and he said he needed to clean the valve periodically with WD40.