Exhaust brake, and tow haul shut off

[Cummings]

Has anyone found out how to keep the exhaust brake and tow haul on, after you shut off the truck, and restart? It can be dangerous to be towing a heavy trailer, and have forgotten to turn them back on after a stop. I called the ram "customer help" line, and they told me that nothing can be done, but I hope to find out that something CAN be done. Love the truck, hate this feature.

 

[Cummings]

Sorry, I forgot to add that my new truck is a '12 laramie longhorn, DRW with, of course, the CTD

 

[Cummins12V98]

I would love to do the same. I turn both on every time I start the truck. I did forget one time and I was going down a 6% grade and was thinking I was not slowing down very good then it hit me, turned both on and all was good again.

 

[jkern]

Can any transmission damage or life shortening occur with running both on all the time? I run empty probably 75% of the time, but do like the tow/haul and exhaust brake on, but have been nervous to run that way all the time.

 

[RonD]

Has anyone found out how to keep the exhaust brake and tow haul on, after you shut off the truck, and restart? It can be dangerous to be towing a heavy trailer, and have forgotten to turn them back on after a stop. I called the ram "customer help" line, and they told me that nothing can be done, but I hope to find out that something CAN be done. Love the truck, hate this feature.

It is very simple, close the door, buckle the seat belts, start the engine, remove parking brake, engage in gear, push the two buttons for TH and EB and go, you should try flying an airplane with a 30 idem check list

 

[RustyJC]

Can any transmission damage or life shortening occur with running both on all the time? I run empty probably 75% of the time, but do like the tow/haul and exhaust brake on, but have been nervous to run that way all the time.

The Cummins Tech at our dealership (who seems pretty sharp) highly recommended using the exhaust brake 100% of the time. His rationale is that the continuous movement of the variable nozzle ring reduces or eliminates problems with soot buildup and sticking. Since the tow/haul function raises shift points and gives a more aggressive downshift schedule under braking, it might incur an extremely slight mileage penalty in stop-and-go driving, but it shouldn't be detrimental to the transmission. In fact, IF tow/haul bumps up the transmission line pressures, it might shift more firmly but the lack of clutch pack slippage during shifts should extend the transmission life, not reduce it.



I generally use the EB and tow/haul 100% of the time, towing or running empty.



Rusty

 

[Tryingit]

I would love to keep at least the exhaust brake on all of the time. But what really bugs me is that you have to manually turn on the air recirculated each and everytime as well.

The CC trucks are programmed to leave on which ever button was turned on until the driver decides to shut it off.

I've seen many posts asking the same question, but apparently the answer is no... .

 

[NIsaacs]

I don't really see the problem If you turn or change lanes, the turn signal goes on, if it gets dark, the light switch goes on, if you are hot or cold... .



Nick

 

[jkern]

I don't mind having to turn on the EB or Tow/haul either, but what I do think is poor engineering is having a bright yellow light glaring me in the face all the time. Yellow means caution, why is the tow/haul and EB light yellow? it should be green, or actually it should not be there at all in the on position... you should only get a light if the EB is off, or is in a failed state.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I don't mind having to turn on the EB or Tow/haul either, but what I do think is poor engineering is having a bright yellow light glaring me in the face all the time. Yellow means caution, why is the tow/haul and EB light yellow? it should be green, or actually it should not be there at all in the on position... you should only get a light if the EB is off, or is in a failed state.

My lights are visible but they sure are not bright.

 

[sabersix]

Not sure if this works for 4th generation, but will help you understand what is needed.



Automatic Exhaust Brake Switch

 

[Tryingit]

Not sure if this works for 4th generation, but will help you understand what is needed.



Automatic Exhaust Brake Switch

Actually two years I purchased everything as shown. Only to learn that for 2010 the wiring had changed. The switches send a signal to the ecm (or something like that) which then turns on the accessory. Gone for the most part are the days of tapping into a switch.

I do realize that it is actually not to difficult to push on a switch but hey for 55K why can't these sophisticated computers and advanced electronics remember my dang preferences????? An especially why can't the air recirculation button stay on when the ac remembers to stay on? I was thinking the same thing the other day of why didn't they use a different color for the exhaustbrake and the tow/haul indicator lights? I'm over the yellow lights now. But in the begining it took me some time to ignore the two little yellow lights.

 

[tp0d]

Actually two years I purchased everything as shown. Only to learn that for 2010 the wiring had changed. The switches send a signal to the ecm (or something like that) which then turns on the accessory. Gone for the most part are the days of tapping into a switch.

I do realize that it is actually not to difficult to push on a switch but hey for 55K why can't these sophisticated computers and advanced electronics remember my dang preferences????? An especially why can't the air recirculation button stay on when the ac remembers to stay on? I was thinking the same thing the other day of why didn't they use a different color for the exhaustbrake and the tow/haul indicator lights? I'm over the yellow lights now. But in the begining it took me some time to ignore the two little yellow lights.

Well, not to be a pooper, but let me try to answer some of those questions. .



The Recic doesnt stay on, because its not good for the AC system when run for extended periods. Running in recirc once the cab is cool causes high head pressures in the refrig system, which stresses joints and exchangers. I guess dodge's opinion is to try to minimize stress on the system to avoid failure.



As for the E-brake, it shouldnt be run in slippery conditions, like snow/ice. Again, guessing that dodge is taking the cautious route and not allowing the auto-enable to prevent any accidents/etc. Being that they sell more 2500/3500 models than 4500+ (which auto enable), and the 2500/3500 is more of a 'consumer' model than a commercial 4500+, the possibility of an accident caused by an auto-enable is pretty high, as is the lawsuit possibility. Dunno about the tow-haul angle. . I no longer use tow-haul as it really stresses my drivetrain with its excessive downshifting at inopportune times.



That said, I`d like to see auto e-brake enable in my 3500. . prolly wont see it tho. .



-j

 

[HBarlow]

Life is simple if you buy a cab and chassis. The cab and chassis trucks, 3500, 4500, and 5500, are programmed so that the default position at every start up is exhaust brake on. My exhaust brake has been activated for 100% of the starts and miles driven. It was also on 100% on my '01 and '06 Rams.

If I owned an '11 or '12 pickup I would work very hard to determine a way to change it to always on.

 

[Tryingit]

Well, not to be a pooper, but let me try to answer some of those questions. .



The Recic doesnt stay on, because its not good for the AC system when run for extended periods. Running in recirc once the cab is cool causes high head pressures in the refrig system, which stresses joints and exchangers. I guess dodge's opinion is to try to minimize stress on the system to avoid failure.



As for the E-brake, it shouldnt be run in slippery conditions, like snow/ice. Again, guessing that dodge is taking the cautious route and not allowing the auto-enable to prevent any accidents/etc. Being that they sell more 2500/3500 models than 4500+ (which auto enable), and the 2500/3500 is more of a 'consumer' model than a commercial 4500+, the possibility of an accident caused by an auto-enable is pretty high, as is the lawsuit possibility. Dunno about the tow-haul angle. . I no longer use tow-haul as it really stresses my drivetrain with its excessive downshifting at inopportune times.



That said, I`d like to see auto e-brake enable in my 3500. . prolly wont see it tho. .



-j

Your not a pooper, I appeciate your response. I'm aware of the whole liability angle and it does make sense from their point of view. But allow us at least the option of paying the dealer to activate the options we would like. Because it would be just as easy to push the button off (less frequently). It's a habit now and actually a mute point about pushing the various buttons on.

 

[Tryingit]

Life is simple if you buy a cab and chassis. The cab and chassis trucks, 3500, 4500, and 5500, are programmed so that the default position at every start up is exhaust brake on. My exhaust brake has been activated for 100% of the starts and miles driven. It was also on 100% on my '01 and '06 Rams.



If I owned an '11 or '12 pickup I would work very hard to determine a way to change it to always on.

If there was a way to do it I would as well. I got to spend so time with my buddy's 4500 tow truck and the exhause brake was off upon start up but stayed on when it you pushed the switch on. I know it didn't come on all of the time because he never used his. I remember this because I "advised" him that being a local wrecker he really should be using his e-brake all of the time.

 

[RDrennan]

To correct some confusion

Well, not to be a pooper, but let me try to answer some of those questions. .



The Recic doesnt stay on, because its not good for the AC system when run for extended periods. Running in recirc once the cab is cool causes high head pressures in the refrig system, which stresses joints and exchangers. I guess dodge's opinion is to try to minimize stress on the system to avoid failure.



As for the E-brake, it shouldnt be run in slippery conditions, like snow/ice. Again, guessing that dodge is taking the cautious route and not allowing the auto-enable to prevent any accidents/etc. Being that they sell more 2500/3500 models than 4500+ (which auto enable), and the 2500/3500 is more of a 'consumer' model than a commercial 4500+, the possibility of an accident caused by an auto-enable is pretty high, as is the lawsuit possibility. Dunno about the tow-haul angle. . I no longer use tow-haul as it really stresses my drivetrain with its excessive downshifting at inopportune times.



That said, I`d like to see auto e-brake enable in my 3500. . prolly wont see it tho. .



-j

I have been in the HVAC/R field for almost 33 years and I now teach HVAC/R and am Technical support and I am sorry to correct this person but operating your AC for extended periods in Recirc mode does NOT cause high head pressure on the system nore does it stress any of the joints on the exchanger. It actually reduces the pressures in the system by reducing the load on the system because there is less heat in the air being conditioned so there is less load on the system. By turning off recirc and drawing outside air you are increasing the load on the system and increasing the stress on the system. So, in short it is better, after the initial cooling from outside air on a hot day to switch to recirc to keep the same air conditioned to reduce the load on your AC system and NOT introduce hot air from outside into the vehicles cabin.

 

[RVTRKN]

I'm also in the HVAC world and a lic. contractor, and also taught for a couple of years. You couldn't of said it better, but what I do to help my AC catch up to high cabin heat, is to crack the windows open slightly and open the system to outside air, which causes a positive air condition in the cab and pushes out the high heat built up in the cab. Then I select recirculation and keep it there until I get out. I guess you can say this helps in relieving stress on the system, seeing how the outside air is cooler than the cabin air, therefore it helps keep the refrigerant pressures lower. But that isn't why I do it, I do it to cool the cab quicker.



On my 04. 5 CTD I had the issue of the vent door from day one, my wife would always complain of being warmer and when climbing grades we would get the diesel smell from the big rigs. When I complained to the dealer, I was told that they are required to have a little fresh air entering the cab. That was bogus, but I believed it at the time, because of the fresh air requirements on building AC systems. When my vent door failed completely it was out of warranty and they paid for half the cost. Once the vent door was fixed, all the issues my wife complained about went away, to include no more diesel smell on grades.

 

[Bob4x4]

The issue with recirc is #1 many people have sensitive eyes that will dry out in dry air and #2 is can lead to fungus growing in humid climates. We have had different coating on evaps over the years some worked some didn't

 

[RVTRKN]

The problem with our recirculation doors is that Dodge ignored them until confronted with the warranty repair or confronted by a dissatisfied customer that has complained since day one until finally it totally failed after warranty. Then, and only then, do they tell me, (oops :-laf), tell us , that it needs replacement and want $900. 00 for the repair. The ****** off look on my face told the service writer I was going to go over his head when he talked to upper management, then had offered half cost.