Exhaust brake woes

[2Farr]

I installed a Banks exhaust brake on my 1999 3500. Works as advertised. You turn it on and drive, it comes on when you let off the throttle even if you use the foot brake. If I hook up any trailer, and try to use the exhaust brake. It will come on when I let off the throttle but if I touch the brakes it shuts off. If I blip the throttle it will come back on till I touch the foot brake again. I have checked the wiring. Replaced the 7 prong plug in back. checked wiring on the Banks brake.
I've contacted Banks and they "will get back to me".
I'd be pulling my hair out right now but I can't afford to loose what I have left.
Any Ideas?
Thanks

 

[NIsaacs]

I would by-pass the secondary throttle switch and try it direct.

 

[SnoKing]

Assuming this is a vacuum operated one like I had on my 2001.5 I would hook up a vacuum gauge and attach it to the windshield and make sure you do not have a vacuum problem. The only issue I had was I had to clean the vacuum solenoid about every other year.

You also could wire a multi-meter to the leaders to the vacuum solenoid to verify it as an electrical issue. Where are you sourcing the main power to the Banks electronics?

 

[jghflys]

Low voltage to the exhaust brake controls will cause it not to function. Check if the voltage on the power supply to the control unit is dropping when you hit the brake. Make sure trailer is connected so the trailer brakes will turn on when you hit the brakes.

 

[2Farr]

Problem solved. Throttle position sensor was on its way out. It was putting low voltage out .248v instead of .4 to 1.0 volts. When the lights were turned on it would drop voltage even lower. The Banks brake is triggered off the throttle sensor. Replaced it and exhaust brake works just fine and the transmission shifts better. In the mornings when the engine was cold and I would shift to drive it would stall now it does not. I have herd that if you get a dead throttle pedal this sensor can cause it.

 

[Ozymandias]

Did you do the relearn process after installing the new TPS?
Means, switching on ignition, pushing down an release go pedal once, switching off ignition.

 

[SnoKing]

Problem solved. Throttle position sensor was on its way out. It was putting low voltage out .248v instead of .4 to 1.0 volts. When the lights were turned on it would drop voltage even lower. The Banks brake is triggered off the throttle sensor. Replaced it and exhaust brake works just fine and the transmission shifts better. In the mornings when the engine was cold and I would shift to drive it would stall now it does not. I have herd that if you get a dead throttle pedal this sensor can cause it.

Great. Glad you figured it out.

 

[2Farr]

New throttle position sensor and set up process.Adjusted voltage of yellow wire to .550v . Turn key on slowly press throttle to floor then slowly let back to idle. Took the old sensor apart and there was wear on the rheostat and a pit where the wiper should sit at idle.

 

[HPSimpson]

Well you found the problem with the old sensor wiper warn gone.

 

[Ozymandias]

Did you buy the Wells unit that is without rheostat, contact less or did you go with a standard one?
I ask because i have the Wells in mine and I'm perfectly happy with it.

 

[HPSimpson]

From what he says looks like put another stock one in and did setup process.

 

[2Farr]

Put a oem one on since it lasted twenty plus years and 250K miles, when this one wears out I'm not going to worry about it.