Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Intermittent operation of Banks Exhaust Brake

[ETomasic]

This is for those Banks Exhaust Brake owners who have experienced intermittent operation or failure of their brake. Banks supplies a good comprehensive kit, with one exception. The wire connectors leave something to be desired.



Mine worked fine for about 2 months, then started to cut out without being told. Thinking back to the initial installation, I had no brake function. I remembered that Banks tech staff (Excellent support by the way) had me check the connections at the TPS wire. I put up with this for a month or 2, during which time it got worse. Also, cruise control function became affected.



I finally got around to soldering the connections at the Cruise Control and TPS taps. Problem solved.



P. S. Banks install tip (from me, not Banks), Lengthen your Grey wires to the Cruise Control about 8". This will give you LOTS more flexibility when mounting the module, and won't stress the harness. Be sure to weatherproof all connections.

 

[CJ Lagos]

I've noticed that in the mornings when it is warming up, the brake will cut on and off, but i've never had it cut on/off while on the road. Maybe my connection to the coolant sensor is loose, I should double check it.



I still haven't installed the new harness they sent me so that it will work with the cruise, been putting it off.



CJ

 

[ETomasic]

Yep, Sounds like the temp sensor tap is a little funky. Never had cold warm-up function give me any problems, but had all the other connection related bug-a-boos. I jiggled wires with limited success, but found solder & heat shrink to be the only real fix.



Good Luck!

 

[SnoKing]

What happens to warm up function of exhaust brake, if your truck goes into cold weather fast idle mode and/or three cylinder warm up??? SNOKING

 

[rmackay1]

Interesting comments, I chucked most of the electronic stuff on my banks brake, and I mounted a momentary switch on the gear shift, my feeling being that I want my brakes when I decide, not when a box does.

Another thing I'm experimenting with, and I'm not sure if I'm doing myself a favor or not, but I think I am,I energize the brake with the hose to the brake off the solinoid. Then I get 3 or 4 oz. of marvelous mystryoil, momentairily put the hose to the SOV and ingauage the brake the quickly pull the hose off and stick it in the oil giving the cyclinder and piston a shot of oil, then I put it back together and when I use my brake I give my vacume pump a shot of oil as well, a good thing?, time will tell, ray

 

[darkhorse]

I installed mine with the supplied wire taps back in Feruary. It's thus far worked flawlessly. If it gets erratic I now have a clue what to check.