Jake Brake on.

[BillGotthelf]

Had the Jacobs Exhaust Brake installed by the dealer on tuesday. Never had one on my trucks before. Not to many hills in south florida. Towed a 8000 lbs trailer and tried it out on level surface. Worked fine and I was impressed by the amount of noise it did not produce. Anybody know if with the engine mounted air pump the fan belt is different from stock?

 

[Dean Upson]

Anybody know if with the engine mounted air pump the fan belt is different from stock?

The belt is different. Your dealer should have given you the old one. New belt is part of the kit.



Dean

 

[BillGotthelf]

Dean-the only thing the dealer gave mewas a small o-ring puller the mechanic left on the side of the engine behing the fuel rail.

 

[Slow Six]

You should have been given your original exhaust elbow , the manual and parts list and your old fan belt. When I had my Jake installed the tech. told me the old belt could be used in a pinch. With the old belt you do not drive the vacuum pump and lose the use of the Jake but everything else works.

 

[Dean Upson]

Slow Six is right, I forgot to mention the elbow and the manual. The manual can be downloaded from the Jacobs site http://www.jakebrake.com/content.php4?doc uid=73 . An important note: never disconnect the vacuum hose while the pump is running. You will ruin the pump. I suggest you go to the dealer and get your parts that you paid for with the truck. Keep the small o ring puller as a bonus .



Dean

 

[ImagesThatSing]

We had our E-brake installed by cummins. We were given the manual, but no mention or offer of the belt or the exhaust elbow. I can understand maybe these acts, but not the lack of informing us that if the belt breaks, we will have to secure a "special" belt to replace it, which would have led us to conclude carrying a spare would be in order in case of breakdown in a remote area. That becomes a safety issue, and seems like a basic courtesy, and fundamental offering which would have been consistent with a "professional" installation. That disappoints us.

Thank you for sharing this information which will now help us be more prepared.

 

[Casey Balvert]

The old belt and the exhaust elbow belong to you. You should get them back. The original belt can be used in an emergency even though the vacuum pump will not be driven. And the exhaust elbow can be put back on the truck if you decide to move the brake to another truck. Definitely get them back.



Casey

 

[Dean Upson]

There is no excuse for these dealers to be keeping the parts that you have paid for. The only reason would be for resale and that would be a very shady business practice. You should insist that the parts be given to you and inform them that you will call D/C or Cummins if they give you lip about it. Those "old" belts will be sold as new to some unsuspecting customer and the profit is 100% for either the service department or someone in the dealership. Just my . 02. .



Dean

 

[Dean Upson]

Casey,

Great minds, etc. , eh? .



Dean

 

[ImagesThatSing]

Thank you Gentlemen,

Based on your information and feelings, I called Rocky Mountain Cummins and politely requested the exhaust elbow, and the serpentine belt. I was first told that they threw them away, but after further polite but firm discussion, they said they had one that they hadn't given to the owner, at it must be mine. <<grin>> He said I could pick it up. I indicated that if the items had been offered to me at the time of the service, it would have cost no one any additional time or money. I live quite a distance from the cummins center, and asked them to ship them, and after a long silence, I indicate that 3 hours of my time and the fuel represents well over $200 which seems like a bit high of a penalty for something which was in no way my fault. He agreed and is sending the part.



Thank You.

Your comments provided the basis for their return.

 

[Dean Upson]

Don't forget that elbow!



Dean

 

[ImagesThatSing]

I just wrote sending the part when it should have been sending the parts. I probably will have no use for the exhaust elbow however, unless in the unlikely event I want to remove the exhaust brake to put on a new model Ram next year (grin). But like you'all said, it belongs to us and as I indicated to the gentleman to whom I spoke, If I came in to have you remove the exhaust brake, I find it difficult to believe that you would not charge me for a new elbow and a new belt.

 

[Dean Upson]

I would use it as a fishing weight (or an anchor ) before I would give it to the dealer for his reuse. Unlikely as it could be, that elbow might be needed at some point in time, besides it is your property. Sometimes there is an exchange, not so in this case. I am sorry to ramble on about this but I happen to have an honest dealer and this type of action tends to stereotype dealers as the other word. I am glad that you raised a little dust about this. Keeps 'em (more or less) honest.



Dean

 

[jmbrowning]

Get real

Originally posted by Dean Upson

fishing weight ... ... ... give it to the dealer for his reuse..... besides it is your property... ... . I am sorry to ramble on ..... I happen to have an honest dealer..... tends to stereotype dealers ..... Keeps 'em (more or less) honest.



Dean

Beyond "rambling on" you are being obsessive. I've been a tech for 30 (wow, I can't be that old) years, much of that at dealerships and in my experience most customers don't want and would rather you don't put their old parts in their vehicle. I realize that this is different because there's nothing wrong with the old parts. But just the same, better than 99% of the time when an accessory is installed that is the last time the customer thinks about it.



I pride myself in giving my customer the best value for their money and believe that is the way to keep them coming back. Not only is your view that most dealers (and personel) are trying to rip you off short sighted, it becomes insulting. Like everybody in your line of work is completely honest; I wouldn't call you a thief if you happened to be a lawyer. The truth of the matter is that his parts were thrown out; it usually has an option on the work order to "Save old parts", if it's not checked they're chucked. We make money selling new parts.

 

[MMeier]

Oh boy...

I foresee that special word popping up at any time now!!!

 

[Dean Upson]

Get real

Jim,



I deal with a very good dealership that I trust. I believe that most of the dealers out there are honest folks making a living the same as anyone else. I would have absolutely no problem with any of the techs at my dealership working on my truck or my recommending them to work on friends' trucks. If I gave the impression that I have bad feelings for most dealerships that is not the way that I feel. I am truely sorry if I offended you or any other of the fine techs and dealers in the forum that care about customer service.



That said, there is no excuse for the two members here that did not get those parts back in this case. If that is obsessive, than so be it.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Re: Get real

Originally posted by jmbrowning

... ... ... ... ... The truth of the matter is that his parts were thrown out; it usually has an option on the work order to "Save old parts", if it's not checked they're chucked. We make money selling new parts.

Well it sure doesn't look like the customer was asked if he wanted the option of his old parts back in this case, does it? In some cases old parts are useless but that is not the case here and the dealer would have known that, or certain should have. My two cents.



Casey

 

[ImagesThatSing]

Just in terms of the facts regarding this particular situation (exhaust brake installed by cummins above). When I spoke to the sevice man, he said first that they just throw the parts away, as the conversation progressed he asked me to hold to talk to his supervisor, then he said "we have given the parts to everyone, but we have one set here and they must be yours". One can judge the credibility of both statements above from the viewpoint of their life's experiences or points of view, however, I find both statements not credible from what I believe is an objective point of view.



This is mostly an effort to provide the facts based on the speculation of some of the comments above and mostly for purposes of clarification.



Hope this is helpful atleast regarding the facts.

 

[Elite1]

I am wondering what you all are paying for the jake brake and installation. From Cummins and or Dodge. I hope to add this option soon, when my 2003' gets delivered.

This is great reading, the education on these discussion threads is invaluable. Thanks, Marty

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by Elite1

I am wondering what you all are paying for the jake brake and installation. From Cummins and or Dodge. I hope to add this option soon, when my 2003' gets delivered.

Thanks, Marty

Marty,



I got the Jacob's for $1080 installed when I ordered the truck.



Bob