Pac Brake Prxb Blues

[Paddy McMahon]

After total neglect from Pac Brake customer service I called up Pacific Clutch & Brake where I purchased my brake set up after experiencing problems getting the brake to engage in 2nd or 1st gear of my auto transmission. (I double check all wiring & connections first) They took my credit card info (didn't charge me) and immediately sent me a new plastic control box they refer to as the "co-pilot" to replace the old unit. I open the box when it arrived and it is NOT looking like the same unit and it has a bunch of wires and taps included and two diffenet sets of instructions. I call Pacific and they explain that I must re-wire the setup to get things to work right. After some thought I call Pac Brake to confirm this and they don't have a clue, but refer me to ATS who makes the "co-pilot" controller for Pac Brake. ATS tells me that since my purhase was within the last year the replacement unit should just "plug and play" and away I should go-without wiring or taps. So I give this a try only to find that now the warm up feature is gone and while the brake is more consistent, it is not engaging 100% of the time it should. I am reluctant to do a bunch of bootleg wiring to augment the new controller and I am worried about sending in my old "co-pilot" for warranty credit until this is resolved. Anyone else been down this path? With the exception of the Pac Brake Company, the other vendors have tried to help out, but I am confused and discouraged to the point of just removing the whole setup and throwing it in the trash at this point. Any suggestions on how to resolve this?

 

[jelag]

Paddy... I'm sorry your unhappy... . I stand behind everything we sell... . and from what PacBrake has assured me, it might a user problem...

I'm more than willing to refund you money fully... . if that's what you want... just remove it and return it... I'll write you a credit...

We have sold and installed lots of these... . and the ones we've installed work as designed...

Let us know what you want to do...

 

[Paddy McMahon]

Thanks for the offer, but what I really want is to have an operational exhaust brake. I am more than pleased with your service and the performance of the prxb when it is working. My issue is the fact that the unit seems to be working intermittently and I can't find the problem. It worked absolutely flawlessly for over six months. I am a huge advocate for the PRXB and believe Pacific Clutch and Brake has given me outstanding customer service. I am just frustrated. If there was someone authorized to troubleshoot and resolve this issue I would gladly drive a half day to get this handled. If it boils down to user error on my part I would gladly reimburse anyone for any time or expenses to strighten things out.

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the offer, but what I really want is to have an operational exhaust brake. I am more than pleased with your service and the performance of the prxb when it is working. My issue is the fact that the unit seems to be working intermittently and I can't find the problem. It worked absolutely flawlessly for over six months. I am a huge advocate for the PRXB and believe Pacific Clutch and Brake has given me outstanding customer service. I am just frustrated. If there was someone authorized to troubleshoot and resolve this issue I would gladly drive a half day to get this handled. If it boils down to user error on my part I would gladly reimburse anyone for any time or expenses to strighten things out.

Your proposed solution is precisely what I would do. Take a day off and go to Spokane. I believe you and Jelag are honest and reasonable men. I'm sure Jelag's Pacific Clutch and Brake can make it right for you and everyone will end up happy.



I had a Jacobs Brake on my '01 that began sticking closed after a couple hundred thousand miles. It is probably not a common problem but it can happen.

 

[TCDiesel]

We Do not use the recommend wiring from Pac on 2005, we wire around the ECM with our own peddle switch and warm up switch. . only problem is when you use the Cruise you must deactivate the paddle switch.

 

[Paddy McMahon]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Pacific is working with me to iron this out. Much of this seems to stem from the interface between the controller module made by ATS for Pac Brake and the transmission valve body which is made by Goerend. All great components and great people to back their products... . in fact I have been on the Phone with Pacific Clutch, ATS, & Dave Goerend all this afternoon and I am sure we can get things to work right. As for driving up to Spokane... I am in Santa Barbara CA working for four months so that is a 1500 mile drive each way. I would have run up there in a minute If I were up in McCall Idaho right now. TWest-thanks for the info.

 

[AABEN]

If you will lube the Jake with a light oil that will stop it. I use liquid wrench it dose a good job Jest don't over do it.

 

[Paddy McMahon]

I thought I'd clear the air on all of this. Turns out that making a modification to the co-pilot controller is what is needed due to my aftermarket valve body. the stock PRXB controller will not allow the torque converter to unlock or make a 4-3 downshift so I should be out of the woods on this after I modify the Co-pilot following the instructions I recieved from ATS. Anyway as a nationally broacast forum I thought it was important to emphasize how helpfull everyone was in getting things back in order w/ my truck. I will be making thank you calls to everyone over the next few days, but I wanted to stress that Pacific Clutch & Brake, ATS, and Dave Goerend have all been helpfull, honest, standup people through this... ... ..... all I can say is thanks.

 

[TCDiesel]

Dave may have to modify your valve body, than you can re-wire the co-pilot this will allow the 4/3 down with Lockup manually. 05 is pita, keep in mind that VB must be modified even for the manual 4/3 down lock-up.