Stuck exhaust brake?

[BKunic]

My truck's exhaust brake is apparently stuck on the "on" position. Has anyone else had this happen? Basically, what do I do, as it is most annoying? Is it probably a solenoid problem? I'd like to try to solve it myself, but at this point I'm just trying to mine the knowledge base here.



Thanks in advance,



Bryan

 

[MMeier]

The little vent thing on mine gets clogged with "stuff" occassionally, unscrew it clean with solvent and compressed air( from inside out) and see if that helps any.

 

[jelag]

Bryan



You didn't say what brand of exhaust brake..... or year of your truck... .



If you have the jacobs unit... disconnect the vacuum line and see if it returns on its own... . its a spring return valve... . with the line disconnected see if you can pull the mechanical link back and open the valve if it doesn't snap back on its own...



The latest pacbrake is also a spring return... pulling the air line from the cylinder should allow it to open... . if not do the same thing... pull on the mechanical linkage and see if it will open...



If you have another brand I can't help. . because I'm not knowledgable of their systems...



If you have further questions feel free to email me directly...

 

[BKunic]

Jelag,



The truck is an 04, picked it up in Sept of 03. I'm pretty sure that it is a Pacbrake. Actually, now that I think about it, it IS a Pacbrake. '03 vintage. Excuse my stupidity, but there is a vacuum line that is easily visible on the unit itself? Okay, so I pull the vacuum line and hopefully it'll return on its own. If so, am I done, or is there somethig that needs adjustment or cleaning at this point? If it doesn't return on it's own, I am to try to pull the mechanical link back. Assuming I can, am I done, or is there something else I need to do after that?



I'll also look for the vent that MMeier mentioned and try to clean it out.



Thanks for the info,



Bryan

 

[SRadke]

If it's a Pacbrake it will be operated by a small compressed air cylinder, not vacuum. Disconnect the line from the cylinder on the brake unit and see if it returns. If not, try pulling the linkage back (keeping it mind it is spring loaded and you don't want your fingers in the way when it pops free).



-Scott

 

[BKunic]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot.



Bryan

 

[jelag]

If you find that the valve is stuck. . there is some lube available... . its designed to handle the extream heat... . don't use oil... . but you'll have to pull the casting from the turbo and do this from a bench.....



Have you not been using the brake... . they can carbon up from lack of use... .



Jim

 

[BKunic]

Its been 115 here, so I really haven't felt like messing with it.



What is the high temp lube to use?



I use the exhaust brake all the time, so I doubt it has a carbon build up. What I noticed though is that it will activate itself. Today I was driving it a bit and purposely did not activate it to see if it would come on by itself, and it would a few times. Doesn't this indicate that it is simply not a case of getting stuck on the "on" position after it is activated?



Thanks for all the good info,



Bryan

 

[BKunic]

I disconnected the air line from the brake, and everything looked good. The problem is that the brake seems to come on by itself, so I don't know what is happening.



Any ideas before I take it in to the dealer who installed it?



Thanks for the input,



Bryan

 

[SRadke]

Either a probloem in the electronics or the solenoid. Take it back to the installer.



-Scott