Here I am

Tech topic: Pacbrake stops functioning while on the road

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

IRT deadliest roads

Thought you guys would get a 'kick' out of this!

Good afternoon,



Wanted to share an experience I had while on the road many many miles from home. I was in the flatland just below Fish Creek Summit getting ready to climb the steep mountain towards Lava Hot Springs, Idaho when my kids spotted a crop duster. I hastily pulled over to the side of the road so the kids could watch the airplane.



When I got ready to merge back onto the highway, my truck had no power and was pouring black smoke out of the exhaust when I pushed on the pedal.



I turned off the switch to my pacbrake; and that solved the problem. But I knew I wanted my exhaust brake for the backside of that hill (anyone else ever been there?). I fiddled but I couldn't figure it out. I headed to Soda Springs, a nearby town.



Once there I began to troubleshoot the system.



I recalled that when I was parked watching the cropduster, my boot got caught under the pedal and the pedal lifted and fell back into place when I dislodged my boot.



Suddenly, gears started turning in my head...



I crawled up under the dash by the fuel pedal armature (which isn't easy because I'm 6'7" and 300 lbs).



Sure enough, when I lifted the pedal to dislodge my boot, it displaced the pacbrake neutral throttle switch arm from behind the top of the pedal armature to in front of it. In effect, I was engaging the exhaust brake while depressing the fuel pedal rather than disengaging it when giving it fuel.



I lifted the springy neutral throttle switch arm up and slid it behind the pedal armature.



Bingo, fixed and back on the road.



Thought this might help someone else someday.



KRS
 
Last edited:
thats a pretty big hill to pull. rolling 80mph up it, no trailer, my egts are in the 1100 range. lol

glad it was a easy fix to get you going again tho.
 
Last edited:
Good afternoon,



Wanted to share an experience I had while on the road many many miles from home. I was in the flatland just below Fish Creek Summit getting ready to climb the steep mountain towards Lava Hot Springs, Idaho when my kids spotted a crop duster. I hastily pulled over to the side of the road so the kids could watch the airplane.



When I got ready to merge back onto the highway, my truck had no power and was pouring black smoke out of the exhaust when I pushed on the pedal.



I turned off the switch to my pacbrake; and that solved the problem. But I knew I wanted my exhaust brake for the backside of that hill (anyone else ever been there?). I fiddled but I couldn't figure it out. I headed to Soda Springs, a nearby town.



Once there I began to troubleshoot the system.



I recalled that when I was parked watching the cropduster, my boot got caught under the pedal and the pedal lifted and fell back into place when I dislodged my boot.



Suddenly, gears started turning in my head...



I crawled up under the dash by the fuel pedal armature (which isn't easy because I'm 6'7" and 300 lbs).



Sure enough, when I lifted the pedal to dislodge my boot, it displaced the pacbrake neutral throttle switch arm from behind the top of the pedal armature to in front of it. In effect, I was engaging the exhaust brake while depressing the fuel pedal rather than disengaging it when giving it fuel.



I lifted the springy neutral throttle switch arm up and slid it behind the pedal armature.



Bingo, fixed and back on the road.



Thought this might help someone else someday.



KRS





THANK'S I think this will help a bunch of us.
 
Back
Top