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ENGINE BRAKES

Yahoo Message Number: 13136
Some newer coaches activate the brake lights when using the pac brake or jake brake..............Not sure if Country Coach does but some Monaco and Beaver Coaches do......................

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13140
My 03 Allure brake uights are activated when the Jake brake engages. My previous 00 and 97 Intrigues had Pac Brakes and the brake lights were not connected.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13151
From: Spiker1029@...>

Quote
My 03 Allure brake uights are activated when the Jake brake engages. My > previous 00 and 97 Intrigues had Pac Brakes and the brake lights were not > connected.
When going down a hill and our PacBrake is doing its thing to hold our speed back, I only want our brake lights to come on when I hit the foot brake. If that doesn't happen, following traffic won't get that notification that we'll be slowing suddenly.

If the brake lights are always on when the exhaust/engine brake is on, following traffic can't tell the difference.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13156
I have the pacBrake in our 2005 Inspire. When I turn it on, it downshifts to 2d gear. Is this normal or should I have Allison change the setting to 3d?

Quote from: Dick Campagna
> From:

> My 03 Allure brake uights are activated when the Jake brake

engages. My

Quote
previous 00 and 97 Intrigues had Pac Brakes and the brake lights

were not

Quote
connected.

When going down a hill and our PacBrake is doing its thing to hold

our speed

Quote
back, I only want our brake lights to come on when I hit the foot

brake. If

Quote
that doesn't happen, following traffic won't get that notification

that

Quote
we'll be slowing suddenly.

If the brake lights are always on when the exhaust/engine brake is

on,

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13157
My '04 Inspire indicates 4th when the pacBrake is engaged...hmmmm. Now you have me wondering about my setting. Anyone else?

Tony Ferrara
Inspire #51172

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13158
--- In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com, Tony Ferrara
Quote
Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: ENGINE BRAKES >

I have the pacBrake in our 2005 Inspire. When I turn it on, it > downshifts to 2d gear. Is this normal or should I have Allison > change the setting to 3d?
4th gear for me in my '04 Inspire...maybe you should call Allison and ask what it is supposed to be...or is it in the manual? Guess I'd better read mine, too. LOL

Carol

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13161
2nd gear. Works great for me in West Coast mountains.

Dean

95 Magna 5280

Quote from: rmklaw
I have the pacBrake in our 2005 Inspire. When I turn it on, it
downshifts to 2d gear. Is this normal or should I have Allison
change the setting to 3d?

[quote author=Dick Campagna"

> From:

> > My 03 Allure brake uights are activated when the Jake brake
engages. My

> > previous 00 and 97 Intrigues had Pac Brakes and the brake

lights

Quote
were not
> > connected.
>

> When going down a hill and our PacBrake is doing its thing to

hold

Quote
our speed

> back, I only want our brake lights to come on when I hit the

foot

Quote
brake. If

> that doesn't happen, following traffic won't get that

notification

Quote
that

> we'll be slowing suddenly.
>

> If the brake lights are always on when the exhaust/engine brake

is

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13169
I have the same setup. 2nd gear, worked great in the mountains of West Virginia.
Several 6 and 7% grades.
Steve

95 Magna 5220

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13170
Dick, having experience with both Pac and Jake I can see your point, but only with Pac. With a Jake you virtually never have to use service brakes going downhill.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13171
When I was in the mountains of WV. the pac brake shifted to 4th with the indicator at 2nd. This kept the RPM's just below the red line.
300 Cummins
Steve

95 Magna 5220

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13173
Perhaps we are discussing two different transmission shift indicator lights. Newer rigs vs older rigs.
My tranny indicator has two panes. One is the target gear the other is the current gear in use. If my target gear is 2nd, the allison may still be in 4th gear working towards 2nd as I go uphill.

Newer shift indicators only have one display pane showing the current gear being used. No target gear is displayed.

The above may be why some of us are responding differently to the question??

Dean

95 Magna 5280

Quote from: stephen burdick\[br\
]
When I was in the mountains of WV. the pac brake shifted to 4th
with the indicator at 2nd. This kept the RPM's just below the red
line.

Quote
300 Cummins
Steve

95 Magna 5220

Tony Ferrara wrote:

My '04 Inspire indicates 4th when the pacBrake is
engaged...hmmmm. Now you have me wondering about my setting.
Anyone else?

Quote
Tony Ferrara
Inspire #51172

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13188
Most coaches are programmed for the transmission to seek 4th gear when engaging the engine or exhaust brake. There was a period when they set up a few coaches to seek 2nd, but some of the new owners complained. (see Destinations) Because my Intrigue is 42 ft long and when driving in the mountains on two lane roads my speed level needs to be lower, I had Allison NW change mine at Home Comming to seek 3rd gear. Made drivning from Tillamook to Salem Oregon, Salem to Sisters, E Glacier to St. Mary Mont. and Antonito, to Chama to Durango, Colo. a breeze compared to earlier trips, with my 36 ft. 98 Allure. The IFS helps, also. TWI 11731 2004 Intrigue 42' Ovation.

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13221
On my 2000 Allure I use the VMSpc and which shows both the target and current shift setting for the transmission. When I have the exhaust brake engaged both indicators change to 4th gear provided my RPM's will not go to red line. Otherwise, it seeks out a gear that the transmission can safely shift to (i.e. 5th or remain in 6th).
The indicator on the side console remains in 6th gear unless I manually change it. Since I have never experienced having the setup at 2nd gear as some of you have, I cannit comment which is better of more desirable. The ECM is supposed to protect the transmission and engine from exceeding red line. So, I would suspect that the automatic downshift to 2nd gear would be better than having to manually do like I have to when going down steep grades. Of course, I have done this so long that I feel that I am in better control of everything. I know that the ECM will not let you overspeed regardless of the shift setting. The ECM will shift it up if needed to protect everything.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: John Sinnar
Some newer coaches activate the brake lights when using the pac
brake or jake brake..............Not sure if Country Coach does

but
 

Re: ENGINE BRAKES

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13238
Back in 96 most motorhomes, at least all of the Safari line, had their pac brakes set to 2nd gear and some of us hated it so when we purchased our first 2000 CC it had the pac brake set to 4th gear. When I asked why the explanation was that there was some concern about excessive wear on the transmission using 2nd gear so we learned to live with 4th gear. Now I would not go back to using 2nd gear, but then again we had jake brake in our 01 aand 05 Magna so I don't know wheather that makes a difference.

Bill G 2005 Magna #6425.