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Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Yahoo Message Number: 73305
Just wondering how I could find out if the PacBrake on my 2007 Inspire engages the break lights when it is active. Any ideas?

Craig and Kathy Spiess
2007 Inspire 360 #51959
No Toad Yet

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73311
If you have a CB radio, ask anyone out there behind you to respond. When you get a toad you can see the reflection on your rear view camera.
Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure 30226

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73315
Probably, it's an ICC thing.
Jim

07 Allure #31570

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73316
I thought so. That's too bad since Roadmaster has released their new braking system, "Invisibrake" that functions off the brake light wiring in the Toad vehicle. But, if the brake lights engage during Exhaust braking, so will the toad brakes. Guess that rules out that system. They don't make an M&G for my tow vehicle, so I guess I will have to invest in the SMI system.

Craig & Kathy Spiess
2007 Inspire #51959

Almost a Toad (need a braking system)

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73317
If you are wondering if the break lights should be on when the PacBrake is active, then the answer is probably 'yes' - my coach is only 54 units ahead of yours and my brake lights are on whenever the PacBrake is on. If you are wondering how to tell whether yours are working correctly or not, take the coach out to a dark highway or dark street and be sure that your rear view TV monitor on the dash is on. With someone watching the display and the PacBrake turned off, press the brakes - you should be able to see a definite change in the illumination behind the coach (in the monitor)- now turn on the PacBrake and with the coach running at 20-25 mph minimum, take your foot completely off the accelerometer, you should see the same change in illumination behind the coach while the 'exhaust brake' light on the dash is on.

John

'06 Inspire DaVinci #51905

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73318
Craig and Kathy,

I have had my Air Force One System from SMI for 3 years now. It was originally installed in our 07 Jeep Liberty. It was transferred from the Liberty into our current 2011 Jeep Cherokee Limited. I have had no issues with the system. Once installed in your vehicle, it is very simple to hook up to your Coach and it eliminated the Brake Buddy we had for a couple of years. The Brake Buddy was a little too inconvenient to take in and out each time we would need to use the Liberty. SMI's customer service is great too. They are willing and able to assist over the phone with any mechanic that needs assistance in installing the SMI into your vehicle.

Best Regards,

David Smith

08 CC Intrigue 530, 45'

#12267


From: "craig.spiess@..." To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2011 1:33 PM Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

I thought so. That's too bad since Roadmaster has released their new braking system, "Invisibrake" that functions off the brake light wiring in the Toad vehicle. But, if the brake lights engage during Exhaust braking, so will the toad brakes. Guess that rules out that system. They don't make an M&G for my tow vehicle, so I guess I will have to invest in the SMI system.

Craig & Kathy Spiess
2007 Inspire #51959

Almost a Toad (need a braking system)

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Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73319
Our 2008 Inspire/ Cummins 425 / Jake brake, definitely lights the brake lights when activated.
When we first got our coach I had my DW following behind and radioed that with the jake on they indeed do come on when I lifted off of the throttle.

My preference would be not to have them coming on every time the throttle is lifted.
Following drivers will start to ignore the lights due to their constant flashing in traffic.
Therefore when I really do want to stop with the service brakes they can not tell the difference.
There is an indicator light on the dash that lights when the jake is active, by carefully feathering the throttle I can hold off the jake so as not to keep flashing the stop lights.

Charlie

2008 Inspire 52093

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73322
Charlie,

If your coach operates like mine, rather than trying to feather the throttle to keep the engine brake off, simply turn on the cruise control but don't 'set' it for a speed. Then the engine brake will only activate when the brake pedal is pushed, not when your foot is off the accelerator. This gives you the advantage of the engine brake when you are trying to stop but let's you 'coast' without the engine brake coming on.

John

'06 Inspire DaVinci 51905

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73330
Craig, Yes, the exhaust brake activates your brake lights. HOWEVER, if you hook the wire for activating your toad brake up to the air pressure brake switch, the toad brake will not be activated by the exhaust brake. Any competent outfit that installs tow equipment can do this for you. My coach is 10 after yours and its no problem.

Jim Hodges

2007 Inspire, #51969

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73334
Are you sure ALL brakes lights come on with the PAC Brake? On my CC Prevost only the middle, high, 3rd brake light comes on and that is a separate circuit. In fact we had a separate switch installed to turn-off the 3rd brake light when operating with the engine brake. Truckers do it all the time so in a city they don't confuse other truckers that they are applying their brakes when in fact they are not. My switch has an indicator light to remind me that I am not using my 3rd brake light.

bill 'n barb, poconos of pa, 1998 cc prevost 40' xl #30365

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73340
John,

I know that the jake does not activate when the cruise control is set and operating.
But I am not sure that my coach activates the jake when using the service brakes with the cruise control on but not set as you suggest .

The next time I take her out I will check.

Charlie

Inspire 52093

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73341
John:

It does not on my 2000 Allure #30498 Dan

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73342
The Pac brake will come on on my coach if I exceed the cruise control set point by about 5 -10 or so miles per hour. eg going down a steep grade.

Dave

aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73346
I don't believe your brake lights will be activated by your PAC brake, I have never seen a brake light come on mine when the PAC is engaged, I would see it in the rear view camera if it did come on at night.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73349
Sorry about the bad information on the exhaust brake operation -- I know that the exhaust brake operation can be set differently via the engine/transmission settings. However, I really thought that a common setting would have been set coming out of the factory (obviously an erroneous thought). My Inspire operates as shown in the following matrix (came out of the factory this way). In the following matrix, I know the exhaust brake cuts off at about 10 mph but I am not really sure whether it is triggered by speed or RPM, so I am using 10 mph as the cutoff point for information purposes only. Also, the matrix assumes that the exhaust brake control switch is set in the ON position.

Exhaust Brake Operation Matrix for 2006 Inspire #51905:

Cruise OFF:

Speed > 10 mph, brakes not applied, accelerator > 0: Exhaust Brake OFF Speed > 10 mph, brakes not applied, accelerator = 0: Exhaust Brake ON Speed > 10 mph, brakes applied, accelerator NA: Exhaust Brake ON

Cruise ON, Cruise speed set or not set: Speed >10 mph, brakes not applied, accelerator > 0: Exhaust Brake OFF Speed >10 mph brakes not applied, accelerator = 0: Exhaust Brake OFF Speed >10 mph, brakes applied, accelerator NA: Exhaust Brake ON
I guess I got lucky, because this is the way I would have programmed it if asked.

John

'06 Inspire DaVinci #51905

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73350
Sorry, I hit SEND before I finished - my brake lights are ON whenever the brake pedal is depressed enough to actuate the brake light switch AND/OR whenever the exhaust brake is activated.

John

'06 Inspire DaVinci #51905

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73356
My PAC brake activates when I exceed the "set" speed by a few miles an hour when using the cruise control. The brake lights come on anytime the PAC engages. Having the cruise control turned on but not "set" prevents the PAC from engaging or brake light from lighting until you depress the service brake pedal.

Jim Wiler

2007 Tribute 260

Exhaust Brake - Cruise control

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73395
Dave, we're up at Crazyhorse Campground in Littleton, NH... the route here from Texas involved ALOT of steep grades (anywhere from 4% to 14%). What I found going down a grade with the cruise & exhause brake on, is I had to brake to slow and engage the exhaust brake - it would not come on automatically. Cruise only works at keeping a particular set speed on a level road or going up a hill, not going down. Is there a way to program the cruise? Bill, 2005 Intrigue, #11881

Re: Exhaust Brake - Cruise control

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73539
Apparently there has been a program change in the ECM between my 2000 and your '05. There would be no way to change it without reprogramming the ECM.
On a steep grade, especially one with signage indicating trucks need to go to lower gear, I manually downshift to control my speed with the pacbrake as much as it is capable of doing.
Dave aka Billy Byte (trusty hound)
2000 Allure #30443


Re: Was Exhaust Brake - Cruise control - Now Jake Brake on Cruise

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73552
Bill, I also have a 2005 Intrigue with C13. CAT can reprogram the ECM on your coach to have the jake brake work in conjunction with the cruise control. Previously when I was retired I had the ECM programmed for the jake to come on if the coach speed exceeded 5 mph over the cruise set speed. When I drove 60mph all the time this meant that the jake would come on at 65mph. However, I am working again and drive 65 to get there a little sooner. At that speed the coach has a hard time downshifting as 70mph is too fast. I had the ECM reprogrammed this spring to engage the jake whenever the coach speed exceeds the set speed. This engages the jake sooner on downhills so that the downshift works. This does not preclude the need for braking on steeper hills but it handles most of the 4-6% grades just fine. You have to have the jake switch in the 6 cylinder position as the jake will only engage to the maximum that the switch is set for. This setup also allows me to set the cruise at a lower speed on a steeper hill and the cruise and jake can usually maintain a safe downhill speed.

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: Was Exhaust Brake - Cruise control - Now Jake Brake on Cruise

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73570
Thanks, Bob, that's exactly what I was looking for. We're in New Hampshire right now heading out to Waterford, PA tomorrow. Will see if we can find a Cat dealert/service on the way there.
Would love to meet up with you at some point and talk some Intrigue...
Bill, 05 Intrigue, 11881

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73593
John, very interesting information. Did you get this matrix from the folks at CC or did you develop it yourself through trial and error. I am going to engage all of your same senerios next time I take the coach on the road.

Thanks again for the info,
Craig & Kathy Spiess
2007 Inspire #51959

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73594
My '05 Inspire operates just as John has described his '06. With a coach some 500+ earlier in production.

Tom

'05 Inspire #51334

Re: Does Exhaust Brake trigger Brake Lights?

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 73602
I developed it by trial and error on my coach. Please feel free to contact me if you want to discuss it further.

Regards,

John

'06 Inspire Da Vinci #51905