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Engine brakes not working

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by leadfoot80, Mar 17, 2013.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Mar 17, 2013 #1
    leadfoot80

    leadfoot80 Light Load Member

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    Feb 17, 2012
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    Two questions about engine brakes here..

    The first, on a 2004 Freightliner Columbia with Detroit series 60, 10 spd Eaton Fuller, the engine brakes work in 10th, 9th, 8th, and sometimes 7th (if you don't press the accelerator too much when getting the rpm's up) -- they don't work at all from 6th on down.

    The second question, on a 2005 Freightliner Columbia with a Mercedes 4000 engine, 10 spd Eaton Fuller, the engine brake is completely, utterly, nonexistent. Not so much as a burp.

    Any ideas of things I can personally check (and potentially fix) before having to run them into the shop?

    Thanks.

    Leadfoot
     
    leadfoot80, Mar 17, 2013
    leadfoot80, Mar 17, 2013
    #1
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  3. Mar 17, 2013 #2
    S M D

    S M D Road Train Member

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    sacramento ca
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    Solenoid on the Mercedes and

    The 2004 the higher the rpm the better the EB works I'm sure u knew that?
    You can't get the EB doing anything for u at 1200 rpm
     
    S M D, Mar 17, 2013
    S M D, Mar 17, 2013
    #2
  4. Mar 17, 2013 #3
    leadfoot80

    leadfoot80 Light Load Member

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    Solenoid... where? (Keep it simple for me, man... I'm just gettin into the mechanics of big trucks!)

    On the '04 it doesn't matter where the rpm is (I've tried everything from 1000 to 2000 in the lower gears).. still nothing.
     
    leadfoot80, Mar 17, 2013
    leadfoot80, Mar 17, 2013
    #3
  5. Mar 17, 2013 #4
    S M D

    S M D Road Train Member

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    The Mercedes when u turn the engine brake on does the fan turn on? It could be if someone can correct me the fan hub leaking air or the solenoid
     
    S M D, Mar 17, 2013
    S M D, Mar 17, 2013
    #4
  7. Mar 17, 2013 #5
    leadfoot80

    leadfoot80 Light Load Member

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    S.E. WY
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    I don't believe so.. Haven't heard it, anyway. Doesn't seem to do anything when the engine brake is on.
     
    leadfoot80, Mar 17, 2013
    leadfoot80, Mar 17, 2013
    #5
  8. Mar 17, 2013 #6
    kenszo47

    kenszo47 Light Load Member

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    May 21, 2012
    DELAND,FL
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    Acouple points. One co in particular, set their engine brakes with a three second delay. Three seconds is a long time and finds everyone reaching for the service brake. They made the change to save on fuel ! Another point is , you may find a button on your steering wheel (in an inconspicuous) place. That button works in conjunction with your dashboard switch
     
    kenszo47, Mar 17, 2013
    kenszo47, Mar 17, 2013
    #6
  9. Mar 17, 2013 #7
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Thats hilarious. Every mechanic I've talked to says that those that think such a thing obviously haven't the slightest clue
    of how engine braking works.
     
    Brickman, Mar 17, 2013
    Brickman, Mar 17, 2013
    #7
  10. Mar 17, 2013 #8
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Unless you can find a broken wire its shop time and computer time.

    The new engines are so completely run by the electronics and computer that often times the only way to
    diagnose the problem is to hook up the computer. I've had trucks with computer problems cause issues with
    some thing like the jakes and the fan operation. aka Staying on all the time, not working at all.........
     
    Brickman, Mar 17, 2013
    Brickman, Mar 17, 2013
    #8
  11. Mar 17, 2013 #9
    Mommas_money_maker

    Mommas_money_maker Road Train Member

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    The mercedes engine (even with jakes working) doesnt do engine braking well at all. My hand hanging out the window does the same job and you could just put a CD in of engine brake noise to make it so you can hear it. On your 2004 detroit, you may need them rebuilt (they are rebuildable) or possibly another issue that a mechanic needs to look at in order to properly diagnose. I wouldnt take it to the TA/petro for this but a real shop that knows what they are looking at.
     
    Mommas_money_maker, Mar 17, 2013
    Mommas_money_maker, Mar 17, 2013
    #9
  12. Mar 17, 2013 #10
    Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

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    Is the cruise working? If not, it maybe the clutch switch. I've had that on 2 'shakers now. Just a thought.
     
    Palazon, Mar 17, 2013
    Palazon, Mar 17, 2013
    #10
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