Jake brake issues

Don't know about your specific problem, but I took over an older Pete with a big Mech Cat and a Jake. Former driver told me Jake didn't work when you turned the steering wheel to left, other than that he said it was "fine", he just drove it like that, never put a repair tag on it, 80k all day in the hills. Well it wasn't feeling "fine" to me. Shop mechanic couldn't fix it, or much else. Cat Factory tech was in the shop one night, long story short - wire to Jake was junk and too short, when you made a left turn it pulled against housing and grounded out from the movement of the engine. About 8' of new wire later, all was OK, first time jake worked in 2 years! No matter if you turned left or right. Cost of wire - less than a quarter, with change left over. Hopefully your fix proves to be an easy one.

 

Check the wiring harness from the ECM and follow it up around the starter to the back of the head as best as possible. Sounds like it is rubbed through somewhere.

 

I can't say for sure this is the problem but my dad had a '97 Autocar with the Series 60 and the jake solenoids would crap out on it every year or so.