Exhaust Brake Stuck On Sometimes

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Llando88

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Hi, I have a 2016 Ram 2500 4x4 with the Cummins diesel.

It has about 22,000 miles, and I've done one service so far (truck was bought new last November.) I use the truck for towing our 6,800# travel trailer. i have about 7,500 miles towing, the rest unconnected.

I've had zero problems with the truck and the towing is a breeze.

However, lately I'm having an occasional instance where the Diesel exhaust brake will come on, by itself.

I'd say it's happened maybe three times in the last two months. The truck is used daily; I fill up with decent fuel at busy pumps.

When this occurs, I can hear the exhaust brake "on" because of the noise it makes (I am pretty familiar from towing the TT up and down hills in the Rockies and so forth.) There is a loss of power as well.

The problem "goes away" by itself on a restart.

I was going to mention this the next time I have it in for a service (maybe 30k miles) but I wasn't sure whether this was something I need to get looked at earlier.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 

Power247

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And lights come on the dash or message in evic indicating the eb has turned on?

Greg
2012 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | Custom tuned by Double R Diesel
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310
 

RamCares

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Hi, I have a 2016 Ram 2500 4x4 with the Cummins diesel.

It has about 22,000 miles, and I've done one service so far (truck was bought new last November.) I use the truck for towing our 6,800# travel trailer. i have about 7,500 miles towing, the rest unconnected.

I've had zero problems with the truck and the towing is a breeze.

However, lately I'm having an occasional instance where the Diesel exhaust brake will come on, by itself.

I'd say it's happened maybe three times in the last two months. The truck is used daily; I fill up with decent fuel at busy pumps.

When this occurs, I can hear the exhaust brake "on" because of the noise it makes (I am pretty familiar from towing the TT up and down hills in the Rockies and so forth.) There is a loss of power as well.

The problem "goes away" by itself on a restart.

I was going to mention this the next time I have it in for a service (maybe 30k miles) but I wasn't sure whether this was something I need to get looked at earlier.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi Llando88,

If you decide to take your vehicle into a dealership I’d be happy to follow up with them for you! Just send a PM to our page with your VIN and contact information and let me know.

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist
 
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Llando88

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And lights come on the dash or message in evic indicating the eb has turned on?

Greg
2012 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | Custom tuned by Double R Diesel
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310

Greg - No, no evic notice, no messages at all.

I just hear the distinctive rumble of the exhaust brake, and the loss of power.

Problem comes and goes by itself. It does not appear to be related to anything I do or anything I switch on.
 
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Llando88

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Hi Llando88,

If you decide to take your vehicle into a dealership I’d be happy to follow up with them for you! Just send a PM to our page with your VIN and contact information and let me know.

Andrea
Ram Social Care Specialist

Thank you Andrea.
 

Power247

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Greg - No, no evic notice, no messages at all.

I just hear the distinctive rumble of the exhaust brake, and the loss of power.

Problem comes and goes by itself. It does not appear to be related to anything I do or anything I switch on.
It sounds like the symptoms of a sooted up turbo but man it is way too soon for that unless you do a lot (I mean a whole lot) of idleing. Makes me think something electrical like a bad sensor or faulty controller but those usually trip a CEL when that happens. Definitely time to see the dealer and let them see if the can find something.

Greg
2012 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | Custom tuned by Double R Diesel
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310
 
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Llando88

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^^^ Thanks.

I'll monitor and get it diagnosed at next oil change.

Yeah, I used to have a Mercedes Sprinter diesel, and am very sensitive to no more idling than necessary.

I'll post back when I have more info.

Rich
 
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Llando88

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This happened a couple times in the last week, so I made an appointment at a local Ram dealer to take a look at it.

I'll post back with the results.
 
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Llando88

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Well, the local dealer kept it for a while and reported no stored trouble codes or faults.

They did a software update on three modules, not sure if it will help.

At least I have it documented now, I guess. The tech said he'd really never heard of this happening where the exhaust brake would come on spontaneously.
 

hounddog

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You should be running your exhaust brake on full ALL THE TIME.

This keeps the turbo from sooting because it creates back pressure, and is ram's answer to turbo fouling.
 
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Llando88

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You should be running your exhaust brake on full ALL THE TIME.

This keeps the turbo from sooting because it creates back pressure, and is ram's answer to turbo fouling.


Ok, thanks for the input. You think turbo fouling is a potential cause of a stuck-on Diesel brake?

Now I think about it, I've never experienced it when towing (7,500 miles out of the 26k on the truck, across the USA a couple times now.). Usually with tow/haul engaged and EB set to "auto" for descent control.
 
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Llando88

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They are one the same.


Thanks. I did some more research and now understand the EB is a part of the turbo itself.

I am going to start running the EB on all the time and will post back if this ever recurs. Appreciate all the inputs.

Rich
 

FirstDiesel

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I have a 2014 6.7. Fully deleted and tuned. I also have the 4 position tune selector dial. I had the turbo and actuator replaced in November. I had the truck deleted and tuned in January. Now the problem is the exhaust brake sticking. It sticks even when the button is off. When the button is on for the brake then it sticks even more. Drove with a mechanic and scan tool and the truck is doing what its calling for it to do. I'm at a loss. HELP!!!
 

JD Mark

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I never shut mine off. Dry, rain, snow, ice.
 

DepotBo

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You should be running your exhaust brake on full ALL THE TIME.

This keeps the turbo from sooting because it creates back pressure, and is ram's answer to turbo fouling.
Any way to FORCE it to be on in Auto? Is this an option in AlphaOBD?
 

OLEJOE

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I have a 2014 6.7. Fully deleted and tuned. I also have the 4 position tune selector dial. I had the turbo and actuator replaced in November. I had the truck deleted and tuned in January. Now the problem is the exhaust brake sticking. It sticks even when the button is off. When the button is on for the brake then it sticks even more. Drove with a mechanic and scan tool and the truck is doing what its calling for it to do. I'm at a loss. HELP!!!

Sounds like you have a tuning issue. If it’s doing what it is commanded by the pcm then it has to be the tune that is installed.
 

ljmasonwy

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I have noticed that when I am towing and have the exhaust brake on (which is all the time!) everytime I re-start, the exhaust brake comes back on along with the disables rear parking sensor. I assume that RAM decided if I'm towing and have the exhaust brake on it should stay on until I unhook...
 

Oilfieldman

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I might be way off with this but are you sure it’s not trying to regen? The cl Mack tractor I drive does a regen while driving at a steady throttle down the highway, when it’s doing this you can hear the turbo spool up a good bit and it takes power away from the engine because the turbo starts blowing directly into the exhaust along with diesel fuel to build up enough heat to burn off. Once you give it more fuel after a few seconds it’ll finally quick out of the regen and then behave normally until I get back to a really steady throttle on flat ground. I think I’ve also noticed my 2018 ram cummins sounding similar to this occasionally but I’m not completely sure since it’s so quiet. My cummins only has 13,000 miles on it now so I haven’t quite figured out it’s characteristics while regen is happening.
 
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