Another newbie question

[truk4u]

Jon - Anythings possible and you know I never lost site of the bus.

Jim - It was the Turd Boys

Jamie - Why were you in the bus and not watching them like a hawk?

[grantracy]

Thanks Brian, That's the knowledge we were looking for. Sort of like the Relay in the back of the Bus that stops the brake lights from coming on when using the Jake Brake.

Where is that relay located?

[BrianE]

Granvil, On our 98 XLV it's in the Front Junction Box on the left front corner of the bus. Check Jon's comment below, the relay may vary as to location and number on this panel. Thanks Jon.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I assume Brian is correct regarding the relay number. It is a different relay on my vintage coach so check the relay listing on the engine door. It will tell you.

BTW, Brian's coach has a Jake and not a retarder, so that may explain why his and my relay numbers are different.

[Yankee802]

The brake lights come on when the jake is on?

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Not necessarily. They did not on my 87, but did on my 97 until I removed the relay.

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Hey Geoff, I think your located somewhere close to Norfolk, VA.
Wondering if you ever got off in the sand. Even though I was warned about not going off the pavement I managed to pull off to look at a map, and immediately realized that it was too late. I couldn't move the car until passers by stopped and pushed me out.

JIM

[Sid Tuls]

Jon,

Jon by pulling this fuse your saying that when you are using your retarder the brake lites won't come on. Is there any safety issue here? Like going down steep grades and the big trucks not seeing you?? Also could it become an insurance issue ? Thanks

[MangoMike]

Sid,

THere is nothing more annoying than following someone with a jake/retarder activated brake lights. YOu're never sure if they are really trying to stop.

As Jon says pulling the relay is the answer, and yes the brake lights will still work when the peddle is pushed.

Mike

[Jon Wehrenberg]

The problem with retarder or jake actuated brake lights is two things in my opinion. First, the annoyance factor. It just irritates folks who are behind you, especially when on a fairly level highway and the cruise control or you the driver "lifts" off the gas. That engages my retarder if it is on, and also the brake lights. That mistakenly signals the guy behind you are slowing down, but in fact you just might have a slight downgrade and are just trying to maintain speed.

But the second concern I had was after a while the folks behind you might start ignoring those lights and then if you really have to stop they are caught by surprise.

I don't know if it is a DOT requirement, a Canadian requirement or something Prevost just decided to do. I also do not know what an insurance company position on this would be.