Forum Discussion

3Fivers51's avatar
3Fivers51
Explorer
Jun 11, 2016

brake buddy

This is my first motorhome. I have been rv'ing for 8 years. I bought a class c Jayco Greyhawk and towing a Jeep Wrangler. I got a brake buddy with the setup and I don't think the dealer had it set up correctly. Beside that point, I bought it in March of this year and just now am going out with it. Long story! I have a question on the brake buddy. The directions say I have to test the unit 5 times so that it relieves the vacuum of the toad vehicle's brakes. I have done that. Directions say that the lights should turn green if it is installed correctly. Does anyone else have one of these and did you get the lights to turn green? I don't remember that the units light were ever green when we picked it up from the dealer.
Thanks,
Bill
Class C
  • kalynzoo's avatar
    kalynzoo
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    Although I no longer use a Buddy Brake, their technical phone support was fantastic. Give them a call and they will take all the time needed to trouble shoot your system. I now use the ReadyBrake, as I got tired to playing with the box.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Jun 11, 2016
    Which model of Brake Buddy do you have? We had an older "Classic" and it had to be activated "manually" (meaning push a button those 5 times) to bleed the toad's vacuum. I don't remember what happened next.

    We now have "Vantage Select" and it pumps up automatically when plugged in. More later about Plugged In... Then there's "start" or some button to that effect. Pressing causes "Vantage Select" to do the five activations. After that, a green light should come on "normal."

    Brake Buddy's support line is excellent as noted above. They can help with its operation, and if you don't have this, ask for a direct-to-battery power socket. Many modern vehicles' "power outlet" does not supply the solid 15-amps needed for a BB to operate properly.
  • LadyRVer's avatar
    LadyRVer
    Explorer II
    Jun 11, 2016
    Last BB was a classic, and yes, with each test, the light would go to green.
    As noted above BB has excellent customer support. Call them.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    I remember mine said to activate it a couple of times but don't remember any green lights on my original BB.
    bumpy
  • Roadpilot's avatar
    Roadpilot
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2016
    I have an original brake buddy and it has no light. I just press the brake peddle 5 times and it's good to go.
  • piper27's avatar
    piper27
    Explorer
    Jun 13, 2016
    I have the brake buddy vantage. I hook it up to the brake peddle, adjust the length of the arm then press auto start and it pumps the brake peddle 5 times and pumps up to pressure and shuts off.The green "normal"light then comes on
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Jun 14, 2016
    piper27 wrote:
    I have the brake buddy vantage. I hook it up to the brake peddle, adjust the length of the arm then press auto start and it pumps the brake peddle 5 times and pumps up to pressure and shuts off.The green "normal"light then comes on


    Same as me. Now we need the OP to tell us which flavor of BB he has. Or that he called them and hopefully what was said...
  • Robocop's avatar
    Robocop
    Explorer
    Jun 15, 2016
    My Classic starts as all red. With each of the five test button activations they disappear one at a time. All five should become green if it is working properly. The troubleshooting instructions are clear about problem identification.

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