Forum Discussion

rvtuffy's avatar
rvtuffy
Explorer
Apr 15, 2014

Does Exhaust brake activate brake lights?

I have a 2008 Monaco Diplomat and when the Exhaust Brake activates my brake lights don't come on. I mention this because in my 2005 Cayman the Exhaust Brake activated the motor home brake lights so the person behind new you were slowing down. My brother-in-law's 2005 Monaco knight Exhaust Brake works the same, does anyone else have this issue? I got song and dance from Monaco - been sold 3 times - not all data was transferred - blah blah blah!! I asked a Monaco dealer, relatively new with Monaco's, 4 yrs, and he said he had never heard of such a thing but it sounded reasonable. Any other Monaco owners or other owners for that matter heard of this issue??? thanks
Class A

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  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2014
    There is NO agreed way to do this. On some coaches, the exhaust brake activates the brake lights, on others it does not.

    I see no clear-cut reasoning in favor of either. If using the exhaust brake on the 14 mile descent into Albuquerque on I 40, you would not want the brake lights on the whole time.

    Once you got into town and used them coming to a stop light you would!
  • RCtime's avatar
    RCtime
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2014
    Just came back from a trip, with extensive use of my exhaust brake. The party following me said my brake lights were not on.

    2002 Winnebago Journey Cat, Allison 3000
  • accsys's avatar
    accsys
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2014
    eHoefler wrote:
    NO! Brakes lights do not activate when the exhaust brake alone is in use. You have to press the brake pedal for the brake lights to illuminate.

    Your pickup may not but this is the Class A forum and on every coach I know of (including mine), if the exhaust brake is turned on, the moment you take your foot off the accelerator, the exhaust brake activates and the brake light comes on, whether the brake pedal is pushed or not.
  • eHoefler's avatar
    eHoefler
    Explorer II
    Apr 15, 2014
    NO! Brakes lights do not activate when the exhaust brake alone is in use. You have to press the brake pedal for the brake lights to illuminate.
  • corgidad's avatar
    corgidad
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2014
    I have an 04 Endeavor and yes the brake lights work when the Ebrake is activated, it should be the same on any make or model of MH

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