I recently purchased a 2012 Mega Cab. I used to drive a 2010 Mega. The biggest difference in these truck is that the '12 has a 3.73 gearing and the '10 had 4.10 gearing.

I have noticed that the exhaust brake is not near as responsive in the 2012 as it was in the 2010.

Does anyone know of a way to increase exhaust brake performance?

Does Dodge have a update that will help it out?

Thanks in advance.

 

I hear the solenoid gets gummed up with particulates if you don't use it often. Maybe the previous owner didn't know what that button was for. I'd try cleaning it.

 

What happens if you turn on tow/haul and the exhaust brake at the same time?

 

If you run tow/haul and the exhaust brake at the same time then the braking becomes much better. The transmission downshifts and the rpm's go up thereby making the brake more efficient.

Your old truck with 4.10 rear had higher rpm so the same thing occurred against your 3.73 rear in the newer truck. That's the difference you are feeling i bet.

 

The braking is substantially better with the tow/haul mode turned on.

Thanks for the input

 

If you have the auto you can also hit the downshift button and it will shift to the lowest safe gear and maximize brake performance, just be aware it works well my water jug ended up on the floor.

 

It sounds like yours is a torque converter lockup thing that tow/haul has fixed for you but some food for thought...

I'm currently having an issue with my 12 having a weak exhaust brake most of the time but very strong braking on occasion and have found when I turn the key forward but don't start it, I can hear the turbo nozzle sliding open, close, open to do the auto zero calibration. If I turn the key off and on a dozen or so times, and listen carefully it sounds like it takes just a very fine amount of time longer to finish the process every few key cycles and if I start it on that key cycle it has tons of brake power. Might be worth a try for you and see if you can determine if it's a turbo issue or just a tow/haul lockup symptom. I have the autoenginuity scanner and even when mine is braking with hardly any power, the commanded turbo position vs. the actual read position is nearly identical because its setting its travel limits to the stops it finds when you first turn the key on. I assume mine is on its way out or sooted up.

 

I will give this a try..... It wouldn't surprise me if its the torque converter.... this will be the second truck like this that will need it replaced.