Toyota Yaris ---Question

Are you joking? If you mean how to actually operate it, check your owners manual, but I'm surprised you have one installed on a Yaris. Is it a diesel? Jake brakes are normally used to help slow a large and heavy vehicle (semi tractor) by restricting the exhaust gases outflow using the increased pressure as engine braking to save on wheel brakes by not having to "ride" them for an extended period usually on a long downhill grade. Some local ordinances prohibit the use of them because of the noise.

Unfortunately, the Yaris is not equipped with a Jake Brake, since, at least in the US they do not have Diesel engines.

I suggest, if you REALLY need to panic stop, get yourself a Sawz-all, cut out the floorboards, and stop it Fred Flinstone style.

Since you probably have club feet already...

Go back to your dealer and ask him how to use the Jake brake.

I am sure they would be happy to tell you.

Jeff

Hmm, I thought that a Chrysler diesel was going to be the first passenger vehicle application for the Jake Brake.

Does your Yaris have the D-4 diesel engine?

I think the Yaris engine pumps out a massive 106 hp. I can surely see where a jake brake may come in handy :)

A diesel engine has almost no engine compression braking on overrun (going down a steep hill) compared to a gasoline engine. Even after downshifting, if you don't step on the brakes you'll keep picking up speed until aerodynamic braking starts to kick in - somewhere around the triple digits MPH.

If I was going to push the gross weight loading - like hitching a

2,000 pound tent trailer behind a Diesel Yaris (that's probably rated to tow 750 pounds if anything) I would want both trailer brakes and some sort of an engine deceleration device installed.

All a Jake Brake does is pop open the exhaust valve open early. Makes the engine waste energy by acting as an air compressor.

They make similar items for gasoline engines that usually are an exhaust restriction valve - but your factory warrantee on the engine & drivetrain instantly goes bye-bye when you install things like that.

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This is a good explanation of how they work.

I couldn't figure why opening the exhaust valves early would cause braking. The article cleared it up.

Jeff

If you were towing heavy things frequently, I agree that a Yaris (or other Compacts and Sub-Compacts) would be a really bad choice. But if your load isn't too big for the car and it's only occasionally, get a proper stout hitch installed and go for it.

I towed behind my Corvair for years, 94 HP and Powerglide - Dad had a hitch put on when we bought it (and I was still in diapers), and it handles a 750# to 1000# utility trailer just fine - as long as you leave room for those wonderful drum brakes to do their work.

It would pull 1000# in the car and a 2000# trailer, but you had to make reservations to stop. I stayed 10 to 20 UNDER the speed limit.

(Couldn't install a trans cooler - the car transmissions didn't have cooler fittings. When I had it rebuilt they used a Greenbrier front cover and installed a loop of hose. Now if I want to pull the car out of mothballs and tow with it, all I have to do is figure out where to hang the stupid cooler core to get some air - behind a rear tire...?)

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