Community Forums

abarkl · 05-30-2006, 01:08 PM

I have a new Luxor (Blue Ox Apollo) brake system that won't engage during braking. I installed it in my towed yesterday and set out on a 400 mile trip. I checked it's operation several times prior and during a few stops using the Test button and it worked as it should, but I never saw the receiver light up in my coach nor did I feel the brakes being applied. I also slowly increased the Sensitivity setting to the max of 8 during my trip.
I'll be reconnecting it and trying again this Friday on my way home.
I've contacted Blue Ox but I'm waiting to hear back from them.
Has anyone seen this problem and know of a solution?

abarkl · 05-30-2006, 01:08 PM

I have a new Luxor (Blue Ox Apollo) brake system that won't engage during braking. I installed it in my towed yesterday and set out on a 400 mile trip. I checked it's operation several times prior and during a few stops using the Test button and it worked as it should, but I never saw the receiver light up in my coach nor did I feel the brakes being applied. I also slowly increased the Sensitivity setting to the max of 8 during my trip.
I'll be reconnecting it and trying again this Friday on my way home.
I've contacted Blue Ox but I'm waiting to hear back from them.
Has anyone seen this problem and know of a solution?

hawg6 · 05-30-2006, 04:19 PM

I had the same system and experienced the same operation. Blue Ox recommended that the front of the brake system be set up approximately 1/4 inch above level when I normalize it, to make it more sensitive. Which it will do. In fact, the higher you raise the front of the system when you normalize it the more sensitive it will become. The Blue Ox people stated that the front could be elevated up to one inch, when normalizing the unit, to gain the sensitivity I wanted.

abarkl · 05-31-2006, 08:40 AM

I called Customer Care and I now realize where I went wrong installing the unit and not knowing I need to perform the normalizing steps each time.
However, their Customer Care reps need to understand that not everyone is as experienced and knowledgeable as they are and show a little more tolerance and understanding. A change in tone of voice can go a long way. And asking me to recite each step of the installation instructions as if I'm stupid or 5 years old is not necessary.

hawg6 · 05-31-2006, 04:39 PM

The first Apollo Luxor system I purchased in October of 2005 did not have instructions relative to normalizing the unit. Even after I was instructed to normalize the unit, the brakes would not come on during hard braking. I called Blue Ox and that is when I was instructed to raise the front of the unit "the thickness of a Lady's Home Journal". Without raising the unit, it did not function once between Cincinnati and Valdosta Georgia. When I raised it and did the normalizing thing, it would function with moderately heavy to heavy braking. Ended-up changing to a different system. Good luck!