TP-1474

Issued 05-14

Testing Electronically Controlled

Air Dryers (ECAD) Independent of
Other Vehicle Systems
Technical Bulletin
Issued
1TP-1474
Technical
05-14Bulletin

Hazard Alert Messages Testing the Electronically Controlled Air

Read and observe all Warning and Caution hazard alert messages in Dryer
this publication. They provide information that can help prevent This technical bulletin provides a procedure for testing the
serious personal injury, damage to components, or both. electronically controlled air dryer (ECAD), part number
4324252000, independently of other vehicle systems. It is not
WARNING intended to replace existing service diagnostic and repair
To prevent serious eye injury, always wear safe eye protection procedures.
when you perform vehicle maintenance or service.
If the air dryer does not pass any of the tests described in the
Park the vehicle on a level surface. Block the wheels to following procedure, you must record the result and contact the
prevent the vehicle from moving. Support the vehicle with Meritor OnTrac™ Customer Call Center at 866-OnTrac1
safety stands. Do not work under a vehicle supported only by (668-7221).
jacks. Jacks can slip and fall over. Serious personal injury and 1. Disconnect the ECAD solenoid electrical 4-way connector from
damage to components can result. the air dryer. Figure 1.

Release all air from the air systems before you remove any Figure 1

components. Pressurized air can cause serious personal

INLET – PORT 1
injury. Refer to the vehicle manufacturer’s service manual for
instructions. OUTLET – PORT 2

How to Obtain Additional Maintenance,

Service and Product Information SOLENOID
ELECTRICAL
4-WAY
If you have any questions regarding the material covered in this
bulletin, or for information about the Meritor WABCO product line,
please contact the Meritor OnTrac™ Customer Call Center at
866-OnTrac1 (668-7221) or visit our website: ECAD ASSEMBLY 4011252a

meritorwabco.com Figure 1

Tools and Supplies Required 2. Check for water contamination and physical damage to the
electrical pins on both the ECAD solenoid electrical 4-way and
앫 Air gauge — 200 psi (13.8 bar) minimum on the vehicle’s wiring harness 4-way connector.
앫 Power supply — 12 volt 3. Connect the Test Wire Harness 4-way connector to the ECAD
앫 Air supply — 120-140 psi (8.27-9.7 bar) with shut-off valve solenoid electrical 4-way.

앫 Air tank — one gallon (3.8 l) minimum 4. Use a volt/ohm meter to test solenoid resistance as follows.
Select electrical resistance (Ω Ohm), and set the scale
앫 Multimeter (Volt/Ohm meter) according to the range values measured in the following steps.
Figure 2 and Figure 3.
 A. Test between brown test lead Pin 1 and red test lead Pin Figure 4

4. The measured resistance should be within the range of

SIGNAL – PORT 4
12.5-14.3 Ohms.
B. Test between green test lead Pin 3 and red test lead Pin
4. The measured resistance should be within the range of
18.2-20.2 Ohms.
C. Test between red test lead Pin 4 and ECAD valve body for
ground. The measured resistance should be open (OL).
앫 If the resistance in any of the tests is not within
specification: Stop further testing and call the Meritor
OnTrac™ Customer Call Center at 866-OnTrac1 ECAD ASSEMBLY 4011253a
(668-7221).
Figure 4
Figure 2

6. Connect shop air with a closed shut-off valve to the inlet (port
HARNESS 4-WAY 1). The shut-off valve should be mounted between the air
CONNECTOR supply and ECAD inlet (port 1).
7. Connect an air gauge to signal (port 4).
8. Connect a one-gallon (3.8 l) or larger air tank to the dryer outlet
GREEN- (port 2).
TEST LEAD
BROWN- FOR PIN 3 9. Open the inlet valve supplying shop air to the dryer and verify
TEST LEAD RED-TEST LEAD the following.
FOR PIN 1 FOR PIN 4
(SOLENOID ELECTRICAL PIN 2 NOT REQUIRED) 앫 There are no air leaks from the dryer.
WIRE TEST HARNESS (EXAMPLE ONLY) 4011254a
앫 The air tank fills with air.
Figure 2 앫 The signal gauge does not move.

Figure 3
10. Close the inlet valve and supply 12 volts to red test lead Pin 4
of the solenoid and ground test lead Pin 3, then verify the
PIN 2 NOT
REQUIRED following.
앫 The dryer purges, then stops leaking.
앫 The signal gauge rises to the tank pressure.

PIN 4 11. Remove the ground from green test lead Pin 3, then verify that
(RED) the signal gauge falls to 0 psi.
PIN 1 12. Ground green test lead Pin 3 and brown test lead Pin 1 of the
(BROWN)
solenoid connector (with 12 volts on red test lead Pin 4 still in
PIN 3 (GREEN) place) and verify the following.
ECAD ASSEMBLY – SOLENOID 앫 The tank drains through the purge valve slowly (desiccant
ELECTRICAL 4-WAY PIN OUT 4011255a
regeneration). The purge valve will close at its minimum
Figure 3 setting, retaining some pressure on the air gauges,
generally around 35-70 psi (2.41-4.8 bar). This is normal.
5. Disconnect the air dryer inlet (port 1), signal (port 4) and outlet 13. If the dryer passes the above tests, the dryer is functioning
(port 2) lines. Figure 1 and Figure 4. correctly. Replace the connections to the air dryer and return to
service.
If the air dryer did not pass any of the tests, record the results
and call the Meritor OnTrac™ Customer Call Center at
(866) OnTrac1 (668-7221).

TP-1474
Issued 05-14 (16579)
Page 2 Copyright Meritor, Inc., 2014 Printed in USA
Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems Information contained in this publication was in effect at the time the publication was approved for printing and is subject to
2135 West Maple Road change without notice or liability. Meritor WABCO reserves the right to revise the information presented or to discontinue the
Troy, MI 48084-7121 USA production of parts described at any time.
866-OnTrac1 (668-7221)
Copyright 2014 TP-1474
meritorwabco.com
Meritor, Inc. Issued 05-14
All Rights Reserved Printed in USA (16579)