Recommendation for Supplemental Braking System on 2013 Chevrolet Sonic  

Question:

Expert Reply:

The continuous power assist braking system or active power assist system works by monitoring your day-to-day braking habits to formulate a normal braking pattern. The system will detect a change in your rate of braking force and your position on the brake pedal and interpret this as an emergency situation. If the system feels that there is not enough pressure being applied to the brakes, it will initiate an override mode and activate the vehicles full braking force.

Typically, a supplemental braking system has to apply an extreme amount of force to activate the towed cars brakes because the vacuum-assist function of the brakes is not active when the ignition is off. This excessive pressure would cause damage to your car if it had active brakes.

The supplemental braking system I would recommend for your 2013 Chevrolet Sonic with the continuous power assist braking system would be the Roadmaster Invisibrake, part # RM-8700. The braking pressure on this system can be adjusted from 5 psi to 80 psi so you will not have to worry about damage to the continuous braking system. The actuator box on the Invisibrake system installs permanently so you do not need to remove, adjust, or reactivate the braking system each time you need to flat tow your vehicle. I am including a link to a video of the Invisibrake system being installed in a vehicle.

You will also need the Roadmaster Stop Light Switch Kit, part # RM-751457. This kit is required with a supplemental braking system on your vehicle. It taps into the towed cars brake light switch and allows your RV monitoring system to alert you whenever the brake pedal of your towed car is being applied.

Before flat towing your Sonic you will also need to remove the DLIS fuse in your fuse box. It should be located in the instrument panel fuse block in the number 1 location. This needs to be done because when you turn the key to the accessory position to unlock the steering when flat towing, certain lights will burn the entire time if you do not pull the fuse.

If you do not want to pull the fuse every time you tow you can install the Fuse Bypass, part # RM76511. This part will allow you to operate a switch to bypass the fuse in the car.

expert reply by: Jeff D

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