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I might be wrong, but I cannot find the document that indicates if the retarder main switch is engaged, even if the stalk is in the zero position the retarder is applied prportional to the braking force.

That’s what my brain is telling me anyway. Reality may be a whole different story.

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My retarder will not work with brakes applied, unless the stalk is moved down, even though the switch is on all the time.

My bus does have a retarder AND a jake brake. I have not seen another coach like that?

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Are you sure? On earlier vintage coaches with the retarder you could watch the oil temp gauge (transmission) head uphill quickly if the brakes were applied, and it would climb faster as more brake was applied. On later model coaches where the only way to see the transmission temps is via the message center, the temperature sensor has likely been moved so now it hardly moves.

In the absence of a gauge whose needle is a clear indication of the presence of a retarder have you applied the brakes, and then turned on the master retarder switch to see if you could feel the difference indicating it does work with the stalk in the zero position?

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My 01 Liberty with the stalk at “0” and the retarder switch on applied full retarder when the brakes were applied. All you have to do is watch for the little red light to light up when applying the brakes with the stalk at “0”.