Affordable, effective Tuner, turn off MDS only

[ClarkR]

2015 Ram 1500,Big Horn, 5.7L, 8 speed. Looking for your input, most affordable, effective tuner to permanently turn off MDS and that's it. I've researched forums, YouTube, WWW and never found a clear, definitive answer to this question. There are a lot of mods out there all claiming to be better, I'm going right to the source, the end users for your input, thanks.

 

[chopperman1]

No tuner to do it I know of. You can do a full MDS delete or simply use your steering wheel shift buttons and put it in top gear (6 or 8). That turns off MDS and lets the transision still shift thru all gears.

 

[ClarkR]

I already use the - + controls on the wheel, works well thanks, but shifting all day long and wanting MDS off for pulling out is the goal. I saw the pulsar has the option on setting #2 but it's cost prohibitive for what I wanted to do. Maybe it can't be done but so far I'm amazed that someone doesn't have a affordable OBD plugin that does this one feature, they would sell like M&M's. But again, maybe it can't be done this way.

 

[chopperman1]

Just to be clear, you do not have to use the +- to shift the transmission, only need to do it once when you put the transmission in drive. It is not like transmisions of old when you put it in say gear 2 it stays in 2. With electronic transmisions it still shifts thru all gears and stops at the highest gear set, ie a 8 speed trans set on 8 will still shift fully normally thru 1,2,3,4 etc.

 

[ClarkR]

So your saying just hit the - to enter the mode and that's it? it will still disable MDS and not effect the shifting patterns. Needing to do each time you enter back into Drive and nothing further? I always assumed that if you activated it in say, 3rd that it would be the top shift ratio, your saying it's not so with electronic trans.? There's no down shifting with an electronic trans for speed reduction?

 

[NJMOPAR]

AlfaOBD and the dongle for the port is probably the cheapest way to make it permanent.
Upside is you'll also be able to do lots of other stuff too.

 

[ClarkR]

Noted, thanks

 

[grizzstang]

So your saying just hit the - to enter the mode and that's it? it will still disable MDS and not effect the shifting patterns. Needing to do each time you enter back into Drive and nothing further? I always assumed that if you activated it in say, 3rd that it would be the top shift ratio, your saying it's not so with electronic trans.? There's no down shifting with an electronic trans for speed reduction?

Put in in D then hit - then + to whatever gear you want. I usually lock out 8 in town so for me - then + 7 times.

It will stay in that mode until you take it out of drive. You can also bump it up or down if you want all 8 gears (like when I hit the highway) or to lock out more gears.

There is also the added benefit of being able to see what gear the trans is in at all times, which I like for towing.

 

[Plainbroke]

Nice information to know thanks for the info...

 

[atreides]

The Holley/Edge Pulsar piggyback “tuner” has MDS off modes that will keep the gearbox in it’s top gear for you. Though it’s not exactly cheap at $600, but at least you won’t have to manually disable it every time.

 

[DILLIGAF]

HP Tuner

 

[hunterdan]

Alfaobd will not disable mds, you need to do a full tuner to eliminate it electronically.

 

[ilovemyramlaremie]

Jus did with Diablo I3 tuner. No more shifting manually in high gear to keep mds off!!

 

[preen94]

Jus did with Diablo I3 tuner. No more shifting manually in high gear to keep mds off!!

Was that an option on the diablo i3 or is something custom you had to download?

 

[04fxdwgi]

Yes, the Diablo has a selection (on / off soft switch) to turn off MDS. At least my Trinity EX does. Pretty sure the I3 can, too.
Be aware, that you will need an unlocked PCM too to do this, as with any real tuner.

 

[Wild one]

Was that an option on the diablo i3 or is something custom you had to download?

For the guys who think deactivating the mds via a tune is a good idea

=AZXcfuqWYbC_PPIfMwz6Tct1NEi-bxooGBgMOJPipiKmkHcPaPHf6yt_L9edGk5pG-I_jnWJ2GWbIJCihKx86jt6riMu1aUpLlDdjK5dRqjxnZDD9moF3DUfyJVgtPgrtspfQGHN97CXnaEwevkNEv2wjK3rrSfIu9kGULTQIRFCIvdTcKD1cMBV8O5LXTixPZFei1XGVk-smlITIajlOy3sfqNDkf92cz5hXnR1G4grpHEtcZudtXX1cThisKciZyTgKxZd77OqIYPyelhXwQid&__tn__=-UC%2CP-...

www.ramforum.com

 

[darkolabs]

Everytime I hear this question there is always a group of super self proclaimed wrench jockeys who say use the buttons on your steering wheel to shift into the high gear to disable MDS. Sure you could do that if you absolutely can't afford $350 to buy the diablo sport tuner but with everything you just spent to delete the MDS are you gonna just cheap out at the end. Hell no. Buy the tuner. Do it right. And everyone who keeps suggesting u do it with the shift control......stop spreading that crap. Some people actually love there truck. You don't shortcut things like that. BUY THE FREAKING TUNER.......CANT BELIEVE I HAD TO WRITE THIS

 

[JHoward]

...um, well now, folks are saying not to turn off or program out MDS unless on a complete MDS delete with non MDS cam/lifters, because of an oiling issue with the four MDS lifters not "getting enough oil" lubrication with MDS deactivated and that it's best to use the normal MDS function".

... Idk.

 

[Wild one]

Everytime I hear this question there is always a group of super self proclaimed wrench jockeys who say use the buttons on your steering wheel to shift into the high gear to disable MDS. Sure you could do that if you absolutely can't afford $350 to buy the diablo sport tuner but with everything you just spent to delete the MDS are you gonna just cheap out at the end. Hell no. Buy the tuner. Do it right. And everyone who keeps suggesting u do it with the shift control......stop spreading that crap. Some people actually love there truck. You don't shortcut things like that. BUY THE FREAKING TUNER.......CANT BELIEVE I HAD TO WRITE THIS

Nothing on this thread said anything about a cam swap with non-mds lifters,or the replacement of the solenoids with the plastic plugs to direct oil to the lifter bores on a full time basis

 

[JHoward]

Everytime I hear this question there is always a group of super self proclaimed wrench jockeys who say use the buttons on your steering wheel to shift into the high gear to disable MDS. Sure you could do that if you absolutely can't afford $350 to buy the diablo sport tuner but with everything you just spent to delete the MDS are you gonna just cheap out at the end. Hell no. Buy the tuner. Do it right. And everyone who keeps suggesting u do it with the shift control......stop spreading that crap. Some people actually love there truck. You don't shortcut things like that. BUY THE FREAKING TUNER.......CANT BELIEVE I HAD TO WRITE THIS

Anyhow, the OP posted this two years ago and probably nothing or something was done and your note probably wouldn't matter by now, lol