Annoying MDS?

[Matt Todd]

I saw someone mention something about a MDS in a previous post and about how it can be pretty annoying. Well I believe this is it. At cruising highway speeds it hits a gear and just kind of chugs along until you need to hit the gas a little and the slightly higher RPM’s settles it.

I’ve seen people talk about a “pedal commander” and I was wondering if that’s a way you can bypass this feature of the ram or isn’t just one of those things that you get used to?

 

[69GWC]

Manually select 6th gear on the 6sp or 8th gear on the 8sp and it wont come on.

 

[tantore]

hi matt the pedal commander will not do any thing about the MDS you need a tunner to disabled the MDS diablo tunners have that future check it out

 

[tones2SS]

Yes, the MDS is very annoying. I actually HATE it.
I say I drive about 50% of the time with it engaged and 50% of the time with it disengaged. I don't care about gas mileage, I want V8 power at all times.

 

[Ramm5.7]

The first thing I do after selecting drive is set trans to 7 or 8 to never hear or feel mds

 

[Matt Todd]

Please forgive me for sounding like a complete novice(this is the first truck I’ve ever owned)but my wife accidentally hit the tow/haul button tonight and it seemed to do the same thing a couple of you have suggested by just manually shifting to a higher gear. Just curious, Is it ok to drive with the tow/haul mode activated in order to keep the mds from gurgling down the freeway?

 

[bluesport2014]

second the motion on selecting gear and it shuts off i do it every time. only time i use it is a highway trip.

 

[huntergreen]

Please forgive me for sounding like a complete novice(this is the first truck I’ve ever owned)but my wife accidentally hit the tow/haul button tonight and it seemed to do the same thing a couple of you have suggested by just manually shifting to a higher gear. Just curious, Is it ok to drive with the tow/haul mode activated in order to keep the mds from gurgling down the freeway?

I am not sure that completely disables the MDS with out a load hooked up. 69 is better able to answer this it does change the shifting though.

 

[69GWC]

Yes it will still come on under tow haul mode it just takes a lighter foot before it kicks in.

I have had it come on while towing a trailer before.

 

[KnurledNut]

I don't do the manual shift thing, instead I set the cruise for 1 mph higher than I want. When the MDS kicks in I drop the cruise down 1 mph. Seems to settle things down. Not sure of the science, or maybe it's just the voices in my head.

 

[fijicorey]

I don't mind the MDS on the highway but it's around the city that I hate it. Like others said the manual gear select works unless you get a custom tune.

Edit: punctuation

 

[Ramm5.7]

I don't do the manual shift thing, instead I set the cruise for 1 mph higher than I want. When the MDS kicks in I drop the cruise down 1 mph. Seems to settle things down. Not sure of the science, or maybe it's just the voices in my head.

Its not really manual shifting. Set it once to 8, trans shifts by itself normally up to 8 but never allows mds to kick in. Set it once by the button on wheel and done

 

[ram1500rsm]

First thing I did disable in my tune with HPTuners after installing an aftermarket muffler, mds didn’t bother me prior to that, after the muffler, the exhaust sound in 4 cyl is freaking horrible.

 

[tones2SS]

First thing I did disable in my tune with HPTuners after installing an aftermarket muffler, mds didn’t bother me prior to that, after the muffler, the exhaust sound in 4 cyl is freaking horrible.

It is!!! I have the Flowmaster Outlaw direct replacement muffler and I want to punch the dash out every time I hear it. lol
Sounds like garbage.

 

[Fitz-0518]

Hmmm,,,Confused. I know that setting the gear select in 6 for "non towing" disables the MDS. When towing we select tow mode. "Thought" that also disabled MDS? If not, could we set the gear select at 6 and press the tow mode when towing and fully disable MDS??

 

[turkeybird56]

On MY 19, selecting tow haul just changes shift patterns. But if U do tow haul and manual gear select to 8th gear, MDS does not function, IMHO.....

ADDED: To be 100% sure that this works, I will need to go drive somewhere and check. I remember that ECO mode kicking in while towing even in tow haul, but maybe senility still stands, LOL. Also, I have talked to many people who had posted to run on tow/haul but some people think this is not good for tranny to include a major poster on YouTube who stated he did this and ran and it screwed up his tranny, (his words). Now on that, I do not know. I will repost in here ref MDS off after I get the chance to check truck...

ADDED x2: OK, I went for a quick ride. MDS does not come on in Tow Haul on MY 19. That being said, I would opt for using gear selector to put truck in non-MDS mode than drive around with Tow Haul on. Just not sure ref tranny issues, just saying...

 

[turkeybird56]

On MY 19, selecting tow haul just changes shift patterns. But if U do tow haul and manual gear select to 8th gear, MDS does not function, IMHO.....

MOD REMOVE POST #17, DOUBLE POST

 

[69GWC]

I run in TH mode most times and do not believe it can harm your trans as I have done this on my trucks since they started comeing with TH mode.
One thing I dont like with mine if not towing my truck hits the rev limiter before it shifts with TH mode one at WOT.

 

[Truck Fun]

Just to confirm, but does ECO only show when MDS has been activated, Correct? Also, would the activation of MDS be impacted by how one's truck is equipped? Ex; a 3.92 ratio vs a 3.21 ratio.

 

[Fitz-0518]

This is helpful. 2018 66RFE 6.4 SLT CC. Next time I tow, I am going to put the gear selector in 6 and hit the TM button. Will watch trans temp and shift points. I do not want MDS kicking in when we are towing. Can not be good for the engine. Thanks Gents.