Gear+ / Gear- buttons on steering wheel?

[af2018]

i did a lot of research.. can't find a clear answer.
some people say its so you can see what gear you're in.
some people say its for you to change what gear you're in.


ideas? i accidentally pressed it once while driving and the display said D7 or something like that. couldn't tell if the engine sounded different.

is it 'bad' for the engine to accidently press these buttons if you're going 65 mph ?

 

[K-Dawg]

These are to control the highest gear the truck will automatically shift into. When you're in D8, pressing once shows you D8, pressing "-" will put you in D7. Again will put you in D6. Effectively, you're "downshifting" by pressing the "-" button. Pressing the "+" doesn't automatically upshift, but will permit the Automatic upshift if the conditions are correct for it. Downshifting to as low as D5 at 65MPH isn't too bad. RPMs will come up. Any lower, will cause the truck to slowdown drastically. I've never tried rapidly hitting the "-" at highway speeds (because that would be stupid), so I don't know what that will do. But I have used it to decelerate without having to heat up my brakes (I hate hitting the brake pedal at 75-80 MPH). A drop to D7 or D6 usually slows me down enough to avoid the left-lane hog in front of me.

Frankly, these little button are a ****-poor substitute for what the truck really needs, and that is a proper console mounted auto-stick for complete control of your gears,.....when you want or need it.

 

[AFMoulton]

Page 470 in the owners manual.

Electronic Range Select (ERS) Operation
— Eight-Speed Transmission
The Electronic Range Select (ERS) shift control allows the driver to limit the highest available gear when the transmission is in DRIVE. For example, if you set the transmission gear limit to 4 (fourth gear), the transmis- sion will not shift above fourth gear (except to prevent engine overspeed), but will shift through the lower gears normally.
You can switch between DRIVE and ERS mode at any vehicle speed. When the transmission gear selector is in DRIVE, the transmission will operate automatically, shift- ing between all available gears. Tapping the GEAR- switch (on the steering wheel) will activate ERS mode, display the current gear in the instrument cluster, and set that gear as the top available gear. Once in ERS mode, tapping the GEAR- or GEAR+ switch will change the top available gear.

1 — ERS (-) Switch
2 — ERS (+) Switch
To exit ERS mode, simply push and hold the GEAR+ switch until the gear limit display disappears from the instrument cluster.
WARNING!Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their grip and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or personal injury.

1 — ERS (-) Switch
2 — ERS (+) Switch
To exit ERS mode, simply push and hold the GEAR+ switch until the gear limit display disappears from the instrument cluster.


2018 2500 6.4 4x4 4.10 Amsoil SS 0w-40, Softopper
Black Rhino Armory 18x9 +12mm
Cooper Stt MAXX LT295/70R18

2016 Durango 5.7 AWD 3.07 Amsoil SS 5W-30
1996 Nissan Altima 2.4 Amsoil SS 5W-30

 

[hardEight]

It does do one thing like my Scat Pack...

If you press and hold the Gear - button it'll drop to the lowest available gear for speedy take offs. Just like flooring it lol

 

[K-Dawg]

My gripe is that the buttons are clustered on the steering wheel with the cruise control buttons. Or is it the audio control buttons. Maybe it's near the hands-free button. No matter, it's the wrong place for transmission interface (as is that stupid dial on the dash board next to the HVAC fan control....or is is the Mode control. While not ideal, even paddle shifters wold be better. I'd rather have a stick than that gaping empty hole in my console.

 

[crash68]

If you have the 7" multi-page EVIC cluster you will see what gear your limited to and what gear the transmission is in. If you have the regular EVIC all you see is the gear your limited to.
As far as pushing the +/- Gear buttons while your driving, the transmission will protect itself. You can't force it into a gear that will be detrimental to the drivetrain. Same thing goes for the shifter, if your driving down the freeway it won't do anything but warn you if it's shifted out of drive(till the vehicle slows down on it's own).

 

[Tsys100718]

I use them all the time when I'm towing my TT and coming up to a stop. Of course, once stopped, I have to hit the + button repeatedly until the numbers go away and the D is completely lit. And I actually LIKE where the buttons are located.

 

[crash68]

I use them all the time when I'm towing my TT and coming up to a stop. Of course, once stopped, I have to hit the + button repeatedly until the numbers go away and the D is completely lit.

just hold the + button down, it will reset the ERS back to normal (D)

 

[Vehicle Probes]

The Gear+ / Gear- buttons let you control the highest gear your truck will shift into automatically. When you’re in DRIVE (D8), pressing the "-" button will limit the truck to D7, effectively downshifting. Pressing the "+" button doesn’t automatically upshift, but allows the automatic upshift if conditions are right. This feature, called Electronic Range Select (ERS), is great for controlling your speed and deceleration without overusing your brakes, especially useful when towing or driving on hilly terrain.

Is It Safe to Use These at High Speed?​

Yes, it’s safe. If you downshift to D5 at 65 mph, your RPMs will increase, but the transmission system is designed to protect itself. It won’t let you force the truck into a gear that would harm the drivetrain. Using these buttons at highway speeds for controlled deceleration is fine and won’t damage your engine.

More Detailed Info​

For a deeper dive into gear selector problems and solutions in Dodge Rams, check out this article: Dodge Ram Gear Selector Problems - Fixing Tips.

The article covers common issues like trouble shifting gears, gear indicators malfunctioning, and offers tips for maintaining your gear selector to prevent these problems.

 

[BenchTest]

So, what's the difference between being in (D)rive vs. D8? If it limits the upshift to 8th gear, isn't that the same as (D)rive? Or is there a lockup converter being utilized and that's the difference?

 

[crash68]

So, what's the difference between being in (D)rive vs. D8? If it limits the upshift to 8th gear, isn't that the same as (D)rive? Or is there a lockup converter being utilized and that's the difference?

If I'm not mistaken it will stop the cylinder deactivation on the Hemi trucks. The torque converter locks up either way.

 

[Dean2]

I use them all the time when I'm towing my TT and coming up to a stop. Of course, once stopped, I have to hit the + button repeatedly until the numbers go away and the D is completely lit. And I actually LIKE where the buttons are located.

If you just hold the + button it will go back to D.

Should have scrolled down, Crash already answered this.

I too use the buttons all the time. Particularly handy for holding speed down on hills so you don't need to use your brakes.

For around town I set the gear limit at 4 or 5, depending on the posted speed limit. This keeps the revs up a bit and keeps the transmission from shifting into higher gears that aren't really needed. I find I actually get better gas mileage around town doing that.

 

[BenchTest]

If I'm not mistaken it will stop the cylinder deactivation on the Hemi trucks. The torque converter locks up either way.

So, on my 3.6 it's just a "feel good" ? LOL

 

[turkeybird56]

If you just hold the + button it will go back to D.

Should have scrolled down, Crash already answered this.

I too use the buttons all the time. Particularly handy for holding speed down on hills so you don't need to use your brakes.

For around town I set the gear limit at 4 or 5, depending on the posted speed limit. This keeps the revs up a bit and keeps the transmission from shifting into higher gears that aren't really needed. I find I actually get better gas mileage around town doing that.

Interesting thought

 

[Dean2]

Interesting thought

Yes, it is a left over from having driven manual transmissions for so long. Diesel or gas, you never shifted into top gears in town, you always stayed in a max gear that gave you at least reasonable throttle response when needed, without having to downshift every time you needed to speed up a little. You kept the motor in the rev range that produced some reasonable torque and where you weren't lugging the engine. There is a reason the manual transmissions got a lot better gas mileage than automatics back in the day, and it was because the engines were run in their power bands far more often.

Just because the downshift is now done automatically doesn't make it a better idea.

 

[RamDiver]

Yes, it is a left over from having driven manual transmissions for so long. Diesel or gas, you never shifted into top gears in town, you always stayed in a max gear that gave you at least reasonable throttle response when needed, without having to downshift every time you needed to speed up a little. You kept the motor in the rev range that produced some reasonable torque and where you weren't lugging the engine. There is a reason the manual transmissions got a lot better gas mileage than automatics back in the day, and it was because the engines were run in their power bands far more often.

Just because the downshift it is now done automatically doesn't make it a better idea.

It is my SOP to use the manual gear selection whenever city driving happens.

You can't doddle around the city slickers, you give them 6" too much room and they'll jump in front of you in an instant.

I visited Ottawa for supplies yesterday and am always very amazed by the idiots driving 45-50 mph, with less than a car-length of space.

I enjoy a 2 or 3-second space cushion and find it necessary to keep on high alert because that area is always an open-season event.

It makes for good sport but gets old, very fast.

.

 

[crash68]

Particularly handy for holding speed down on hills so you don't need to use your brakes.

If you set the cruise, it will do the same thing (usually within 5 mph of the set speed).

 

[Dean2]

If you set the cruise, it will do the same thing (usually within 5 mph of the set speed).

Problem is, it will do it by applying the brakes on most adaptive cruise vehicles. In my pickup, I dont have adaptive cruise because I didnt want the collision avoidance braking system or lane control, so yes it downshifts to hold speed downhill but that isn't universally true.

 

[RamDiver]

If you set the cruise, it will do the same thing (usually within 5 mph of the set speed).

Yup, I'm a cruise-aholic primarily for that reason.

.

 

[crash68]

Problem is, it will do it by applying the brakes on most adaptive cruise vehicles. In my pickup, I dont have adaptive cruise because I didnt want the collision avoidance braking system

Don't need adaptive cruise control and hitting the brakes on a vehicle with adaptive cruise turns it off just like regular cruise control.
The ZF transmissions are smarter than the average bear when it comes to shift management. It just needs to know what speed you want to go.

I'm a cruise-aholic primarily for that reason.

Pretty sure the cruise control in most of the vehicles I've driven have more miles logged than right foot does... LOL