Need help diagnosing an issue

[bluecheese]

I tried the Gear button trick this morning, and drove about 20 miles on the interstate in traffic, and holy moly does the truck drive so much better with the MDS shut off.

Car companies need to make it easier for customers to permanently disable these stupid and annoying fuel saving features. All they do is make the driving experience less fun.

 

[Jeepwalker]

On mine it's easy to disable ..right on the stalk. But I still use MDS for highway driving, which I do most of. It's not just a Ram thing ...most new vehicles are like that, and hybrid cars have their own build-in fun-robbing acceleration delays of different sorts! I don't know this for sure, but we might have MDS to thank ...for even having Hemi's in 1500 pickups in the first place (to meet regulations). But in a couple yrs they'll probably all be I6's (which can also be quick engines too).

That's how I managed to dust off a Mustang the other day in our 4.7HO old Grand Cherokee with 235k miles on it. It's got a real cable to the throttle body and instant acceleration right where you need it. That mustang, the kid thought he was going to end-around me (he thought wrong) I laid on the throttle, it dropped down a gear and the sleeper jeep took off right now. ...I could just about feel his car's computer sifting through 3000 lines of energy-saving nanny code to figure out what gear to shift into and when to activate all the cylinders. By the time his car got there I was gone and he ran out of road. It was exciting to school an young kid on old tech! LOL.

Same thing on these Ram Hemi's By the time they shift out and engage the cylinders... lag on the accelerator.. other cars with lesser power but instant response are gone! But if you shift down real quick on the paddles (or switch) you can make er rear up on it's haunches and giddyup. Instant go is how these electric car can be SO insanely quick. But you spew all yer juice pretty quick.

Sorry for the ramble..

 

[bluecheese]

Googling this issue brought me to Range Technology who claims to offer an MDS Manager for Ram. But every option I click on shows as "No items match the selected filters."

Does anyone know if they actually offer this MDS Manager for Rams?

 

[RamDiver]

Googling this issue brought me to Range Technology who claims to offer an MDS Manager for Ram. But every option I click on shows as "No items match the selected filters."

Does anyone know if they actually offer this MDS Manager for Rams?

I called the toll-free number on their website and received spectacular support. Jordan was very knowledgeable, offering great details on multiple options for tuning my '21 Classic.

The short answer is, no. They no longer support Ram trucks with a plugin MDS solution.

They do have several other tuning options for Ram trucks that will include disabling the MDS.

I was informed that multiple 2014 or older Ram trucks could be tuned with 1 kit and multiple licenses.
So, a small group could pool $ on the tuning kit.

They have options for in-warranty versus post-warranty vehicles. Prices ranged from about $600-$1200.

.

 

[Marshall]

I presume you have a 8 speed, button on the dash? same as mine .
I never notice the change on the highway, other than the econ. light goes out
I do notice it in town jugging around, at 20-30 mph, don't bother me.
When cold out, I will hit the button to keep it out of OD, so the RPM's stay over 1000 or 1500
But I am not racing around either, cops get pissed and roads are all ice anyway.

 

[jr27236]

I think I'm experiencing the same thing as he okay. Mine seems to get confused and will almost down shift and speed up when slowing or miss a gear possibly. Hard to explain

 

[CanuckRam1313]

I have a 19' HEMI with the 8spd and the MDS crap is rotten. With it on, especially in-town driving it's like the transmission bogs and shudders, and on the highway, the delay in kick-down is ridiculous.

In the 3.5 years of ownership I only used the MDS for the first couple of months until I got educated on the nuances of the MDS function and how it affects the drivability of our trucks.

I've also done mileage comparisons for fuel consumption, and it's marginal at best that the MDS mode nets any significant advantages over all 8cyl's operating at all times. For my driving enjoyability and positive ownership experience I'll absorb the few extra milliliters of fuel it consumes and not ever deal with the lunacy of what MDS proports to do for the HEMI's fuel economy.

Every time I get in my baby I gear select the - button into #1 and then + it to #8 and drive, in-town and on the highway too. MDS is dead to me...lol

I see absolutely zero advantage to the MDS feature on our trucks. As far as I'm concerned it's a detriment to the engine and transmission!

With the MDS off there is zero shudder / bogging in the engine and/or transmission, and my HEMI is always strong and pulls like a train!

My $0.02

 

[RamDiver]

I have a 19' HEMI with the 8spd and the MDS crap is rotten. With it on, especially in-town driving it's like the transmission bogs and shudders, and on the highway, the delay in kick-down is ridiculous.

In the 3.5 years of ownership I only used the MDS for the first couple of months until I got educated on the nuances of the MDS function and how it affects the drivability of our trucks.

I've also done mileage comparisons for fuel consumption, and it's marginal at best that the MDS mode nets any significant advantages over all 8cyl's operating at all times. For my driving enjoyability and positive ownership experience I'll absorb the few extra milliliters of fuel it consumes and not ever deal with the lunacy of what MDS proports to do for the HEMI's fuel economy.

Every time I get in my baby I gear select the - button into #1 and then + it to #8 and drive, in-town and on the highway too. MDS is dead to me...lol

I see absolutely zero advantage to the MDS feature on our trucks. As far as I'm concerned it's a detriment to the engine and transmission!

With the MDS off there is zero shudder / bogging in the engine and/or transmission, and my HEMI is always strong and pulls like a train!

My $0.02

I agree.

I hate to compromise the potential of saving a buck, but; I've been defeating the MDS lately while city driving.

Also while on the long stretch of a low-grade uphill near my house in the country.
I just don't believe traveling up this steady grade at 1100 rpm is sensible.

I live in a rural area and most of my driving is on highways. MDS seems useful on a highway unless in an area with hills, then it becomes annoying and most likely counter-productive.
If only we could set the minimum rpm rate. :-/

I hope to process all of my gas receipts sometime this winter and will see how much difference I get with the mileage. I can't imagine it will be significant enough to get me back onto MDS full-time.
.

 

[bluecheese]

I’ve been driving with the mds off the past couple of weeks, and there has been zero impact on my mpg as shown on the dash. I reset the mpg twice just to make sure. Still averaging 17.5 mpg with it off.

As I said, car makers really need to give customers the option of permanently disabling these stupid fuel saving features that do nothing but make the driving experience worse.

 

[GTyankee]

EPA will not allow Ram or the dealerships to that
Once you drive off the lot, it is your toy to play with,
EPA can't tell you what to do

 

[RamCares]

We see that you have received some great advice from your fellow forum members! However, if these suggestions do not address your concern and you decide to visit your dealer, our team would be happy to offer additional assistance throughout that process! We're available via private message.

Callie
Ram Cares

 

[bluecheese]

Ok, for the past 3 months, I have turned off the MDS every time I've driven the truck.

My mpg average per the gauge in the truck used to vary between 16.5mpg and 17.5mpg depending on where I was driving. With the MDS turned off, the mileage has increased from 17.5mpg to 18.5mpg. Sometimes up to 19mpg. To make sure that there wasn't any sort of drift or variance, I was resetting the mpg gauge weekly.

Which begs the question: what exactly is the MDS accomplishing? It doesn't appear to be saving gas. Judging only by my sample of one, gas mileage goes up with the MDS off, with the added bonus of the driving experience being more enjoyable.

 

[Spree]

Mine is the same as yours.

 

[indept]

Most likely the engineers that designed this saw an increase in mpg on the dyno. So MDS only helps on the dyno & not in real life driving, sounds good to me.

 

[David Tree]

Looks like I will be driving a low mileage 2022 RAM that I placed a deposit on.

Thanks to everyone for their input and I will be shutting off the MDS manually everytime I get in it until I find a ODB plug in that keeps it off permanently.

 

[Wild one]

Looks like I will be driving a low mileage 2022 RAM that I placed a deposit on.

Thanks to everyone for their input and I will be shutting off the MDS manually everytime I get in it until I find a ODB plug in that keeps it off permanently.

Little tidbit for you,the lifters actually get more oil when the trucks in 4 cylinder mode.They use oil pressure to activate the mds.
Spend 16 minutes and watch this complete video.

Is MDS Damaging Your HEMI? The Answer May Surprise You!

I feel like MDS has been unfairly made the culprit for the lifter failures we see on Gen 3 Hemi engines. In this video I explain exactly how the system works...

www.youtube.com

You can also read this tech article by MMX

Gen3 HEMI Lifter Failure Tech Article by MMX

Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep HEMI Engine Performance Parts

www.modernmusclextreme.com

 

[RamDiver]

Thanks to everyone for their input and I will be shutting off the MDS manually everytime I get in it until I find a ODB plug in that keeps it off permanently.

I disable the MDS often when I'm visiting the city but most of my driving is on rural highway and the MDS stays active.

You might reconsider disabling the MDS always after watching that video Rick posted.

Ask questions if it's not clear enough.

.

 

[David Tree]

I disable the MDS often when I'm visiting the city but most of my driving is on rural highway and the MDS stays active.

You might reconsider disabling the MDS always after watching that video Rick posted.

Ask questions if it's not clear enough.

.

Well, after two long months of searching, i will be in a 2022 RAM 1500 Saturday 12 noon.

It was very difficult trying to find a very low mileage, one owner and with oil changes.

 

[David Tree]

I disable the MDS often when I'm visiting the city but most of my driving is on rural highway and the MDS stays active.

You might reconsider disabling the MDS always after watching that video Rick posted.

Ask questions if it's not clear enough.

.

@Wild one

OK
Watched the second video.

MDS sucks and when i get the RAM home i will have someone start a Go-Fund-Me account for MDS removal.
Multiple
Disorder
Syndrome

Please help now and save a RAM 1500 from MDS - your tax exempt donation can change a life.

 

[Wild one]

@Wild one

OK
Watched the second video.

MDS sucks and when i get the RAM home i will have someone start a Go-Fund-Me account for MDS removal.
Multiple
Disorder
Syndrome

Please help now and save a RAM 1500 from MDS - your tax exempt donation can change a life.

You can keep it out of MDS mode,by driving it like your 16 again,lol. The hemi is one of those engines that likes to be driven aggressively,driving it like Grandma doesn't do them any good.Don't be scared to run it up past 3000 rpm a fair bit