Transmission normal behavior?

[grizzjeeper]

2015 ram PW with about 10k on it now. Since new I have always felt some transmission oddity but since its always done it I figured it was the nature of the beast... now I am second guessing it.. maybe its happening more..

under light load it feels like the torque converter locking and unlocking partially, you can see it on the tach fluctuating and hear the engine kinda lug. Seems to be more noticeable at speeds in the 50mph range at low RMP (1200 rpm to 2k)

Doesn't do it all the time and doesn't seem to change with temp. Its not overly noticeable...

Thoughts? Dealer said he couldn't replicate...

 

[Ratket]

is it a 6.4?- maybe it is the mds? but the tach wouldn't drop. Also when @ 50mph or below I leave tow haul on and lock it out in 4th gear so mds doesn't activate and the damn thing isn't always hunting through gears

 

[RoadDog66]

I agree and would say it's the MDS. Try using +/- selector and put in 6/6 and see what it does. Doing this should lock out the MDS.

 

[zeddy]

Sounds like the MDS. I just don't understand why they would put that crap on that a 3/4 ton truck. I'm not buying the thing for fuel economy. the first month of driving the truck, feeling what your describing, i hated the truck. Hated driving it. The tranny shifting on my 2005 Nissan titan w/ 200K miles felt so much better. Now, on city streets, I put the selector on either 5 or 6. Feels much better. give that a try.

 

[Hootbro]

Mine I believe does the same thing. When you accelerate and let off the throttle and coast at low RPM and then gently nudge the throttle again, there is a slight thump like the torque converter is engaging.

I am at 5K miles and when new, it was readily repeatable on almost a daily basis when new. As I am getting more miles on it, becomes a more less often event with maybe one or two events in a week at most.

I speculated it may have to do with the transmission and engine adaptive learning programming adjusting to my driving style.

 

[grizzjeeper]

6.4 Definitely NOT the MDS. On the 2015 it displays ECO when in MDS mode, plus a very noticeable vibration in eco mode on the 6.4. This happens under steady throttle, you will hear the engine bog then surge slightly then bog then surge etc. happens in 5th and 6th more often than any other gear always under 2k rpm.

 

[loveracing1988]

is it a 6.4?- maybe it is the mds? but the tach wouldn't drop. Also when @ 50mph or below I leave tow haul on and lock it out in 4th gear so mds doesn't activate and the damn thing isn't always hunting through gears

The tach on mine will rise about 200 rpm when mds shuts off and then settle back down to where it was. Idk of it unlocks the torque converter when the mds shuts off or what, I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it on my own truck.

 

[zeddy]

6.4 Definitely NOT the MDS. On the 2015 it displays ECO when in MDS mode, plus a very noticeable vibration in eco mode on the 6.4. This happens under steady throttle, you will hear the engine bog then surge slightly then bog then surge etc. happens in 5th and 6th more often than any other gear always under 2k rpm.

You have the option of turning it on or off. When i was going through the uconnect settings on my 2015, it had the option. i turned it on. got annoyed of that little green "ECO" so i turned it back off.

 

[2robinhood]

I need to chime in here.
This sounds like my issue that i have asked about without any responses.

I have a 2016 Ram 3500, 6.4L gasser, 4:10 gears, and 1,000 miles on my truck.

I really didn't have the truck stock long enough ( put lift and tires on at 95 miles ) to know how it really felt stock.

The feeling is only there when babying the gas.

My best way to describe what I feel is like a surge between 38 & 48 mph.
There is no shimmy, just a forward osculation feeling.

Other descriptions of the feeling could be like an engine miss, tire out of round, etc, etc.

I put the stock factory wheels and tires back on the truck and I can still feel it.

I have had my wheels and 37" tires road force balanced and then checked for run out / out of round and nothing was found.

I do not feel it when I get into the gas harder and the truck dives smooth as glass ( tire balance ) at all speeds.

Definitely not MDS, there is no mistaking when the MDS is on.

The feeling isn't there all the time and I do not notice any changing in engine RPM when I feel it.

I can throw the truck into neutral when I feel it, and the feeling seems to go away when I am coasting.

I have a Zone 5 1/2" lift kit, 20" wheels, and 37" tires.

I installed a BDS rear driveshaft spacer.
This didn't make any effect on the feeling.

I removed the front driveshaft ( test ) which also had no effect on the feeling.

Getting on the gas harder when accelerating, the feeling isn't there.
It is only when lightly into the gas.

I have not taken it to my dealer as of yet, since I perform all of my own mechanical work and installs.

I personally can't see any reason the lift kit can cause this feeling.
Rear driveshaft angles are not at all bad and feeling is present with no front driveshaft installed.

Any ideas ?

 

[Hootbro]

............
Any ideas ?

Good luck man, no dealership is going to touch that with all your suspension and drive line modification. They will blame all your mods out the gate.

 

[RoadDog66]

You have the option of turning it on or off. When i was going through the uconnect settings on my 2015, it had the option. i turned it on. got annoyed of that little green "ECO" so i turned it back off.

Where exactly is this function? I can't find how to turn this on/off on my 2015. None of the EVIC dash settings or 8.4AN settings mention the MDS.

 

[drittal]

Without a video we are guessing.

My ECO light was not enabled from the factory. ECO light also doesn't necessarily mean mds is kicked in.

My truck loves Eco and mds at 50mph. It feels like bogging and slight shudder/vibration then when it kicks off everything smooths out. The big and shudder isn't as pronounced coasting as on a steady pull.

My salesman made sure to point out the mds and feeling on the test drive so I knew what it was.

 

[loveracing1988]

Where exactly is this function? I can't find how to turn this on/off on my 2015. None of the EVIC dash settings or 8.4AN settings mention the MDS.

There is no setting for mds, the setting is for the eco mode display. Shift into 6th gear with the + - buttons to shut off mds or buy a tuner to do so.

 

[Ricks Ram]

There is no setting for mds, the setting is for the eco mode display. Shift into 6th gear with the + - buttons to shut off mds or buy a tuner to do so.

Exactly what he said. The ECO on off setting is to turn off the display in your E.V.I.C only. It has no effect on the actual M.D.S function....the ability to turn the display off seems to confuse alot of people who think it actualy turns off the M.D.S since the display is gone from there E.V.I.C.

 

[SlightlyTweaked]

2015 ram PW with about 10k on it now. Since new I have always felt some transmission oddity but since its always done it I figured it was the nature of the beast... now I am second guessing it.. maybe its happening more..

under light load it feels like the torque converter locking and unlocking partially, you can see it on the tach fluctuating and hear the engine kinda lug. Seems to be more noticeable at speeds in the 50mph range at low RMP (1200 rpm to 2k)

Doesn't do it all the time and doesn't seem to change with temp. Its not overly noticeable...

Thoughts? Dealer said he couldn't replicate...

I dont believe it has anything to do with the engine (5.7, 6.4 or 6.7) it has to do with the 6 speed automatic. I was experiencing similar issues since day one and eventually it showed itself. Heres a link to my post after dealer fix.
http://www.ramforum.com/f44/tranny_rebuild_under_warranty-72859/

When I pushed the Tow/Haul mode and drove a little while is when the truck would finally flag a code, never before that. That mode changing the shift points seems to trigger it.

 

[RoadDog66]

There is no setting for mds, the setting is for the eco mode display. Shift into 6th gear with the + - buttons to shut off mds or buy a tuner to do so.

Ok but where is the setting to turn on/off the Eco indicator? I can't find anywhere to turn it on ir off.

 

[Ricks Ram]

Ok but where is the setting to turn on/off the Eco indicator? I can't find anywhere to turn it on ir off.

It's in your display settings. It's the fuel saver display on the second page.

 

[RoadDog66]

Thanks Rick, but maybe I'm a bit thick. I can't find a Settings menu, only thinhg similar I have is Controls. Does the truck need to be turned on? I checked when i had ignition in accessory position.

 

[Ricks Ram]

Thanks Rick, but maybe I'm a bit thick. I can't find a Settings menu, only thinhg similar I have is Controls.

I think you go to aps and then to settings from there when you have the comfort controls.

 

[RoadDog66]

I think you go to aps and then to settings from there when you have the comfort controls.

Ok I'll check again later...out camping in 45-50 deg weather and its too cozy by the fire to get up (except for another beer).