Do you like your MDS?

[ExcursionDiesel]

Not sure if I understand what you are talking about based on your comments above. You can NOT turn off the MCDS but you can turn off the Auto Start/Stop feature. You can "trick" the MCDS from turning on if you manually set the gear limit but that is the only way I am aware that it can be temporarily turned "off".

Doesn't Tow mode disable MCDS? Or is that just Start/Stop also?

 

[Saints]

I must be the outlier. I have never been able to tell when MDS kicks in, so put me in the "like it" category.

Same here and I’ve tried to notice it after reading this thread and watching for the eco light to come on.

 

[securityguy]

Same here and I’ve tried to notice it after reading this thread and watching for the eco light to come on.

If you want to see the ECO light come on, then go into your setting and enable it

 

[Saints]

If you want to see the ECO light come on, then go into your setting and enable it

I have it on and see it all the time. I was just saying that, that’s the only way I can tell when MDS kicks on.

 

[SynAckuL]

I absolutely hate MDS on my 2019 Ram 1500. The change in exhaust note is night and day, and there is a surge when MDS disengages. It is not smooth at all for my particular vehicle. It should be noted, however, that my truck is currently at the dealer for the 3rd time for transmission issues and rough shifting.

 

[Joeyp]

I wish there was... if I had to pick the one thing I do not like about my 5th gen it is definitely the MDS. I guess you could say I have a love - hate relationship with my 5th gen. Love the truck but HATE the MDS!

Me too...Thats why I always use the shift limiter!

 

[securityguy]

I absolutely hate MDS on my 2019 Ram 1500. The change in exhaust note is night and day, and there is a surge when MDS disengages. It is not smooth at all for my particular vehicle. It should be noted, however, that my truck is currently at the dealer for the 3rd time for transmission issues and rough shifting.

Mine is smooth as butter and if it wasn't for the sound change I'd never know. I do believe that your tranny issues may have something to do with it as the MCDS should be seamless without any surges or feel whatsoever.

 

[myram2019]

On mine i don't get any surge at all. Very smooth transition. Don't know if the E-Torque makes it smoother. The change is exhaust is barely noticeable too.

 

[SynAckuL]

I'd like to think that's true, but whenever I take it in, I get one of the following responses from the service department:

"This is a very active transmission"
"Unfortunately, all of our trucks shift this way"
"That's the way it's supposed to feel"

They said their was a TCM update just recently - one that isn't listed on the forums here - so we're going to try that next.

 

[securityguy]

I'd like to think that's true, but whenever I take it in, I get one of the following responses from the service department:

"This is a very active transmission"
"Unfortunately, all of our trucks shift this way"
"That's the way it's supposed to feel"

They said their was a TCM update just recently - one that isn't listed on the forums here - so we're going to try that next.

Then maybe you need to visit a different dealership

 

[Gman]

I don't feel MDS at all. I have come to where I hear it disengaging in the exhaust note if the radio is low. Drove a 2019 Classic for a couple of weeks and didn't notice the exhaust note. I also didn't get the nice rumble like I do when I put my right foot into it. I also have eTorque on my truck, so maybe that makes a difference?

I like it and am able to leverage the different technologies to make good mileage when I want. I can also have fun with it if that's what I want to do.

 

[Neurobit]

I have it on and see it all the time. I was just saying that, that’s the only way I can tell when MDS kicks on.

Right. Same same as you. I can see the light all day long. I just can't ever tell when it kicks in. No complaints.

 

[50Front]

Not sure if I understand what you are talking about based on your comments above. You can NOT turn off the MCDS but you can turn off the Auto Start/Stop feature. You can "trick" the MCDS from turning on if you manually set the gear limit but that is the only way I am aware that it can be temporarily turned "off".

That's what I'm talking about, using the gear limit to turn off MDS

 

[Turin]

My MDS engages/disengages completely smoothly; I'd never notice if it wasn't for the ECO light. What I do notice is a bit of engine braking when the transmission downshifts while coasting.

 

[fenixtxrbf]

I notice when mds goes from on to off. Feels similar to a down shift hesitation. Not overly noticeable unless you are ocd and watch that gear hasn't changed but you feel something esle happen

 

[anonymous]

i have no idea when mine does it and i do a lot of highway.
as far as i know, the mds is not related to the eco light. I have no idea if mine actually works as i never feel anything. averaging about 20.2 mpg now at 900 miles on her.

 

[Gman]

as far as i know, the mds is not related to the eco light.

It's totally related. ECO is MDS.

 

[silver billet]

I'm on the fence whether I like it or not. I want the gas savings, and the instant meter does show savings (quite significant for me, sometimes dropping 2 or more l/100km), but I do feel a "fish bite" somtimes, not everytime. Majority of the time there is nothing, but once in a while a tiny shudder.

GM's implementation is a lot more advanced than RAM's MDS, but I noticed a little shudder in the Sierra I test drove on rural roads as well. Glad I noticed it in the GMC, otherwise I might start thinking along the lines "time to trade in my RAM for one that's a little more advanced and smooth"

 

[Rammit]

I just put my eco light on because I actually could not tell if the mds was coming on. My old truck I could both feel and hear it. This truck it is completely imperceptible. I don’t know if having the Etorque helps or not

 

[DraKhen99]

I can't usually tell when MDS kicks in, but sometimes I'll hear a slightly different exhaust note or feel the engine change its tone, if that makes sense. Very much unobtrusive, and if I am not paying attention for the MDS on/off transition, I don't even notice it. I didn't even know my truck had MDS until I read it on here. I knew about the ECO light though - I thought it was just related to economical driving.

-John