Why so much hate for MDS and auto stop/start?

[STR]

No opinion on the MDS, but the Auto SS was a deal breaker. I have it on my other vehicles and hate it. Glad that RAM offered an alternative HEMI

 

[Fantastipotamus]

Unfortunately, auto start/stop has been so shoddily implemented by so many other manufacturers, I wouldn’t blame anyone for dismissing it immediately. Using the battery/starter is annoying as hell, and frankly, if Ram had used that on our trucks, I would have been annoyed by it as well.

That being said, if folks are considering a new Ram, I would encourage them to test drive one w/ eTorque, to see how well auto start/stop can be implemented.

I don’t really have strong feelings about MDS, but I am a huge fan of the eTorque auto start/stop implementation.

 

[IvoryHemi]

Engine stalled / shut off

Same thing happened to me as well. 2021 Bighorn. Stopped at red light, making a left hand turn. Light changed, let off brake, pressed down on accelerator, truck started moving forward then died. Transmission went to park, and parking brake came on. I was able to start the truck by pushing the...

5thgenrams.com

 

[kgurtsak]

I specifically avoided eTorque and stop/start on my Hemi

1) payload cautious. Didn’t want the 90 lb reduction in payload

2) shutting off while waiting to turn left is dangerous

3) I plan to keep this truck past 80k and don’t want to potentially waste $1-2k on the 48V battery replacement.

I haven't seen a battery that costs that much for the truck....id there something I am missing? My quick googling I saw around $300 for a battery.

 

[tidefan1967]

I haven't seen a battery that costs that much for the truck....id there something I am missing? My quick googling I saw around $300 for a battery.

Etorque battery pack replacement cost is around $1500.

 

[IvoryHemi]

I haven't seen a battery that costs that much for the truck....id there something I am missing? My quick googling I saw around $300 for a battery.

 

[BowDown]

48v Battery is covered by warranty

 

[SpeedyV]

Etorque battery pack replacement cost is around $1500.

That’s really not bad. Early posters were worried about some imagined $5K+ cost. I imagine the cost will only come down over time.

 

[Ramjack]

That’s really not bad. Early posters were worried about some imagined $5K+ cost. I imagine the cost will only come down over time.

My concern is that Ram will stop building these (eTorque vehicles) soon. They will move on to something else. Then we could end up owning "those oddball eTorques" that were only made for 4-5 years and for which the unique parts (i.e. generator unit and 48V battery) are scarce and expensive. At least those parts are covered for 8 yrs / 80k miles.

 

[SpeedyV]

My concern is that Ram will stop building these soon. They will move on to something else. Then we could end up owning "those oddball eTorques" that were only made for 4-5 years and for which the unique parts (i.e. generator unit and 48V battery) are scarce and expensive. At least those parts are covered for 8 yrs / 80k miles.

That’s a real possibility, I’ll admit. But I think there’s a better than even chance that a Taiwanese replacement (likely better made and cheaper than OEM) will appear on the market…

 

[IvoryHemi]

My concern is that Ram will stop building these soon. They will move on to something else. Then we could end up owning "those oddball eTorques" that were only made for 4-5 years and for which the unique parts (i.e. generator unit and 48V battery) are scarce and expensive. At least those parts are covered for 8 yrs / 80k miles.

eTorque is just a marketing name for the 48V system, FCA/Ram doesn’t actually build them.

They purchase from Continental what is really called Eco-Drive for the 2.0 and 3.6 while the Hemi’s air cooled system comes from an Italian company who name escapes me while using a battery from LG Chem

 

[theblet]

What’s the price for a new ET generator? I imagine the price of the 48v battery packs will stay pretty high until the aftermarket companies start producing. I’m sure you won’t find duralast ones for a few years for sure. That’s one reason I didn’t want ET. The benefits aren’t good enough for me.

 

[Ramjack]

eTorque is just a marketing name for the 48V system, FCA/Ram doesn’t actually build them.

They purchase from Continental what is really called Eco-Drive for the 2.0 and 3.6 while the Hemi’s air cooled system comes from an Italian company who name escapes me while using a battery from LG Chem

Understood. Ram (or any automaker) doesn't make much of anything anymore. They assemble. When I said "stop building" I meant I'm concerned that Ram will stop building eTorque vehicles soon.

 

[Ramjack]

What’s the price for a new ET generator? I imagine the price of the 48v battery packs will stay pretty high until the aftermarket companies start producing. I’m sure you won’t find duralast ones for a few years for sure. That’s one reason I didn’t want ET. The benefits aren’t good enough for me.

OEM generator = $798; OEM alternator = $319

 

[theblet]

OEM generator = $798; OEM alternator = $319

View attachment 95960

Yikes. Happy with my decision.

 

[mmcbeat]

Just saw that Ford trucks and SUV’s with V8 engines will not have the ESS feature. Chip shortage issue.

 

[bucolic]

At first, the Etourqe took a bit getting used to and it was odd to have the truck shut off. A couple of times my heart went into my throat as I was thinking "Oh great! What's wrong with the truck!" when it shut off on me. Now when I drive my girlfriend's car and it doesn't shut off I feel like it's so wasteful sitting there burning gas, spewing exhaust, and idling the engine creating wear on it needlessly! It almost seems like driving a car without power steering (younger members probably never have!).

I wonder what the cumulative savings would be in gasoline consumption and how much reduction in pollution would occur if ALL vehicles shut off at idle. I mean look at this shot which is just a small cross-section of all the cars sitting idling across the world at any given time.

 

[Scram1500]

At first, the Etourqe took a bit getting used to and it was odd to have the truck shut off. A couple of times my heart went into my throat as I was thinking "Oh great! What's wrong with the truck!" when it shut off on me. Now when I drive my girlfriend's car and it doesn't shut off I feel like it's so wasteful sitting there burning gas, spewing exhaust, and idling the engine creating wear on it needlessly! It almost seems like driving a car without power steering (younger members probably never have!).

I wonder what the cumulative savings would be in gasoline consumption and how much reduction in pollution would occur if ALL vehicles shut off at idle. I mean look at this shot which is just a small cross-section of all the cars sitting idling across the world at any given time.

View attachment 96793

Holy ****, glad not to live there. That looks like a hot summer day, most of those people will disable start/stop to keep the AC going. People care about the environment right up to the point when they become uncomfortable or inconvienced

 

[Richard320]

Holy ****, glad not to live there. That looks like a hot summer day, most of those people will disable start/stop to keep the AC going. People care about the environment right up to the point when they become uncomfortable or inconvenienced

Ain't that the truth!

I used to work in Santa Cruz, California, where old VWs go to die. They were consistently the dirtiest cars I smog checked. And as soon as you told the hippie that his VW bus with Earthfirst stickers failed, he'd start hollering about the diesel trucks. Seems that everyone else is responsible for pollution, not him, despite the proof in front of him.

Second example: working at Toyota dealer. High-mileage Prius comes in for service with a CEL blazing. No mention of it on the repair order. I checked to see what it was, just to cover my @. It's a catalyst efficiency code. Tell the greenie with the hybrid car what it is, and he says, "Yeah, I know. Too expensive. And I don't have to get smogged anyway, so I don't worry about it." He didn't then, but he does now!

 

[Ramjack]

I wonder what the cumulative savings would be in gasoline consumption and how much reduction in pollution would occur if ALL vehicles shut off at idle. I mean look at this shot which is just a small cross-section of all the cars sitting idling across the world at any given time.

View attachment 96793

Only if all those cars are at a sustained, dead stop. If they are moving at all, they'd be running.