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Disable MDS, cheapest solution

84K views 49 replies 29 participants last post by  mmorgan77 
#1 ·
Hi,

Since I mostly drive in town, I'd like to be able to disable MDS. I don't mind the ECO mode, I just don't like the rumble when the MDS kick's in. I know I can press the ECO mode button to make it less agressive but I'd like to be able to stop having to disable it every time I use my car. Do I really need to spend $400-$500 on a Diablo tuner to do this? Having tunes must be nice but I think the power and torque of my Overland are plenty for me at the moment.

Are there any cheaper solutions for our Jeeps?
 
#5 ·
I think your looking for something like this:

v8 – Range Technology | AFM Solutions for GM Cars, Trucks & SUVs

Problem is, they only offer for GM since most of their vehicles don't have the option to turn it off like our jeeps do. I had one of these on my previous car and sold it a few months after getting the jeep. Never tried it since i was satisfied that i atleast have a button to shut it off.
 
#6 ·
I think your looking for something like this:

v8 – Range Technology | AFM Solutions for GM Cars, Trucks & SUVs

Problem is, they only offer for GM since most of their vehicles don't have the option to turn it off like our jeeps do. I had one of these on my previous car and sold it a few months after getting the jeep. Never tried it since i was satisfied that i atleast have a button to shut it off.
The Jeep does not have a button to shut MDS off. You can turn ECO mode off, but MDS is always active unless you're in sport mode or manually shifting via the paddles
 
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#11 ·
Using a diablosport intune DCX you can disable MDS. It's not a cheap way to do it, but it works.

I have an intune and tune from hemifevertuning. I disable MDS unless I have a long trip with a lot of highway driving. I wanted the tune to help fix the lazy 1-2 up shift.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage
 
#13 ·
From my experience, it does seem like MDS is still active when ECO mode is disabled, just a lot less aggressive.

I'll ask the dealer if they can do something about disabling MDS next time I bring it in for an oil change but I won't be surprised in they say no. Maybe I'll eventually buy a used Diablosport to get rid of it.
 
#15 ·
I have a 2015 SRT ... How do I get it turned off ? I hate it . The whole car vibrates and drones . I bought a V8 cause I want the power not a engine running on half the cylinders !
 
#17 ·
I've just found a company that reprogrammes the ECU and turns it off for good . They want to retune the engine at the same time but I want to leave it all stock and not have warranty issues . The downside is they need my car for 3 days to take the module out and send it away to get done . Apparently the 2015 models have a newer more integrated ecu and it's harder to do .
 
#19 ·
What part of remove the ecu, send it to a non OE approved place to remove part of the programming do you think will retain warranty? I promise you, you've already gotten the prom queen pregnant after someone alters code regardless of you getting a tune at the same time. You may as well give her the ring. Also there's very noteworthy professionals that are familiar with the hemi and the 6.4 so I'd avoid anyone that needs to send out an ecu at this point. It happens and there are good computer guys but it's mostly plug and play.

Anyone above the oil change guy would see the missing menus or MDS turned off as soon as they access it.
 
#20 ·
This. When my ECU lost quite a few functions last summer, while in the middle of my camping trip from Denver to San Diego, I had to manually switch from drive to manual mode to prevent MDS. The display said "6" for the majority of that trip.
 
#21 ·
I'm not getting a tune simply having the MDS disabled and yes there is a code showing that it has been turned off but if nothing else is changed ......, it's such a terrible feature I'm going to take a chance just to do away with it and return to normal motoring
 
#22 ·
I too wish there was a way to permanently disable MDS on my '16 JGC HA 5.7L Hemi. We're doing a custom exhaust on it and we really had to design around the MDS. I have the Mopar extended warranty on the truck, so I really don't want to void the warranty, but the only real option to eliminate MDS is by having the ECU programmed. Whether or not you are "tuning" the engine (messing w/ fuel, timing, etc.) I still feel that modifying the ECU would void the warranty.

So I guess the question is, if a person were willing to spend the $ on a tune-loader and a custom tune that does NOTHING other than eliminate MDS would Chrysler techs be able to tell the ECU had been programmed if it were reverted to stock before being taken in for work? What about just MDS elimination and trans-tuning, but no engine tuning?

How carefully does Chrysler check for tunes when conducting warranty work?

-TJ
 
#25 ·
So I guess the question is, if a person were willing to spend the $ on a tune-loader and a custom tune that does NOTHING other than eliminate MDS would Chrysler techs be able to tell the ECU had been programmed if it were reverted to stock before being taken in for work? What about just MDS elimination and trans-tuning, but no engine tuning?

How carefully does Chrysler check for tunes when conducting warranty work?

-TJ
If the ECU has been "deflowered" (read no longer a virgin) for any reason by a non-Chrysler entity and a drive train issue occurs, the warranty will likely be denied. Lots of my fellow Corvette owners found this out the hard way, even thinking they could reflash the ECU back to stock. The first thing GM told the dealer was to send them the ECU programming. If it had been unlocked at any time, the warranty was denied.
 
#23 ·
It will only void the warranty if it affects something that is covered by the warranty I don't believe that turning off the MDS which you are also able to do in the car by selecting sport mode would be a problem. Yes if you re tune the engine to give more performance and then the engine fails well obviously that would be a problem
 
#24 ·
I've been down this road, believe me they will win if it comes down to a fight where you're trying to use the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in your favor.

They have more money, better lawyers, and rulings are generally very liberal in what can "cause" something. Say your rearend goes out... no way deleting MDS could have "caused" that in the real world. Their lawyer will argue that non-stock parameters were present in the ECU, part of the broader set of controllers that jointly control the entire drivetrain. As such, correct function of the drivetrain could not be guaranteed within the OE parameters, and any damage to drivetrain components was "caused" by the modifications performed by the owner.

They will win. Judges don't know vehicles. They just know what experts tell them. They'll read all of that as "okay, you monkeyed with key aspects of a intricate, connected system. Part of that system failed, that is on you."

-TJ
 
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#28 ·
Well said I couldn't have put it better .....Anyone buying a 6.4 L V8 doesn't care a whole lot about fuel economy it's all about the sound and the performance ��... The last thing you want to hear is it operating in Gimp mode with a horrible vibration to accompany it
 
#29 ·
Lord Bowral,

I too have a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.

I really like the performance and comfort and it does everything I have ever wanted to get from point A to point B.

The only gripe is the F$%^&@G vibration. It has been back to the service department so many times and they keep telling me the same thing. Jeep will not remove it or nor can they program it out.

If the salesman had of demonstrated this useless feature I would not have bought this car. I would have bought something that doesn't feel like a Combine harvester. I am so disappointed with the Jeep management that say just put it in Sport- The problem with this is the shift points change, the suspension hardens up and it is not comfortable to drive.

I have actually talked three people out of buying one of these SRT's now and will continue to do so. I am so pissed off with it that I have a Holden Colorado work car that I prefer to drive because while it is agricultural in everyway, it doesnt vibrate my hands to sleep.

Jeep, You have dropped the ball with this one.

I cant imagine that any car manufacturer would be so stupid to make such a perfect car and ruin it by designing in an unacceptable amount of Vibration and noise to de-evolve what they were trying to do in the first place.

When I am doing 100 Km/h, generally the instant fuel economy reading is around 9lts per 100 k/m. When this vibration starts, I am still getting 9 lts per 100 k/m. Jeep this makes no sense!!!! At least if you are going to piss your customers off, there should be some sort of benefit. Going from 9 down to 7 or even 8 would be better. To have to put up with this and have no benefit is just nuts.

Yes I am venting and yes I am pissed off!!!!

Rod O'Neil
 
#33 ·
Hi Rod
There are a number of tuners who will disable this moronic feature . I loathe it and can't believe jeep would be so stupid to include it in a performance car . If your in Australia I can let you know who I've found to remove it if you've had no luck
Cheers
 
#34 ·
Hi guys,

1, I am not buying a second ECU.

2, I am located in Perth WA and unfortunately, everyone I have been to see cannot unlock anything as apparently this new 2015 software is Jeep code and uncrackable.

3, I have been told that if I get it disabled then doing so will void the warranty.

Bummed.
 
#35 ·
Number of tuners in Melbourne who can reprogram to disable the MDF. I am overseas at the moment and don't have access to their details but I am happy to send them to you when I return in a few weeks. The only problem is they need to have the ECU for a couple of days so the car will be off the road. The cost is approximately $900
 
#38 ·
Hi everyone, I have a 2011 5.7 and I just had to do my lifters at 90k. My mechanic said the way the Eco mode works damages the lifters that "turn off". I also have slight damage to the cam. He said it's a major design flaw. Wondering if I disable MDS will my Eco light go off or still show up ? (I don't have an Eco button on the 2011, it's just a light on the dash that pops up), and is there a chance I could get an engine light to come on because of this?
 
#41 ·
I also have this vibration when the car is operating in 4 cylinder eco mood. I have tried everything to get it away with not luck.

The dealer have changed the motor monts twice under warranty saying it was the issue! Which was not, then changed all the spark plugs + update BCM & TCM With also no luck in getting rid of the vibration.

If anyone know how to make it less apparent or getting it to preform smoothly, please help.
 
#45 ·
I also have this vibration when the car is operating in 4 cylinder eco mood. I have tried everything to get it away with not luck.

The dealer have changed the motor monts twice under warranty saying it was the issue! Which was not, then changed all the spark plugs + update BCM & TCM With also no luck in getting rid of the vibration.

If anyone know how to make it less apparent or getting it to preform smoothly, please help.
Update: the dealer have changed the engine fan that was causing some weird vibration when operating because it went out of balanced. However, I still have to vibration on 4 cylinders mood, do you think guys that the VVT SENSOR or VVT solenoid is falling to do its job or blocked and needs replacement?
 
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