Update... I just got my truck back. Turns out it was my transmission. Dodge put a brand new trans in.

After months and months of taking it to Dodge and being told they don't hear the noise. Dodge decided without hearing the noise they were going to replace my torque converter. When I took the truck in to have the work done I asked them to have the mechanic ride with me. I didn't want them just replacing parts if they don't hear it!

I finally got a service manager to ride with me. At first I couldn't get it to make the droning noise! Figures! Happens every time I bring something in. Then as we got out of the city the noise came on strong. He had me do a few things like hit the brake while it was making the noise without letting up on the gas. It continued. That told him it wasn't the converter! Then we tried it in serveral different gears. I was only gettting the drone in 5th.

They kept the truck for 2 weeks and decided to replace the transmission. Unbelieveable! Drone is gone!

Problem solved for me!

 

Agringo

Thats FANTASTIC!!!! Im so happy for you - but jealous. Im going to pose the concept to my dealer but am not confident because that gets into an area where people have to admit they were wrong all this time. Not human nature.

 

I managed to find this thread (hard to search when the forum disables the search term "MDS" because it's too short!) and think I have the same issue.

I don't really notice vibrations as much as I notice the noise. I REALLY hear it when driving in town or narrow roads (much easier for the sound to bounce back.)

As I stated in the TC Star Report thread, I find my noise comes on most at low speeds <35 and low RPMs.

My dealer has replaced solenoid packs, exhaust, and a new driveability tune before proclaiming the sound is *gasp* "by design."

I drove another used '10 they had on the lot and couldn't get the sound to replicate. They're sending an engineer from Chrysler to ride along with me in the next week or two.

 

Good luck and try not to let them fall back to the "as per design". If it did it day 1, thats as per design. There are others like you. Do us all a favor and print this page below out for him and show them how real an issue it is and how many people have complained. Maybe we will ge tlucky and he will take this back to corproate and show them:

http://www.dodgeramhell.com/

Keep us posted!

 

It's been I believe 6 months since they replaced my transmission and still haven't heard the noise. I have been very happy since the change. Mine was higher gears with low RPMs. The noise was irritating.

 

I had that noise too. After 5k mi it seems to have gone. Mine was exactly like steve'sI hope I didn't just get used to it. I still don't like how my trans shifts. I hope dealers clear up there facts before mine blows.

 

I've been reading through this thread. Very interesting. I currently have a 2008 GMC Sierra Z71. I bought it used 3 months ago and it has 58k miles now. It has 3.73 gears, 4 spd, and a 5.3 with active fuel management (gm's MDS). Great power with that combo, but the afm is an issue. I have a little drone, surge, etc associated with the V4 to V8 transition. But my main issue is it spark knocks like hell on 87 octane in V4. The ironic part is, gm's official statement is this is "as per design". Off record, techs will tell you afm ruined the 5.3 by causing oil consumption and other issues and that it is a joke as far as saving fuel.

I'm thinking of trading. Owned a 98 ram for 14 yrs and loved it other than 2 trans failures. So I considered the Ram. I'm concerned about the MDS, so I may get the 4.7. But, I have to say the 4.7 seemed a bit weak in the truck I drove. So I dunno.

I've driven a lot of used trucks lately. What I've noticed is a lot of the 6 speeds in the fords and Chevys shift really goofy. There are a lot of complaints for shifting issues in the 6 spds for both (especially) the fords. The 5.3's have oil consumption and lifter issues due to afm. Dodge apparently has issues with MDS. So what's a guy to do?

All the manufacturers seem to have a lot of complaints on the web. I really am of the opinion that most of this new fuel saving technology that saves 1 mpg is not worth it. I wish I had my 98 ram and 94 Z71 back. Pretty much I've found something wrong with all the 09 and up vehicles I've driven, except the weak (in a 4 x 4 crew) 4.7 ram. Need to drive more hemi's to see what's up with them. One I drove I liked. One I didn't. MDS was too noticeable on that one.

More on topic, keep the MDS posts coming. I'd love more info on who does or doesn't have a problem. Any years worse than others?

 

JSwain,

I have a 2010 Ram 1500 Big Horn 2WD Quad Cab, 5.7, 3.92 LSD, 20 inch wheels and factory dual exhaust. For me the so-called "drone" issue has always been intermittent and always at the threshold point where the MDS switches from 4 cylinder mode to 8 cylinder mode. In the summer time using 89 octane fuels I almost never hear it. It really doesn't bother me anymore. I'm now at 75,000+ miles and my 5.7 has NEVER knocked and I have never had any the transmission problem. Still shifts solid and never seems confused. I've been in two Silverados with the new 6-speed and I know what you mean about goofy shifts. My Ram has never done anything like that, of course it is only a 5-speed under most circumstances (545RFE shift schedule). Since I ATV with a group that includes one 5.3 Silverado, I can tell you that hauling or not hauling machines my Ram has always beat the Silverado in MPG by up to 0.5 MPG empty, 1-2 MPG hauling. Loads are usually about 2200 pounds. And no 5.3 has ever taken my Ram from a start!

Best regards,
Dusty

2010 Ram Big Horn 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 545RFE, 3.92 LSD, dual exhaust, 20” wheels

 

My 2010 Hemi did the same thing. I got used to it. Traded in for a new Durango, 3.6L. It has a similar issue with a Lag from 1st to 2nd. If you gun it hard, then it doesn't happen. I put an Airaid CAI which helped big time with power and torque. However I still hear it. I'll see what Dodge says with this one since it took 3 years from my 2010 hemi for them to admit the problem. It may be my last dodge.

 

Sounds good, wasn't trying to bring down Dodge at all. More or less was saying the AFM (Chevy MDS) isn't always as seemless as people seem to think it is. I don't mind the droan on mine (GM), but I hate to hear an engine spark knock, and I know what it sounds like because I had a 5.9 magnum and had to replace the plenum gasket. Been there, done that. lol The only way I can totally eliminate it on the 5.3 is to run 93 octane, which defeats the purpose of the AFM or MDS anyway, in my opinion. If you have to spend 30 cents more per gallon, does 1 mpg better fuel mileage really save you money? lol Speaking again of GM here, no experience with Hemi MPG.

If I do get a Hemi, I will have to be sure to test drive it a lot and make sure the MDS works well enough for me. I've driven two...one kind of spark knocked, valve chattered or something when switching between V4 and V8. Wouldn't be able to deal with that, but I have no idea what weight oil or type of gas was in it. It was used at a dealership. The other I drove, transitioned pretty well but growled a bit at low RPM around town. It was a 2010. I could deal with that one, but the price wasn't right. I'd sure feel like an idiot if I got rid of a GM because of AFM issues and then didn't like the Dodge I got because it had MDS issues. lol

And the Fords and Chevys with the 6 speeds that I've driven, all plain sucked other than one 2011 Ford with 14k miles. Lots of goofy shifting at the wrong time (shifting way too early and almost bogging) or they would shift late when coming to a stop and bump you forward (courtesy of an 09 Chevy). Dealer said that was normal on those. lol

I plan on buying a used truck with 50-70k and running it north of 200k miles. I guess my fear is the technology is not understood at all by anyone other than the dealerships (and I don't think most of them have a good handle on it either). I hope if I have mechanical trouble down the road (with this truck or the planned Dodge trade) I can get it diagnosed/resolved without having to pay an arm and a leg at the dealership. I guess the days of me working on my own vehicles are over, except for oil and spark plug changes.

I fear all this new technology. What are these "wheel" things theyre putting on these new trucks nowadays? lol

QUOTE=Dusty48;2968523]JSwain,


I have a 2010 Ram 1500 Big Horn 2WD Quad Cab, 5.7, 3.92 LSD, 20 inch wheels and factory dual exhaust. For me the so-called "drone" issue has always been intermittent and always at the threshold point where the MDS switches from 4 cylinder mode to 8 cylinder mode. In the summer time using 89 octane fuels I almost never hear it. It really doesn't bother me anymore. I'm now at 75,000+ miles and my 5.7 has NEVER knocked and I have never had any the transmission problem. Still shifts solid and never seems confused. I've been in two Silverados with the new 6-speed and I know what you mean about goofy shifts. My Ram has never done anything like that, of course it is only a 5-speed under most circumstances (545RFE shift schedule). Since I ATV with a group that includes one 5.3 Silverado, I can tell you that hauling or not hauling machines my Ram has always beat the Silverado in MPG by up to 0.5 MPG empty, 1-2 MPG hauling. Loads are usually about 2200 pounds. And no 5.3 has ever taken my Ram from a start!

Best regards,
Dusty

2010 Ram Big Horn 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 545RFE, 3.92 LSD, dual exhaust, 20” wheels[/QUOTE]