If its only the badge that is different than my guess is you have a problem

 

According to the *llpar website, iDFSO was introduced on the 2010 Ram 1500 and is one of the reasons that the "fuel saver" light does not exist and will not work on the 2009s. It says "Noted: the fuel saver indicator light will be added to the minivans, LX cars, Journey, Nitro 4×4, all Jeep 4×4s (except Patriot/Compass), and Ram 1500, with select engines, for the 2010 model year. It will advise people when they have reached the economy target zone and fuel-saver mode target range." As the 2009s didn't have iDFSO, there's no light to light. Answers a lot of questions on these forums regarding the light. Of course, iDFSO is just software, so why it can't be flashed in, it doesn't say.

Now, that doesn't address the noticable feeling of deceleration, but from what I've been able to read on most websites that discuss decel fuel shutoff, it's not supposed to be user-noticable, according to the manufacturers. But we all know how that works IRL.

 

Welllllll.... The punch line is that the dealer mechanics are not always as knowlegable as they should be. There are several differences between model years and, as usual, regular owners posting in forums like this one know more than dealer mechanics. I wouldn't expect a mechanic to know every microscopic detail about every model sold, but don't make assumptions about my knowledge either. I mean, geez, don't treat me like some broad in a minivan.





.

 

My 2009 does have the fuel saver light, and of course does not have the iDFSO.

(Depending on how you read your statement, I asume you are trying to indicate 09's do not have the light or the iDFSO. I also assume you are trying to indicate the 2010's have both,)

IMHO, the fuel saver light is linked only to the MDS system, and has nothing to do with iDFSO.

 

Hi Scotrod... from what I've read around the web, the fuel saver light does indeed activate when iDFSO is active. From the Allpar website: "Chrysler has introduced iDFSO, Interactive Decel Fuel Shut-Off, software that cuts fuel to the engine while decelerating, to increase gas mileage. The amount of fuel shutoff is increased with certain engine speeds. This system increases both city and highway gas mileage, and lights a Fuel Saver indicator light when active."

Reading around this site, there are several 09 owners who don't have the fuel saver light and would like to have it. I guess in reading my post you could assume I meant to declare that all 09s don't have the light, but of course, I would be wrong.

It seems that the "Fuel Saver" light, or on my 10 the "ECO" light, is related to more than just MDS or iDFSO alone. I did assume that, based on the *llpar quote above, that perhaps the reason early 09s don't have the light might be because they didn't have iDFSO and that once it was planned for inclusion in the 10s, they changed the EVIC to display the light to accomodate the coming change, and perhaps link it to MDS as well.

And FWIW, this officially sanctioned RamZone web page ( http://www.ramzone.com/2010/01/27/bo...-idfso-system/ ) does imply that the light is available beginning with the 10s and can even be read as applying specifically to iDFSO.

Lots of confusing info out there regarding the light to say the least.

 

Anythings possible!

No light with MDS.

A light with MDS and no iDFSO

A light with both MDS and iDFSO!!



I wonder, if people who are experiencing the 'sensation of slowing down' as the pedal is released and iDFSO engages, are getting the 'light' even when operating in 8 cyl. mode. It takes a while for my MDS to engage while coasting, I wonder if it is instantaneous with the iFDSO system,,,

Anybody here watching the light to see if it activates when the 'anchor is thrown out'?

 

I'll give it a look next time I'm in the truck Scotrod. It seems to me its on when I release the accel pedal, but I need to see if I can release it when the light is not already on.

 

I don't have a light- too low a trim level I guess? When I press the little button to scroll through my odometer, temperature, etc there's one thing that says ECO. Maybe I'll turn it to that & see if anything happens...

 

So I scrolled my little odo display to ECO and it does say 'ECO on' when the MDS kicks in. It does go to ECO on as soon as I take my foot off the gas. It mostly just seems to turn off when I'm accellerating somewhat rapidly.
The guy at the dealership told me the only way I could tell if my MDS was doing its thing was by 'getting to know the feel of it.'
It doesn't appear to turn on while I'm idling, which seems odd to me, but what do i know about these kinds of things

 

As 72combo pointed out...it is your gears and strong engine torque doing this and it's perfectly normal. As in if you were in first you would slow down faster than if you were in second or third. The lower gears will slow you down faster and IMO safer in the long run. Just use your cruise control to maintain speed...if it's annoying then you can put taller tires on it but you will lose some hole shot and pulling power. I had a 1980 CBX Honda (6 cyl with 12k redline) that would slow down from 170 mph like I was applying the brakes just from the torque of the engine. So I credit Dodge because these are high performance trucks that need all the assistance we can get when it comes to stopping a 5k lb truck.