I just got my truck back a few days ago from the dealership service department. It was in for normal maintenance, plus replace an O2 sensor that was going bad (running crappy and tripping dummy light). The service adviser said they also updated the truck's PCM with new software.

My truck is a first quarter 2009 build, so I figured they'd installed some new release since the last update the truck had was sometime in 2010, which tweaked the MDS. The stock tune does run better. Seems MDS will stay on longer, and doesn't kick in as easy at lower speeds.

However, the bad part came when I went to load the 87 Octane tune in from my Superchips tuner. I use it to kill MDS completely, change the tire ratios, use Superchips' shift schedule, and recal for the 4.10 gears (originally had 3.55). It downloaded the new stock tune from the truck, but when I went to install the 87 tune, it said no file available. No problem, I throw the tuner on my computer and update it. It pushed the new stock tune to Superchips, then updated the programmer. I tried it again on the truck, once again it said no tune file available. WTF? Any yes, before anyone asks, I flashed the factory tune back onto the truck before taking it in.

So, I contact Superchips and talked with Ron. Turns out the stock tune the dealership installed is brand new and they've never seen it before, thus no Superchips equivalent tune available. Ron said no worries though, they were going to get started on it and should have a file done in 2 weeks or so.

Just FYI for everyone, both those with and without Superchips tuners. If you've got a tuner, I'd wait a few weeks if you can before servicing your truck. If you don't have a tuner, then good news, there's a new stock tune available, at least for the older trucks. The service department had no idea what years this new tune covered. So, inquire at your local service department next time you're there.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I was going to be taking the truck in for its 102,000 servicing next week. Be interesting to see what my dealership does tuning wise.

 

I don't think many folks were interested in this thread, but I got a call from Superchips today. They have the new tune ready for the new stock tune. I'll download it tonight, upload it to the truck and see how it runs.

 

Good info. I did read your thread when first posted and wanted to ask, how did you know you needed an 02 sensor ? What was the code ? I ask because over the past two years I threw a cel 3 times and each time it is a P0171 - Fuel system lean bank 1/1. It started two years back when I hooked up this wire mesh cargo carrier to the trailer hitch and strapped two coolers to it. Dumb move since I didn't look close enough to see they were too close to the dual tail pipes in the bumper so the coolers got a bit melted. I thought that was the cause but almost 1 year later, same code. Each time I just cleared dtc codes with the superchips and it didn't come back. Did it again about 1 month ago and same deal, cleared it again. I am thinking by slightly blocking the exhaust for that 3 hours road trip it may have damaged an 02 sensor but not enough to fail. Truck runs great at 93k now but I was thinking of replacing them myself soon ( figure out which one is " 1/1 " since that is part of the P0171 code description ) they looked to be easy enough to remove if I can get them loose with a ratchet or breaker bar after some spray the night before to help break them loose.

That's great you got your tune back. I have not been back to stock for over 2 years now. It is such a noticeable difference with the tune and trans schedule. No problems with the annual safety and emissions inspections at the dealer either with it installed.

 

Thanks for the info War Horse, good to know. I have a 09 as well and plan on doing the same gear swap you did. I am curious; since your factory PC was tuned for 3.55 gears, when you returned to stock did it run OK with the 4.10’s?

 

kddsRam: The truck was throwing a code that specifically said O2 Sensor Fault. It had a code with it, P something, but I can't remember what it was exactly. Even with that I never saw a notification in the EVIC, only the dummy light. The truck would also run very crappy at times, stalling while idling or you'd give it a little gas to go up and incline and it would shutter, acting like an asthmatic trying to run a marathon. It wasn't constant, just would occasionally happen, then a few seconds later it'd be back to normal.

RGVram99: Yes, the factory tune does default back to 3.55s, but it's never given me any issues. The stock tune messes up my speedo by about 5MPH, but that's because of the larger than stock tires. I guess the old 3rd Gen RAMs the speed was taken off sensors in the drive shaft. So, if you swapped gears, it would throw your speedo off pretty bad. With 4th Gens though they changed the sensors to somewhere in the axle arms. When I did the swap it was pretty early on in 2009, and I was really worried about changing out the gears, and maybe burning something out with computer. So, I asked a couple of Dodge technicians at the local dealership. They said that it wouldn't hurt it and that's where I found out about the speedo calculation change and how the 4th Gens really don't pay that much attention to how quickly or slowly the drive shaft is turning.

As for the new Superchips tune, it works like a charm. I had no issues updating the programer on the computer, or installing the tune into my truck. I typically run the 87 Octane tune, and it loaded up with out a hitch. I drove the truck to work this morning, then out to lunch, both trips it ran smooth as butter.

 

Cool thanks, can't wait to swap my gears!!