2014 Ram 1500 timing chain noise when ECO/MDS is engaged.
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2014 Ram 1500 timing chain noise when ECO/MDS is engaged.
a month now I’ve noticed a rattle when slowing down. Or when the MDS system was activated. I would take my foot off the throttle as the truck was slow down it would gear down and you’d hear the rattle. You push on the throttle and the rattle would go away. I brought it into the dodge dealer to diagnose the issue and they came back with noise coming from the timing chain. I don’t hear any rattling when the truck is driving not in the ECO/MDS mode. If I use the plus and minus buttons on the steering wheel and select 8th gear and not have the truck go into D, my understanding is that I will have eight cylinders all the time and not have in go into ECO/MDS 4 cylinders mode, I never get the rattle. The dealer wants $2800 to fix the issue. New can, timing chain, guides, solenoids for the MDS, etc. 16 hours of labour. Truck has 131,000 km on it. Always done oil changes at 5000 km. 90% of my driving in HWY. Tow a snowmobile trailer or utility trailer the odd time.
Could the ECO MDS mode cause slack in the timing chain when it’s in 4 cyclinders?
Ive read that people buy programmers to eliminate the truck going into MDS ECO, truck will be in 8 cyclinders all the time, reducing fuel economy. I’m willing to do this as long as the timing chain noise is only the issue when in ECO and doesn’t cause more problems down the road. Has anyone done this??
Has anyone dealt with the same issue? What did you do?
thanks for any input.
Could the ECO MDS mode cause slack in the timing chain when it’s in 4 cyclinders?
Ive read that people buy programmers to eliminate the truck going into MDS ECO, truck will be in 8 cyclinders all the time, reducing fuel economy. I’m willing to do this as long as the timing chain noise is only the issue when in ECO and doesn’t cause more problems down the road. Has anyone done this??
Has anyone dealt with the same issue? What did you do?
thanks for any input.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Clayton MI
If there is slack in the chain, it's going to be there all the time..... It isn't something that comes and goes. Wonder if the noise you are hearing is simply lifter rattle when they aren't actually trying to open the valves....
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Iowa
Have you replaced the spark plugs recently or tried a different fuel? Maybe you have a slight misfire (not enough to trigger the Check Engine Light yet) or possibly you're getting some pinging from poor quality fuel. You might try higher octane fuel from a brand name station.
-Rod
-Rod
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Have not done the plugs, fuel would not be an issue. Only happens when in eco mode. I don’t hear anything when the truck is not in eco. The dealer said there was noise from the chain. Just wanted to see if other guys had this issue and what they did
Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
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Im with HeyYou. The timing chain will not be affected by the mds activation. I would suspect a camshaft, lifter, or other valve train issue. Engine oil pressure is used to activate and deactivate the valves. It is delivered through special oil passages drilled into the cylinder block. Solenoid valves control the flow. When activated, pressurized oil pushes a latching pin on each valve lifter, which then becomes a “lost motion” link. Its base follows the camshaft, but its top remains stationary, held in place against the pushrod by light spring pressure but unable to move because of the much higher force of the valve spring.