Dodge ram

[s219]

The new pilots with the highest trim level have a different transmission and the push button transmission, it痴 the same as the Acura MDX. I think it痴 a 8 speed.

Yeah, ours is a 2017 "Elite" model. It's a 9 speed. Has been pretty good so far, with nice crisp shifts. Don't like the buttons though -- would rather have a shifter lever.

 

[WilliamBos]

No, they are not 100K plugs, at least unless they changed what they put in my 2010. They are copper plugs, not iridium or platinum. I don't recall the specific reason why they choose those, but they were the better fit for the engine's needs. Many have tried switching to long-life plugs and though it can be done there were enough reports of changes to the way the engine idles or MPG that I would stick with the recommended copper plugs.

I changed the plugs twice in 120K on my 2010 1500. I didn't do them every 30K. More like around 45K. Plugs show very little wear even at 45K so I was comfortable with that interval. You're right that a couple of the plugs on the driver's side rear of the engine are a challenge to get to, but basically it's just a matter of having the right combo of socket extensions available and a swivel joint. If changing oil is as far as a person has gone with auto maintenance I'd say let the dealer do it, but if you do you own stuff normally don't be afraid of trying it. If you do your own plugs you're probably out under $40 for the change, thanks to those cheap, common copper plugs which are not $10 like some of the iridium/platinum ones.

Rob

They are 100,000 miles now, not sure if 16 or 17 is the first year for it.

 

[BigBlue1]

They are 100,000 miles now, not sure if 16 or 17 is the first year for it.

Interesting. Wonder what they are doing differently? Using iridium/platinum plugs? Or just acknowledging that standard plugs can go that long? If iridium/platinum I wonder how they changed the engine to deal with them.

Rob

 

[Monster5601]

They are 100,000 miles now, not sure if 16 or 17 is the first year for it.

Interesting. Wonder what they are doing differently? Using iridium/platinum plugs? Or just acknowledging that standard plugs can go that long? If iridium/platinum I wonder how they changed the engine to deal with them.

Rob

For the 5.7L Hemi, the 100K plugs were phased in during late 2013 production. My understanding was the coil packs were changed to support the 100K plugs. My 2013 was built end of April 2013 and came with the 30K plugs. I ran them to 50K miles without issues and changed them out, they looked good and I wounder if I should have continued to run them.

 

[daugen]

Mine is a 2015 and no question, 30k plug service per dealership
I thought the whole reason they were "rated" for 100k is that emissions control requires them to
be within spec for that long, not 30k for sure. Other than heat range, and durability, what else is at issue
with the plugs?

 

[prichard]

I just had my 2015 in for recalls and 30k oil change, they said nothing about spark plugs. I'll look at the manual.

 

[Oaktree]

They are 100,000 miles now, not sure if 16 or 17 is the first year for it.

Must be a real joy to get them out after that length of time.

I remember before the shifter interlock. We got along without the shifter interlock for several decades.

Yeah, but that was when we still had "real" (ie-mechanical) shifters instead of the all-electronic ones. Haven't driven any of the newer Mopars with the new style gear selectors, but did recently drive a Buick with something similar. Didn't particularly like it. No idea why automakers felt the need to mess with what worked.

 

[WilliamBos]

Must be a real joy to get them out after that length of time.



Yeah, but that was when we still had "real" (ie-mechanical) shifters instead of the all-electronic ones. Haven't driven any of the newer Mopars with the new style gear selectors, but did recently drive a Buick with something similar. Didn't particularly like it. No idea why automakers felt the need to mess with what worked.

After having two vehiclea with 100,000 mile plugs in them, they are not difficult to get out at all.
The Joy of the Hemi is they are out of the elememts, which is an advantage.

The reason for the dial shifter on the 8 speed Rams is because the ZF 8 is FULLY electronic, only has a mechanical park over ride under the dash.

 

[rankrank1]

Many tranny's have been fully electronic for years, but the biggest reason you see the buttons or dials is it that it saves weight, reduces cost, and furthermore it allows by far the most flexible placement of the shifter as car manufacturers build vehicles for global markets (e.g left hand driver seat and right hand driver seat).

Complex heavy steel linkages were done away with years ago by most manufacturers and replaced with much lighter shifter mechanisms utilizing a sheathed cable instead of the traditional heavy steel rod linkages of yesteryear. These sheathed cables we not only lighter and cheaper, but allowed somewhat more flexible placement of the shift mechanism compared to the heavy rod solid shaft type pivots. Modern affordable electronics allows the weight and cost reduction to go yet a step further as compared to a cable which pretty much insures the shifter placement is as easy as it can get if a manufacturer decides to move it for any reason - simple wiring harness and done - little engineering resources required.

 

[WilliamBos]

6 Speed Rams (Like my 17) are cable/column shifted, only the ZF8 uses the dial.

 

[daugen]

My dial has worked just fine, very simple and positioned ergonomically.
And I never set my parking brake unless on a hill or with an rv.
About the only functional difference I can see among any of these selectors is the ability
to go easily between forward and reverse, for rocking a vehicle in snow or mud.

Would be nice if it stayed in Park when you put it there too...and provide an indicator, like a lit P that absolutely
cannot come on unless the transmission is physically confirmed to be in the locked Park position.
Granted folks do dumb things and aren't careful enough but this shouldn't be hard to engineer out of the equation.
Try starting your car without your foot on the brake...
I bet this comes down to cost, not engineering best practices.

 

[Oaktree]

Many tranny's have been fully electronic for years, but the biggest reason you see the buttons or dials is it that it saves weight, reduces cost, and furthermore it allows by far the most flexible placement of the shifter as car manufacturers build vehicles for global markets (e.g left hand driver seat and right hand driver seat).

I get that part, but with many of the new style shifters it's not easy to tell at a glance what position it's in, since the "lever" returns to a home position.
To me it would be like replacing the steering wheel with a joystick. Cheaper to build, and allows for manufacturing flexibility but not very intuitive to use.

It's one thing to monkey with the radio, etc. and make it more complicated to use, but you'd think they'd leave the actual operating controls alone.

The Buick I mentioned in an earlier post is a perfect example. You can't see out to back up due to the small windows and high beltline, so I tried opening the door to to better position the car. Well, if it's in gear the doors are locked. Unlock the door and it automatically shifts into park. Backup cam (1) takes a lot of getting used to and (2) isn't very useful in many situations. I only had the car for a week or so.
Someone please tell me how all this makes for a better driving experience. PS, this isn't a bash at GM, everyone else is just as bad. I'm sure it's all an attempt to idiot-proof it, but...

 

[rankrank1]

I get that part, but with many of the new style shifters it's not easy to tell at a glance what position it's in, since the "lever" returns to a home position.
To me it would be like replacing the steering wheel with a joystick. Cheaper to build, and allows for manufacturing flexibility but not very intuitive to use.

It's one thing to monkey with the radio, etc. and make it more complicated to use, but you'd think they'd leave the actual operating controls alone.

The Buick I mentioned in an earlier post is a perfect example. You can't see out to back up due to the small windows and high beltline, so I tried opening the door to to better position the car. Well, if it's in gear the doors are locked. Unlock the door and it automatically shifts into park. Backup cam (1) takes a lot of getting used to and (2) isn't very useful in many situations. I only had the car for a week or so.
Someone please tell me how all this makes for a better driving experience. PS, this isn't a bash at GM, everyone else is just as bad. I'm sure it's all an attempt to idiot-proof it, but...

Well, I can only say it is one more thing to take into consideration when one buys a vehicle. I flat out will not buy a car that has bad blindspots - I consider that issue something that compromises my safety and a dealbreaker for me buying it anyway. Blinspots is one of those things I check religiously when looking at a "new to me" vehicle. Whether or not the controls are intuitive to me is another thing I check.

I am sure some manufacturers will do a better job with electronic shifters going forward as compared to others just as some manufacturers do better with quality, ergonomics, reliability, fuel economy, crash safety, etc. The cream normally rises to the top.

 

[Monster5601]

Mine is a 2015 and no question, 30k plug service per dealership

If you check your owners' manual, the schedule calls for 100K sparkplug change. Over the years, I've learned to take what a dealership says (sales or service) with a grain of salt.

 

[BigBlue1]

If you check your owners' manual, the schedule calls for 100K sparkplug change. Over the years, I've learned to take what a dealership says (sales or service) with a grain of salt.

That's for sure. They are certainly not experts when it comes to knowing specifics about various models. Either at sales time or service time. I'm thinking part of it is that they just have too many variations and permutations to be able to pay close attention, but also it's just that they don't need to so they are lazy. When half-*** is good enough that's what you get.

Rob

 

[WilliamBos]

Late MY 13 they transitioned the Hemi to new coil packs and 100,000 mile plugs.

That dealer is taking you for a ride.

 

[daugen]

Ok, out of my warm house I go to get the manual.
Replace spark plugs 100,000

now isn't that interesting...
maybe they thought it was older......................

 

[WilliamBos]

Ok, out of my warm house I go to get the manual.
Replace spark plugs 100,000

now isn't that interesting...
maybe they thought it was older......................

Thats why I downloaded mine.

Bets they just wanted to make sone money off of you.