anyone using off road + for everyday driving?

Y'all got me into experiment mode after reading a bunch of these posts.

My ride is a 392XR, shows Aug 22 build on the door tag and was delivered to the dealership in early Oct 22. I picked it up right away. It was with some '23 392XR's when delivered and has the "many bolt" beauty rings and the metal dingdong safety thing hanging off of the passenger side frame...I believe that piece of metal was documented as a '23 change.

With my wife as co-pilot to watch for MDS light, I drove a 10 mile loop yesterday without OR+ activated, loud exhaust active. Mostly flat roads with some traffic , taking it easy and several long gradual downhills. MDS came on a dozen times.

Drove same loop today, similar traffic and speeds, with load exhaust, OR+ on and traction control activated. No manual shifting on either day. The MDS light did not come on once. I tried to baby the rig to see if I could get it to light...nope.

I'm retired so I get to do this kind of shit on weekdays :)

Would love to understand why we are having different results and what causes this Twilight Zone experience! o_O
As strange as it might be at this point I think there must have been a computer change around 22/23.

Now we have to determine if the actual programing of or+ was affected or just not allowing MDS. I like or+ but rarely use it because of the very aggressive downshifts. That would be useful off-road but as much as love to get on the 392 when I see a red light ahead that I am familiar with and know I will end up stopping there I get off the gas and coast in. Cant really do that in or+ because of the downshifts.
 
As strange as it might be at this point I think there must have been a computer change around 22/23.

Now we have to determine if the actual programing of or+ was affected or just not allowing MDS. I like or+ but rarely use it because of the very aggressive downshifts. That would be useful off-road but as much as love to get on the 392 when I see a red light ahead that I am familiar with and know I will end up stopping there I get off the gas and coast in. Cant really do that in or+ because of the downshifts.
Seems to maybe be just 2022s. My 2021 and my 2023 20a both will kick into MDS even if OR+ is on (although not in manual shift mode).
 
Seems to maybe be just 2022s. My 2021 and my 2023 20a both will kick into MDS even if OR+ is on (although not in manual shift mode).
As much as this pains me to say to this (because everyone knows 2022 392's are the best 😉) but my 2022 392 does go into MDS in OR+. Picture to prove it:
IMG_0160.jpeg

So now we know that a 2021, 2022 and 2023 all go into MDS in OR+. I think the trick to getting any year 392 to go MDS is to make sure it is nice and warmed up, make sure your in regular 4Auto drive (none of this manual flappy paddle crap), then step on the gas (no touchy the cruse control), then come off the gas entirely and let it coast for a while using only engine braking. It should activate MDS (4 CYL) until it reaches 15 MPH at which point it will disable it. To quote Brian Fontana: "60% of the time, it works every time."

However, if your 392 doesn't go into MDS in OR+, congrats! :D(y) But don't tell anyone 🤫, because I'm sure it was required to meet FCA's CAFE standards. If they find out they will probably issue a TSB (technical service bulletin) to "fix the glitch".
 
Guess I am one of the lucky ones where it never engages in OR+
 
Fellow '22 owner here.... Mine typically kicks into Thunberg Mode between 20-40mph hovering between 2k-2.5krpm on a level cruise.
1706814293284.webp
 
I didn't want to spend the $$$ on the XR knowing I'd be ripping half of it apart anyway :) Standard here....

Seems like the main difference is those with XRs (at least 22 model year) seem not to go into 4cyl when in OF+. I suspect it is the gearing and maybe there was a change in programming.
 
Uncommon...you saved me some scrolling time!
I popped back on this thread to review posts from the giddy up to current. Was going to look for what rigs experienced what outcomes by year, XR vs. Non XR, stock vs modded, etc.
Wonder if your hypothesis will hold as others weigh in.
 
The whole MDS thing is silly to me.

But to disable it for normal on road driving in any year 392, the process is simple. But it seems like this is as elusive to some as common sense is in today’s society.

Step by step (I’ll assume getting in and the fob directions are not needed) :ROFLMAO:
Start 392.
Shift vehicle to D-drive
shift vehicle to M-manual
shift vehicle to the number 8
drive normally. Manual mode will shift as normal with 8th being the top limit(as designed)

MDS will never engage.

Your welcome…
 
The whole MDS thing is silly to me.

But to disable it for normal on road driving in any year 392, the process is simple. But it seems like this is as elusive to some as common sense is in today’s society.

Step by step (I’ll assume getting in and the fob directions are not needed) :ROFLMAO:
Start 392.
Shift vehicle to D-drive
shift vehicle to M-manual
shift vehicle to the number 8
drive normally. Manual mode will shift as normal with 8th being the top limit(as designed)

MDS will never engage.

Your welcome…
We will have to try this when ours comes in. Jeep could make a lot of money selling a factory aftermarket kit to disable this feature. They still would retain their EPA credits or whatever BS too since it is aftermarket. MDS or the like pretty much overcomplicates engines and causes failure in every vehicle that has this Greeta thing enabled.
 
We will have to try this when ours comes in. Jeep could make a lot of money selling a factory aftermarket kit to disable this feature. They still would retain their EPA credits or whatever BS too since it is aftermarket. MDS or the like pretty much overcomplicates engines and causes failure in every vehicle that has this Greeta thing enabled.
MDS is in like 100’s of thousands of hemi vehicles. It is way less an issue than overheating or the oil cooler in the 3.6 or the CP3 pump in a diesel. People that buy vehicles that have an exhaust bypass button just don’t like it. I have it in both my hemi’s and never have given it a second thought.
 
The whole MDS thing is silly to me.

But to disable it for normal on road driving in any year 392, the process is simple. But it seems like this is as elusive to some as common sense is in today’s society.

Step by step (I’ll assume getting in and the fob directions are not needed) :ROFLMAO:
Start 392.
Shift vehicle to D-drive
shift vehicle to M-manual
shift vehicle to the number 8
drive normally. Manual mode will shift as normal with 8th being the top limit(as designed)

MDS will never engage.

Your welcome…
I've been following this same procedure over the past 15k miles in my 22' 392.

It is worth noting that when you slow down the vehicle will naturally shift to a lower gear; however, it will not continue to shift back to 8th by itself. You would need to manually shift through, just as you did in the beginning. As such, you have to get used to the habit if shifting at every take off or you will find yourself hitting redline on accident.

My wife drives a 5th Gen Ram and they are able to perform use manual mode to avoid MDS just the same, but in the trucks you are simply setting the highest gear you are looking to use, and the truck shifts within the range on its own over the duration of the trip.
 
I have read this so many times on different forums and many 392 Wranglers have commited.
Scott Blum has also confirmed this.....
Late year model 22 and newer should deactivate MDS while in Offroad+. XR or non-XR has nothing to do with it.

I have a 23 XR, Offroad+ = no MDS


The quick way to confirm is to drive 40mph on flat road. You'll quickly see.


The one thing that keeps me from driving with Offroad+ active all of the time is, with the more aggressive shift pattern, it holds gears too long for easy driving.
For aggressive driving...love it.
 
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The whole MDS thing is silly to me.

But to disable it for normal on road driving in any year 392, the process is simple. But it seems like this is as elusive to some as common sense is in today’s society.

Step by step (I’ll assume getting in and the fob directions are not needed) :ROFLMAO:
Start 392.
Shift vehicle to D-drive
shift vehicle to M-manual
shift vehicle to the number 8
drive normally. Manual mode will shift as normal with 8th being the top limit(as designed)

MDS will never engage.

Your welcome…
I hate to do this because your posts are normally helpful but there are two major problems with what you say.

1-The Jeep won't shift into M8 until it is up to an appropriate speed. It won't shift into any upper gear until at a minimum speed. Doesn't matter if you try to use paddles or shifter.

2-Once in M8 it will downshift when slowing but never upshift when acclerating.

Perhaps other vehicles from other manufactures do operate like you described (my 2015 GMC) did but not my 21 Jeep.

It's possible different years operate differently but my 21 was used for this reference.
 
I hate to do this because your posts are normally helpful but there are two major problems with what you say.

1-The Jeep won't shift into M8 until it is up to an appropriate speed. It won't shift into any upper gear until at a minimum speed. Doesn't matter if you try to use paddles or shifter.

2-Once in M8 it will downshift when slowing but never upshift when acclerating.

Perhaps other vehicles from other manufactures do operate like you described (my 2015 GMC) did but not my 21 Jeep.

It's possible different years operate differently but my 21 was used for this reference.
I will have test it out again. I did it a couple of times, but don’t really care about MDS. So been a while. I thought I remember it shifting up and down. But sounds like a hp75 doesn’t shift up automatic in manual. Must just be the rfe transmission that do that. You are probably correct.
 
I will have test it out again. I did it a couple of times, but don’t really care about MDS. So been a while. I thought I remember it shifting up and down. But sounds like a hp75 doesn’t shift up automatic in manual. Must just be the rfe transmission that do that. You are probably correct.
The 5th Gen RAM 1500 has the same 8HP75 as our 392s and their programming allows it to shift up and down through the full range while in manual mode, without any input from the driver.

The intention for each is different though. In the truck they are simply setting the highest gear you are looking (or should I say willing) to use, and the truck shifts within the range on its own over the duration of the trip. In this application, they are thinking towing and how this would be useful of the vehicle were hunting between gears on a section of road.

For us the intention is more spirited, so we are truly shifting between gears. In the trucks you are setting an upper limit the trans can use. So they could simulate a downshift, but pressing (+) for a upshift won't force it at that moment. It simply opens up another gear for the transmission to utilize.
 
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