Stupidest Question Ever...

MarkMark6464 · #1 04-10-2008, 12:25 AM

Hey guys.

So, this is gonna be a really dumb question, but i wanted to know and i thinkif anyone hands out the least greif, its you guys. I still expect it, but here goes. So this o/d button is over drive. And I use it where I am drving on the highway or what not. But heres the dumb part. When i press it a light comes up and says o/d off. So does that mean overdrive is off? but i want it on when driving HW? So when I get on the highway I should not make that little light come on? Or I should? When I press the button shouldnt it say O/D on? Just confusing. Ha. What do you guys do on the highway? Oh, and I have the 3.7 and some guys talk about tow mode. I'm assuming the v6 doesnt have a tow mode. Right? Thanks, take it easy on me.

eltupac · #2 04-10-2008, 09:01 AM

Ok, well, a-ha, oh my, how can I put this. Just kidding. I always believed that there are no stupid questions. So, if other people want to bash, they have personality issues or are immature. ****e, I was at one point. But to your question, I dont have Auto Tranny, which I believe are the only ones that have it. I have the 6th speed, which is my OD. The OD is always on by default, so no, you will not see it a light telling you its on. Only when you turn it off.
The tow mode light, I think you have to have tow package, but maybe other guys can chime in for that one.

Petz · #3 04-10-2008, 10:07 AM

Ok, let me see if i can drop in my two cents worth without completely confusing everyone.

The O/D is a feature which has a default setting of "on" each time you start your truck. To turn off the O/D feature you have to press the button till you get the "O/D OFF" illumination notification. The concept is similar to the aviation industries "Dark cockpit" concept. Basically you will get only warning/caution/notifications for items that are not in their default setting.

As for the tow mode notification, I don't know if you need the tow package installed or not. When i purchased my truck it did not have a tow package but i did self-install an after market one. Can't remember if the tow mode was active prior to the self-install (something about old age and memory!). My truck is just your basic 3.7L base model 1500 so if it was an option, it was not on my truck.

COYOTE10663 · #4 04-10-2008, 01:01 PM

I'll put in my .02 here. I have the '07 Ram 3.7L WITH the auto trans and factory towing package. Here is the deal, when the button is pushed once, it turns the Overdrive off. This is the best mode to be in around town or when towing ANYTHING at any speed if you want to prolong the life of your transmission. If your vehicle is also equipped from the factory with the towing package, you will have a second option, activated by pressing the button a second time. By dooing so, the "OD OFF" light will go out and a "TOW" light will come on. I do not know exactly waht all changes in all trucks ( I was not the engineer of the system ) but on MY truck, when in "Tow/Haul" mode, the engine becomes more responsive, and the transmission shifts at a higher RPM range than normal. Also the shifts are more possitive ( Quicker ) . As a side note: When I was running my truck for the 0-60 times & 1/8mile times, It was consistantly a full second quicker to 60, and nearly 1.5 seconds quicker in the 1/8th mile when in the "Tow/Haul" mode. Kinda cool! I do believe I have the fastest V-6 truck in our town. I have been able to out run every v-6 Mustang, Firebird, Cammero, and even several V-8 trucks around here. No BS. Just the fact. But there is soneone else in here, Dont remember who, that has a faster one, if his posted times are the truth, wich I beleve they are.
So,,,, short answer to your GOOD question: Normal driving, dont hit the button. Around town for more than 15 minuts, I would turn the O/D OFF, Towing ANYTHING, DEFFINATLY TURN THE O/D OFF!! ( AND put it tn "Tow/Haul" mode if so equipped! ) -----------kj

derricksmash · #5 04-10-2008, 01:05 PM

i. am. so. confused.

i'm glad i understand my tow mode then od/off modes. otherwise, this thread would make me slit my wrists.

MarkMark6464 · #6 04-10-2008, 06:50 PM

Alright, sweet, I think I get it. I'm so dumb. I should have assumed the Overdrive is Always on unless i press OD off! duh. What I would do is get on the highway and press the button thinking i was turning overdrive on. Boy was i wrong. Wonder how much gas i was wasting.

Okay. So if I read right. When driving around town the overdrive should be off. and then when i get on highway, make sure its On, Right? Man thats good to know now!

Hey Coyote, So your telling me all you have is intake and exhaust and your the fastest V6 in your town? No other mods?

perfectlytuned · #7 04-11-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: MarkMark6464

Alright, sweet, I think I get it. I'm so dumb. I should have assumed the Overdrive is Always on unless i press OD off! duh. What I would do is get on the highway and press the button thinking i was turning overdrive on. Boy was i wrong. Wonder how much gas i was wasting.

Okay. So if I read right. When driving around town the overdrive should be off. and then when i get on highway, make sure its On, Right? Man thats good to know now!

Hey Coyote, So your telling me all you have is intake and exhaust and your the fastest V6 in your town? No other mods?

alright my turn this is the best way to put it, maybe... Your overdrive is always on, if u have a 6 speed transmission, that means it shifts all the way to the6th gearwhile say ur on the freeway.When you push the button and turn your overdrive off, you are taking away one gear, meaning now u only use 5 gears. Its theere to save gas letting u use more gears. Now when to use it. If your town has speed limits of30 or less and has frequent stops, u should take your overdirve off so the transmission isnt trying to shift into 6th gear all the time, because it doesnt need to. it makes your transmission work harder than it needs to. Now fortaking your overdrive off onthe freeway. Say you are driving, using cruise control or not, and ur on a freeway with a lot of little hills. U will be going 80mph lets say, u will hit a little hill and like ur car is supposed to it will downshift, get u up the hill and on the way down it will shift back into the highest gear. U turn ur overdrive off when ur car is consistantly downshifting and upshifting every small hill u hit maybe 10-15 seconds apart. When ur turn ur over drive off it puts u a gear lower, making ur rpm a little higher, but it wont shift back and forth like it did putting a strain on ur transmission. U will just stay at lets say 2800 rpm constantly. I take my overdrive off all the time on our freeways here, it may be a little worse in gas but i think its worth it.

BigRamBoy · #8 04-11-2008, 02:55 AM

yes i have a 3.7 V6 2007 auto and when you push the O/D OFF it should say "od off" and if you click it again it should say "tow mode" least thats on mine and i dont have any tow package other than the bumper so no you don't need a tow package for it to come on. If the OD light is not on then dont worry you're in overdrive

eltupac · #9 04-11-2008, 07:17 AM

OVERDRIVE (O/D) is ALWAYS ON by default. Doesnt matter if you are on the street or highway, its always on. You want more power, turn it off. You want more more power, I guess press the button twice to TOW mode. You want more more more power, put on a turbo. You want more more more more power, add nitro. By this time, you probably have killed your transmission, busted your differential and snapped your driveshaft.

Petz · #10 04-11-2008, 09:37 AM

and if you want max power strap on a JATO bottle (or two JATO bottles if you have spare room), buckle up, and light them roman candles.