Is it possible???? Or even likely???

**MagnumFreak** · 07-09-2004, 05:20 PM

Just wanted to toss something out there that I read on another forum that may or may not EXPLAIN the performance issues some people seem to be feeling in their vehicles. I read that DC has programmed the computer on the Hemi engines to restrict performance until it reaches about 150 hours of operation. As far fetched as that may seem it may have some validity to it. There are a number of people both on this forum and on other forums that report "the car just seemed to wake up" at xxxx miles. The fact that a the number of miles varies would add to the 150 hour theory. Depending on how fast you drive for the 150 hours would determine how far you had to drive in ORDER to get the car to "wake up".

Although I don't have facts to back this up, I just wanted to bring this out to see what people thought of this theory and whether or not someone had some evidence of this.

**kb9mzx** · 07-10-2004, 12:01 AM

I'll agree with this theory, FROM my experience. The first 1500 miles (about 40 hours of operation), the car had decent power and mileage (best was 22 mpg on the highway), but after that point, it was as if a green flag dropped in front of the brainbox. I've chirped the tires a couple times when I laid INTO it, and so far my best mileage has been 29 mpg on a 110-mile stretch (calculated FROM the amount I put in), and 27.5 mpg on a 200-mile stretch of freeway driving.

-Galen

**OBT** · 07-10-2004, 02:08 AM

OK, mine's idling out in the driveway for the next 5 days

**Mr. Magnum Man** · 07-10-2004, 06:41 AM

Hmmmmmmmm dodge comes up with the we know "its got a hemi "so we will restrict how bad you can beat on it chip.

**comagnum** · 07-10-2004, 11:57 PM

This sounds very familiar to German made cars. BMW, MINI, and Merc all require a break-in period before performance is optimized by the car's computer. Perhaps the Daimler connection has introduced this? Just my 2-cents.

**freew67** · 07-11-2004, 07:06 AM

Over on the DiRT mailing list, that has been talked about before also with the Hemi's in the Rams. Was hearing 150 hours or 5000 miles. Guys were saying after either or their mpg went up a bit and the truck did seem to wake up. Granted I only had my 04 Hemi Ram 5 months, I only had 2600 miles and 50 hours. So never got to test this theory. I remember asking the sales guy how long the break in period was, he told me to roast the tires out of the lot, there really wasnt a break in. Now with the 3.5 they told me 1000 miles. We need a DCX tech to let us in on some of these urban legands.

**cluv** · 07-12-2004, 12:25 AM

Does anyone know if there is a way to CHECK how many hours the car has ran, like you can on the Ram?

**DucatiBoy** · 07-12-2004, 10:29 AM

I must agree, I was being a nice boy trying to break in the car a little on the "easy" side. I just didn't want to beat it. But I gave it a couple decent accleerations about 200 miles or so. Let the RPM's get up there. You know that kind of thing. I was showing off to one of my friends and punched it (at about 300 miles) and it didn't chirp the tires or anything. It was quick, but not like it is now. I have 607 miles on it and I would say after it hit 500ish, it really changed. With 3/4 throttle, I can churp the tires FROM a stop. I'm getting happier and happier with it.

It's not a hard thing to program INTO the car. With all that electronics in there. It's not a hard thing at all. I wouldn't be surprised if they did. It feals like it on my car.

**davidl13** · 07-12-2004, 10:51 AM

if you have the electronics GROUP that includes steering wheel controls, you can see you "hours on engine" easily by paging through the screen on the dash that has the MPG screen...

**one_raven** · 07-26-2004, 03:13 AM

I was thinking that the 150 hours was not a break-in period for the car, but for the driver.
As someone mentioned on another thread, car computers tend to learn quickly and forget slowly.
It would make sense to design the system to not start learning the driver's driving style until the driver got used to the car and actually started developing a "style" based on the car and how it responds to them.
After the driver has a logged a sufficient amount of time behind the wheel (maybe DC engineers thought that was about 150 hours) to get to know the car, then the car starts to get to know the driver.
Does that make sense to anyone but me?

**DSMLVR** · 07-26-2004, 08:19 AM

I was thinking that the 150 hours was not a break-in period for the car, but for the driver.
As someone mentioned on another thread, car computers tend to learn quickly and forget slowly.
It would make sense to design the system to not start learning the driver's driving style until the driver got used to the car and actually started developing a "style" based on the car and how it responds to them.
After the driver has a logged a sufficient amount of time behind the wheel (maybe DC engineers thought that was about 150 hours) to get to know the car, then the car starts to get to know the driver.
Does that make sense to anyone but me?

I didn't think of it that way, but it DOES make sense to Me.

**Petrograde** · 07-31-2004, 06:40 PM

I'm not sure if that's caused by the computer. When a vehicle is brand new all the parts are still tight, no wear paterns have been developed yet.

I had the same sensation in my car,... I couldn't even power brake it at first! I was ready to take it back. After about 2500-3000 miles it suddenly 'woke up'!!! I could leave two foot-wide black patches, even with the A/C on!

The drivetrain loosened up and now I can leave a thick cloud of white smoke and 18K miles later it'll snap my neck back at WOT.

It's more than possible that there is a 'timer' that will open up the performance afer a while,... but, I don't really see why engineers would do that.

[rant]
But then again,.. who knows what's in the head of an engineer? I know what ISN'T there: lot of times,.. common sense! I guess they forget that poeple will have to eventually WORK on their creations! Too many times I've cursed the engineer that designed the machine I was fixing! [/end of rant]

**gplutt** · 08-07-2004, 05:40 PM

I have heard the same thing FROM a Ram owner. He was telling me that it was the first 3,000 miles . I did a little searching around on the internet and couldn't find anything. You would think that if they did do something of this nature that they would let people know, instead of just letting them think that their new 40,000 dollar car isnt all that its cracked up to be. Mine seems to be doing just fine, if it opens up any more than it is, I'll be reeeaaalllly happy.