Who can explain the "Power ETC" button to me?

Best use of the ETC I have found is Coming on to a Expressway on ramp with or without a trailer in tow and after blinding with traffic turn it off It is not intended to be on for everyday driving doing so will cost you a slight decrease in MPG.

 

Inaccurate. It does not just change the shift points. In old Tacoma's, like my 2002, this statement is accurate.

 

LMAO. I hope you're kidding.

Sir, do NOT enjoy driving your truck and convince yourself it's 1985 and you're driving a 1985 El Camino with a 3.8L. Life is good. For reference, that's the slowest vehicle I've ever driven.

 

Below is the description of the ECT usage from the 2016 owners manual. Sorry the Pic's did not copy. I stand by my statement regarding the operation of the ECT, and it has NO interface or relationship to the programing or use of the Logic interface in the Automatic transmission. it is strictly a shift point change function. If you have written Toyota Technical proof of any other function please provide that The new 6 sleet transmission is not new it has been used in the Lexus GS350 for the past 4 years and it has the very same function. I have been an Auto Mechanic for over 40 years and have friends that are Toyota Master Mechanics that hold the same opinion of this 6 speed Auto.

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Selecting power mode

Use when high levels of response and feeling are desirable, such as when driving in mountainous regions or when pulling a trailer.

Press the “ECT PWR” button to select power mode. The “ECT PWR” indicator comes on.
Press the button again to cancel power mode.

 Type A  Type B

 

Can I just ask that you go press the button and you can feel the change in the throttle by wire system - it is NOT just changing the shift points of the transmission in this vehicle. The vehicle with little input on the throttle with noticeably improve it's off the line performance in 1st gear. I can appreciate your knowledge and understanding over those years - it's priceless. However, you should of all people know that "by the book" is a practice best not followed in the industry if you want to make money being a mechanic. I also wouldn't trust a dumbed down owners manual version for ECT definition - it's for the owner, not for a technician. I have worked with ASE Master Techs for a VERY long time for reference. Now if you want me to hook up my Autel DS908 Scan tool and capture throttle graphs in both modes, I can do that, but I believe I would be wasting my time since you can very clearly feel the difference in driving it.

In my present 2002, throttle by cable truck - the ECT only raises the shift points because that is the only point it can control. In the 2016, it raises the shift points, increases the MPH requirement for certain gears (example 5th gear at 53 MPH minimum) and increases the sensitivity of the throttle attenuation.

 

Toyota considered the Torque Converter as part of the Electronic Controlled Transmission (ECT) According to my Toyota friends on the 6 speed the fluctuation in engine RPM when engaging the ECT button it is unlocking / Locking of the torque converter resulting in the change of RPM, and the shift points are not just limited to 1st gear it is through out all the gears and it is not injecting more fuel to the engine in any gear.

 

If done right, no. ECU modifications are usually that last thing that is ever checked for since its so uncommon. If you don't know what your doing then your better off sending the ECU in to be done by a professional. However, with the current software I've seen, you can download proven reliable maps from the programmer and simply install them yourself.

Also, one thing everyone should consider is launching a complaint about the throttle mapping to toyota. When my bike first came out, the #1 complaint was the throttle mapping. It took the manufacturer a year to rectify the issue. Their fix was having you take the motorcycle into a dealership and having the dealer flash the ECU. The fix was great, but the throttle map was still not as good as the one my friend had done on my bike.

Once your tapped into the ECU, there are tons of adjustments that can be made to everything.. Fuel maps, throttle maps, engine braking, drive modes, on and on. I would bet the ECT can also be re-programmed to either always be on or to change fuel/throttle maps on the fly. The possibilities are endless.

 

I'd like to see all the programmed maps for the ECU you speak of?

 

you mean the ECU in my motorcycle?

 

For Toyota, this is a Toyota forum

 

oh really? I'm getting my forums crossed.. I never said I had a map for the Toyota.. what i've been saying is I have a friend who can possibly tap into the Toyota ecu and expose all the maps within it.

 

He would be rich if he could figure that out.

 

He already does high performance motorcycles, once I pick up my taco, I will have him check it out.

 

What bike(s) are you running?

 

We flashed the ECU in my Yamaha. He can do just about any bike.

 

If you think you can do a custom ECU flash on a Tacoma, you didn't do your homework

 

I'm getting a kick out of this thread and the skeptics. I realize your just checking into the possibilities and can't be sure of anything, but I appreciate you trying. It's not as though this is a new or unheard of concept. I recall my dad buying "performance chips" for his vehicles when I was younger. Too bad we can't just pop in a new "chip".

If you manage to get this figured out... I would be very interested.

 

If you know anything about computers or ECU's you would retract that statement.

 

And if you knew anything about tacomas, you would know there are no programmable anything for them and certainly no custom tuning capabilities

 

My older bikes required new chips.. but vehicles of today have to use re-programmable ECU's in order for manufacturers to make changes and updates at the dealers. Unless you own or have access to a dealer supplied ecu flashing platform, you have to hack into the ECU to expose those parameter.

The question is not about can it be done, its a matter of finding the right person who can do it and making it worth their time.