ECT Mod -- ON ALL the time

I'm fairly new at this so please be patient.. What the difference between switches that has two pin and four pin? Can I use either one of them for this mod?

 

Most switches will have 2 or 3 pins. The 2 pins are just like a light switch. You complete the circuit by flipping the switch and internally bridging the connectors.

A 3 pin adds an additional connection (via ground) to light up a LED inside the switch to illuminate it when it's on. So when it's off it's dark and when it's on, it lights up. The other 2 pins do exactly what the 2 pin switch does.

A 4 pin switch might be a Double throw switch. You certainly don't need that for this application.

You're going to want a SPST (single pole single throw) switch and it either be a 2 pin non-illuminated or a 3 pin illuminated.

*Note* This is 12volts so get a 12V switch.

 

WTF? All of this is way over my head! Does anyone make a kit for this????

 

D.I.Y dog.
It's only a few connections
Otherwise..
Send me monies and I'll build it

 

OP, I think could make some $$$ doing this. Find a company who will make a plug and play harness and bingo!

 

I've actually been looking into it.
In fact, I was going to take it to the next step....

Instead of using a off board relay paired with an off the shelf universal timer(hey it works though, right?)
I would devise a miniature arduino with OEM harnesses on both sides. 5 second plug and play auto ECT ON.
BUT wait..there's more. It would be programmable so say; you wanted to deactivate it at any time(your case in point)
push the ECT 3X in a fast sequence and it's now deactivated every time the truck starts. Repeat sequence to AUTO turn module back on.
Winner Winner CHicken dinner

 

do it

 

A noble fix for a very common issue. Thanks for the post! Well done.
Some of the older Toyotas, (like the first gen Avalon) used latched switches for selecting the ECT mode. That was great!
I don't know why they dropped that method and went to momentary push buttons. It is kind of a PITA.
Even the newer Avalon - with the "Eco, Norm, Sport" modes - must be pressed every time you fire it up, (if you want anything but "Norm").
If Toyota won't see the obvious, then a decent plug-N-play fix is definitely needed.
My problem is two-fold: I promised myself when I bought this new truck that I wasn't going to spend my life modifying and working on it, (like I did my previous one).
Lastly, (after bending rule #1) it is extremely likely that I would inflict some small level of damage, when prying into the plastics as required to access the dashboard components.

 

Make them! I'd be a buyer! I'll bet you would sell tons...especially to those who are not willing to part with $700 for a tune....and there are a lot of us!

 

Several months ago I accidentally used "ECT PWR", the acceleration definitely responsive. This morning i tried ECT PWR and i can tell you, it should have come from factory with this as default. Every time i drive the 15 4Runner, then the Tacoma, 4Runner most definitely felt smooth and powerful. I may just use ECT PWR more going forward.


Whats the downside? 1-2 hit on MPG?

 

This is very debatable..

 

@mesojdm
@fajitas21

Can the CH4x4 switch be used for the off and on mod? I want to have a switch that give a nice clean look. I see that it has 4 wires. How do I go about this?

 

Yeah. You would just take the power wire from the ECT mod and instead of going directly to the cig lighter(or fuse box whateever) it would run into the green wire, then the red out to power. If the CH4 button is not depressed, it will not allow power to go to ECT mod, and act like factory. If the CH button is pressed in(on) it would power the ECT on like normal operation.
Or just wait for my supe easy plug and play kit

 

Got the off/on switch installed. Thanks again to OP!

 

is having the ECT on all the time better? I've noticed that my 3rd Gen is a little sluggish

 

many here say yes while others say no. i say yes and drive with it on all the time so i suggest you try it for a few days and decide for yourself.

 

@sig916 Looks awesome, that's exactly where I put mine. I like having the option to toggle on and off and it's been flawless.

I find ECT On works better for pulling trailers and highway driving. (doesn't affect MPG much if at all and better throttle for towing).
I find ECT off works better in city. (sometimes up to 2+ mpg more).

If I plan to drive city that day I turn it off. Highway or towing? Flip it on. Crank it up and never think about it again. It's a bit cobbled, but I wanted the option to default it on or off and the switch is exactly that.

 

I have sourced the OEM male/female connectors and they are in route. My newest version will be a compact, plug and play solution...which will take seconds to install. Plan is to program a mini adafruit arduino so it will auto ECT ON every time the truck starts. I'm thinking about making a stock default mode for when you don't want it coming on; This will be done(hopefully) by holding in the ECT button for 3 seconds. Deactivating the mod. Hold again it's set to auto.

Thoughts?

 

sounds good, let us know when you have perfected it and post instructions and parts list and where to buy.
thanks