ETC mode

Apologies if this has been in a thread somewhere but I searched and couldn't find a super clear answer. I love the way the truck drives around town and on the highway in ETC mode. I feel like that's the way this truck should drive without any extra boost. Anyways, is this doing any sort of long term damage to the tranny by keeping it on at all times? I haven't noticed any change in gas mileage but have noticed it hangs out at higher RPMs which makes sense. i figured it wouldn't be bad because why would toyota even put this in their trucks if it would, but just wanna make sure. Thanks!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ect-auto-turn-on-module.514627

Check this out. You may be interested if you like it to be on all the time, until you turn it off instead of the truck turning it off. There should not be any problems having it on all the time. It just simply changed the shift points and make the truck feel sportier.

 

Thank you, also just noticed I put ETC instead of ECT. Ugh Mondays lol

 

You'll eventually notice that you will suffer with lower fuel mileage, probably by 1-2 MPG which goes hand in hand with hanging out at higher RPMs... but it does make the truck feel more responsive. It's more for towing, so you're not hunting for gears. We now have 2 overdrive gears, 5th and 6th.

 

I actually tested this extensively and saw little to no change in city/highway mileage. I was able to consistently get 21-23 mpg on highway and 17-19 city with ECT.

 

Some right foots are heavier than others.

 

Every time I use ECT mode, I start driving it like I'm in my GTI, until I hit a curve, then I pause and cancel ECT.....

 

I know what you mean, If I drive like a decent human being then mpg will be fine but trying to have fun all the trip is what kills it. Which is why I will do a mixed type of driving only having fun in some stretches of the road then driving normally the rest of the way and still get great mpg.

 

Agreed, it drives much better with ECT on but like you I'm afraid of leaving it on all the time. Getting my ECU flashed tomorrow, hopefully I won't need ECT after the update.

 

They already have an update for late 2017s? I picked mine up in October, wondering if I should do it then.

 

Well I called my dealer today saying I am experiencing sluggish shifting and a jerk from P to D and they told me that there's an update available so I guess this wasn't done at the factory or before delivery.

 

Ke

keep us posted on update info like update version # release date and if you noticed a difference please.

 

My transmission was getting a clunk when shifting from Park to Reverse and Drive, noticed more prominently at about 200 miles from new.

I added 1 quart of transmission fluid and the clunking was gone.

The reason that I added 1 quart was that from reading in Tacoma World, people were usually adding 1/2, 1 or 1.5 quarts or more, so I figured I’d just start in the middle and try 1 quart.

Several days later I came up with the plan to just use a laser thermometer (already have one in the garage) on the transmission pan for checking the fluid level, figuring that it might possibly be as accurate as a dealer might do in checking the fluid level.

With the laser thermometer in hand at the front of the vehicle pointed at the transmission cooler, I believe the temperature of the fluid going into my transmission cooler inlet was at about 109 degrees.
The outlet from the cooler was in the 99 degree range just prior to checking the pan temperature.

I then moved to under the vehicle, measured the transmission pan temp at 105 to 107 degrees depending on where it was pointed at the pan, removed the pan overflow plug/bolt and about 4 ounces or so came out.

The transmission had been shifting well so I just put that 4 ounces back into the trans and called it good.

A fluid hand pump on a 1 quart bottle is easy for filling.

It’s easier to do some things yourself, rather than taking the time to drop off, wait or pick up the truck at the dealer, and I now know that it’s been done right.

I think perhaps that the dealers are too busy to take the time to check so many new vehicles with the volume that some of them sell every day. Time is money and the transmission fluid check takes some time.

 

Shiftsense pro

 

My only issue with ECT is it holds the rpms too long, even if there is a drastic reduction in throttle position (aka me letting off) to allow it to upshift, but it doesnt. I'd honestly try one of those transmission tuners for better shift points.

 

I agree with you on the feel of ECT shift points and holding rpm’s.
I think it feels decent though at light throttle and it’s definitely livelier than when not using it. I’d get used to it if I used it often, but I just don’t.

 

After doing the update and driving it around the truck felt MUCH more responsive. Drives very comfortably now which is good.

After doing some errands and getting back in the truck I had a pretty noticeably jerk from P to D so that was really disappointing. P to R still has that noticeable thud.

Overall it's better than before.

 

I miss my GTI. It was so much fun when it was running. If I had that DSG in the Taco? Forgetaboutit

 

Low on tranny fluid I bet..!!