ECT PWR

Hey y'all! Got a question. Do y'all drive with ECT on? I'm just wondering cause my Taco just feels way better on. Or? Am I really suppose to drive with it on? With ETC off the transmission attend to shifts fast in gear. Thanks.

 

So far I only use mine when I am towing! And it works great. Have not had it on for any other travel.

 

You can drive with it on whenever. It makes it a more enjoyable truck for sure, but it may drop your mpg down some.

 

Oh ok. Weird. Are y'all experiencing the same situation tho? With gears changing quickly? Thanks

 

its normal. Drives a bit sluggish but thats to help with MPG. Some members hate it, I don't mind it. Prevents me from driving so aggressively

 

@kevinlambchops hahahaha! I thought something was wrong!!! I do drive like a granny tho. And I'm light footed. Thanks

 

@mesojdm has a ect always on mod and I believe he sells the plug and play wire harness for it. So you don't have to push the button every time you start the truck.

 

It does that so that it accelerates better/easier and makes it smoother to drive. Nothing to worry about

 

It changes the transmission shift points. Ect allows it to hold each gear longer. Regular mode it will try to shift o 4th gear as fast as it can. Hence the sluggish out come, trying to pull power in 4th gear. All it can do is maintain the speed, if you need to go faster then it has to think which gear it needs to shift down to, the further it has to go the longer the delay in throttle response. That's the reason for the large hesitation everyone talks about when mashing that gas pedal off the line or after starting off and getting stuck behind the slow guy.

 

@JaCado why? Lol jk. I wonder why Tacoma is built this way? I've own a couple of manual vehicles and AT. My first time experiencing this. Must be a new thing for all new vehicles from now on?

 

It's to improve on mpg's. It doesn't work that I can see. I get the same mileage as I got in my 07 prerunner. This thing hates stop and go traffic and the 1 to 2 mile trips that he put on it as I travel around town. I get maybe 12mpg in town. 19 on the highway (23 if it's downhill and I got a tailwind)

 

I get better MPG than my buddies 4runner so maybe it helps a little

 

I am sure it does in certain situations. Just not mine unfortunately.
It's good in theory and looks good on paper.... tests good in most applications. They are going to run with it.

 

Hopefully, I'll get use to this. If not, I'm going to ask my GF if she wants to drive my truck and I'll drive her 07 Accord V6.

 

You'll get used to how it drives. I've had mine for about a year and half and I've gotten used to it. I agree with @JaCado about the hesitation at times, but I've learned to live with it. I use ECT just for towing. Remember the Tacoma isn't a race car.

 

Ok. That is true. Been driving my GF's Accord V6 for many many years.

 

Just in case its helpful info for anyone, I just finished driving a little over 1200 miles last weekend from Bay Area Ca. to LasVegas NV and then some off roading in Red Rock Canyon.
I didn't use ECT (kinda forgot Lol) and I calculated each tank fill up except one when I forgot. My average MPG for the whole trip was 16.2 with a 600lb payload of passengers and gear. That includes adding 2.5% for the mileage difference with the larger tires.
I drove about 73mph most of way to Vegas and about 65mph back due to traffic.
I also have a 2" lift and roof rack so that doesn't help.
Did the same trip minus the off roading when I bought my truck and got 19+mpg.