ECT Power button.

I used to take my 01 over the grapevine every other weekend. As soon as I passed the grapevine exit headed south, I'd turn the OD off and wouldn't turn it back on until I hit 6 flags. Trust me, your motor SHOULD be stronger than your trans. I'd rather have my motor running between 2800-3000 rpm than my transmission constantly going in and out of OD. Your transmission will be happier.

 

My 4 runner v6 had ect. I ran all the time with ect engaged. Shifts later and uses a bit more fuel. Only time I turned mine off was on basically flat highways. It made a pretty big difference around my hilly roads.(ECT).

 

You can read what Toyota says about the ECT here :
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h16.pdf

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/325531-aisn-warner-340-series-transmissions.html

 

I have the 3.4 motor...that might make all the difference. Although, with the 2.7, I'd definitely keep OD off once I feel it struggling going uphill.

This might help. It doesn't make too much of a difference for me to have ECT on when I already have OD off going uphill, but it could be different on the 2.7.

I do the same thing.

 

It definitely acclerates quicker and I have actually seen an improvement in mpg. I think it helps in town when you have to stop a lot. It shortens the time accelerating, which when looking at my ultraguage accelerating kills the mpg, and makes you get to cruising speed faster were you see better mpg.

 

wow glad i found this thread.. tried running up hill w/o OD on. much better. Thanks guys.

 

I only scanned the PDF so far since I'm at work, but does enabling the ECT prevent/disable torque convertor lockup? I saw some pretty high transmissions temperatures driving in the mountains a few weekends ago with overdrive off and ECT enabled. The transmission wasn't searching for a gear, but was around 1400RPM @ 50mph, 211*F engine coolant temp. Transmission reached 240*F briefly before I backed off to let it cool down.

I will definitely be installing an external transmission cooler soon. (separate thread, let's not clutter this one).

 

I just read the entire PDF. The answer is No, the ECT Power mode does not disable torque convertor lockup.

 

Several people have mentioned how they keep the ECT power on. I have to turn mine on every time I start the truck. Is there any way to keep it on?

 

The quick answer is with ECT "on," all shift points are 500 RPM higher than ECT "off."

 

In a similar note, what does Overdrive do? I know it has something to do with the gear ratio or something, and you should never tow with it on. But what does it actually do?

 

The OD is like a 4th gear.
With OD off, the tranny will not shift up into overdrive gear ('4th'), it will stay in 3rd. Good for towing and climbing grades.
With OD on, the tranny will shift into, and out of, OD gear ('4th') automatically at the appropriate shift point.

 

Mine stays on all the time as long as the button is pushed in. It doesn't matter how many times I shut the truck off or start it back up

 

Do the several people you mention have the same gen truck as you? Us 1st gens just need to keep the ECT button pushed in as mentioned below. Maybe its different for your truck (assuming you have a 3rd gen).

 

Yep I have a 3rd gen. Anyone have an answer for a 3rd gen? With mine. I press it and it's not the type of button that stays pressed in or not. It just clicks on or off.

 

I have an 01 I also have this ECT button.

Is there suposed to be a light to indicate it is active?

Do I push the button in before starting the truck to get it to activate?

 

Have you tried posting in the 3rd gen section? Doubt you'll get the info you need here.

Yes, there's an indicator on the lower right of the instrument cluster (from what I remember...I can double check later when I'm in my truck).

You can turn it off/on at anytime. I just leave mine on...with it off, I can tell that the truck feels a little sluggish, specially when holding a gear just a tad longer makes all the difference).

 

Whenever I need to pass someone or otherwise accelerate quickly, I push ECT to 'Power', yell "witness me!" and floor it.

I'm not sure if it makes me go faster but it sure is fun!

 

I'm going to go look now. lol



I pushed in the button and started my truck

Nothing no light :-( I'll have to check the light bulb this weekend

 

Jerry311SD, My 2003 ECT light is on the right side, under the fuel gauge, and next to the 4x4 light.