ect power button

My 2003 tacoma has this ect power botton on the left of the steering wheel.
ive never used this in my 10 years of owning this truck. other than to test it to see if i notice a difference.
it couldnt notice anyyhing different.
what is this supoosed to do??
my truck is 4 cyl 4wd auto

 

Electronically Controlled Transmission. Just helps it shift a little better. I never turn it off.

 

The ECT, in my own experience in my '01, holds out to a higher RPM before it shifts to the next gear. But if you're easy-driving around town you won't see a difference-it really becomes more notable with more throttle. On the freeway, it will downshift with less throttle input than if you had ECT off.
I don't know about your 4 cylinder, but my 3.4 is designed for low-end torque so I feel more "pull" with ECT off with throttle input. I like both modes for different reasons.

 

I've actually noticed the opposite, it wants to shift "sooner" with ECT ON than off. Although I don't use it when highway traveling unless pulling my trailer, never saw the need as I routinely turn off O/D going up hills I know would cause the shift.

also @Ridgerunner they may have more torque than HP but that 3500 rpm curve when it kicks in "myself" wouldn't consider "low-end"

 

I wonder if those who are SC’d noticed more profound changes when they activate the ECT button?

 

Just stating how this thing acts with my truck. There is definitely more of a torquey feel with ECT off, naturally, because the trans is upshifting sooner.
My gal's '87 Celica GTS has ECT (yup, Toyota had ECT 33 years ago) and in that car, with ECT on, it will hang onto each gear to a MUCH higher RPM than my truck, even with light throttle. It's like a dramatic over-ride of shift points as if I was manually shifting it.

 

I never turn it off on my '03, I get better mileage with it on.

 

having read all responses

having understood some perceive the ECT differently

i still dont know what the ECT is about

question ............
a- does it provide a ' Lock Up '
years ago this was all the riguer providing greater efficiency

 

no "lock-up" if you're thinking of the torque converter. that is still electronically controlled. the ECT just maintains the gear to a higher RPM before shifting, kind of like what other vehicle's "towing" mode does. but this does not down-shift like towing mode, only holds the up-shift RPM (or down-shifts sooner to accelerate but not "trans-brake-ish")