ECT powerband thoughts

The V6 needs to be revved to make useful HP ... even for torque it's got to be spun up a bit. And the non ECT program seems determined to shift early and have long legs. So ECT is kind of how I wish the thing was set up all the time... although I do seem to have to turn it off to get into 6th on the highway...

But I wish the program was the ECT one almost all the time, and the standard one was only for rolling down a highway with no grade. Yes, it does dent the mileage a bit, but I didn't buy it for that.

People complain it's underpowered, but I think it's just overstretched by its early shift points and reluctance to downshift.

I vote they change the button. Call it "city/highway" and make the ECT settings the defaults on startup. I do love the power that comes when the shift points are late enough to spin up that little V6.

Flame away. I'm 95% carbon already.

 

I always felt that the default mode should be more like ECT and that the button should be an “eco mode” button like Honda has. But i got my ECU flashed with a custom tune so now the shift points are nice.

 

I hated the high revs of the 3.5, my wife used to ask if I was doing it on purpose out in the mountains. But when I was alone and ripping along the revs were fun. Just annoying at high altitudes.

 

I've noticed that when you're on the highway with ECT on and use cruise control, it does shift into 6th gear.

 

X2 This makes sense. ^

 

Change it yourself. There is an ect mod that defaults to ECT on startup.

 

This engine doesn’t have to be underpowered, it’s held back by Toyota’s ECU programming. My truck has one of two 2GR-FKS engines I have in my vehicles. The other is in my IS350, it’s tuned for premium but it’s getting 311 hp/280 tq, Its also very rev happy, in normal driving it tends to shift (8 gears and it can skip them as it sees need) around 2800 or so but anything more than that it seeks the higher end and sometimes to the redline.

Now mind you two totally different purposes but this engine is way more capable than Toyota gives it in the Taco and tuned right has plenty of power and smoothness.

 

Sick'm, Red Dragons of Eternity!!!

Seriously, these trucks behave more like a 4 banger than a 6 at times. I've never seen it reluctant to downshift. I usually find it annoying it won't just torque its way up a very minor hill preferring to downshift on what practically every other car just pushes itself up in top gear. But what really annoys the hell out of me is 6 -> 5 -> 4 -> 6 -> 5 -> 4 -> 6 -> 5 -> 4 all the way up the damned hill unless I pull it into S mode and hold it there and often if I let it get to 5 it will just stay there climbing the hill if it unlocks the torque converter and leaves it unlocked until it hits the top. I've been known to drive on the interstate in 5th for hours because the shifting gets to me. On city streets, it's fine and doesn't bother me. On highways and Interstates, it plays on my nerves a bit.

But I'd like a mode that is about half way between normal and ECT. Rename normal to ecomode, make this new mode normal mode, and let ECT be what it is.

 

KDMax tune for the win!
Truck doesnt try to be in 4th gear accelerating to 20mph, holds gears longer, equal or better mpg, and only downshifts one gear on the freeway when changing lanes unless you just cut off THAT guy.

Should have come from the factory this way.

 

Sucks taco ecu is only limited to 2 modes. Correct me if I'm wrong tho.
Just imagine the possibility if you can have more. Stock, ect, x,y,x. Just gotta press the ect 3 time for your 3rd tune or 4 press for your 4th tune. Or have separated toggle switches. Our 21 sienna has 3 mode. Eco, normal and sport

 

This being my third Tacoma (the two prior were 5VZ's) I'm pretty disappointed at how weak this truck feels. I am so tired of poking hard to get downshifts (ECT is useless) that now I just select S and ride the hills out in 4th gear.

 

... I think you'd enjoy a tune.

Shit. Sorry. I tried.

 

Yes it need a tune. I was just on the KD website I wish there were more specifics about the actual tunes.

 

Maybe the tacoma is tuned to last 300k miles

 

90% of Tacoma buyers, me included, don't really care about tunes, revs etc. We just wanted a good, reliable, good looking, long lasting with great resale truck for home depot and bad weather. ECT serves me just fine if I want it to feel more peppy.

 

My experience has been that tunes are a very personal thing. It's best to find someone local or even a few someones and talk to them. Let them describe the characteristics of the particular tube that they are hawking. The tune guy I wound up going with even pulled his laptop and showed the difference in throttle and shift maps. Then he refined the tune file for tire size, how aggressive I wanted it based on our conversation, what kind of charging amps the battery needs, etc... It wound up being a fun experience.

The second time I saw him he was doing a whole row of trucks assembly line style. But he was still making sure that the tune was tailored to each vehicle.

 

No need for ECT in my truck unless having to tow something really big....S4 and S5 have been perfect for all my towing needs under 3k lbs. This truck has decent torque at 1.8k-2k rpm. Imo, ECT sucks. I haven't tried it since.

 

I think one of the biggest issues is with the transmission ratios. There is a large gap between 2nd and 3rd then between 4th and fifth. I think 900 rpm or so between 4 and 5 at 70 mph. The transmission is a simple design and with the way it uses combos to obtain ratios, maybe these jumps were unavoidable. I wish 6th was closer to where 5th is now and 5th somewhere between. Been thinking about a re gear but that changes everything and I rather like 4th gear where it is. Trying to decide if going from 4.3 to 4.56 and the extra 150 ish rpm at cruise would benefit it. Mines a 22 2.7l. As soon as a tune is available I’ll try it. These aren’t as bad as many say. Only needs a little to be great.

 

Your only issue is you should of got a v6.

 

For just driving around and what I do with the taco, not convinced it matters that much. I’ve driven the v6. The time it really sucks is with cruise control and they both act stupid. I know 2 guys that have had to replace heads out of warranty before 100k miles on the 3.5. So i disagree with should of got a v6, Toyota should have kept the 4.0. Got a big block 8 truck when I need to haul.