Still learning.... help?

The top button is the headrest mounted hairdryer

 

Ejecto-C-To button

 

Make sure you are prepared when you push it.

 

That would be way cool..

 

I always say it stands for ECTra PoWeR. Push it and hold on(sort of but not really)

 

OP,

Many, many years ago, automatic transmissions were purely hydraulic devices, with shift points controlled by hydraulic pressures and valves that opened and closed based on the speed of the transmission, and the torque coming back from the rear axle, as well as vacuum lines connected to the throttle etc. These pure hydraulic transmissions had some shortcomings as they could not properly predict all driving conditions, which is why they could always be controlled with a shift lever as well, similar to your “s-mode” to lock-out the higher gears when in hilly conditions etc. This forced the transmission to stay in lower gears, but did not change the shift points of those lower gears. Not an ideal solution as the engine could still end up at unnecessarily high RPMs on the highway, and the available torque in the lower gears was still limited by the shift points.

At some point (late 80s?) Toyota started to add electronic controls to the valving of their hydraulic automatic transmissions. The electronics added more predictability to the way the transmission operated as the ECU (computer) could alter shift points based on other factors. It also gave Toyota the ability to electronically change the entire shift point map, in all gears, via a user operated button. The concept of an electronically controlled transmission was a novelty and a selling “ghee whizz” type feature at the time, so Toyota labelled this control “ECT” to highlight the fact the vehicle had an electronically controlled automatic transmission.

The first time I recall seeing this button was in a 1990 4Runner, but it may predate that. Today, most other automakers have similar buttons or controls that are usually labelled something more obvious like “Towing mode”, “sport mode”, “power mode” etc.

Toyota, being the strange beast that it is, has remained loyal to the “ECT PWR” descriptor, which is mostly meaningless to most people in 2020. It is similar to badging a slow-as-molasses Tacoma or 4Runner “TRD”, even though not a single component is developed for racing by Toyota Racing Development.

What ECT does is allow all the shift points in the transmission to happen at higher RPM levels, which will increase the torque the engine puts out at a given speed. This will make towing smoother, and make the transmission behave itself in hilly terrain, and will also give a little more grunt before the truck shifts when off road. The truck will feel more powerful and shift less often.

Myself, I don’t really like ECT mode on pavement, but use it off road when climbing long hills. I find the truck doesn’t drive as smooth with it on around town. I don’t tow, so I don’t know the benefits there.

There is no risk in running ECT. Toyota is very conservative with the power they make available in these trucks. You won’t break the truck. Some people report better fuel economy in ECT mode, some report worse.

Hope this helps.




Edit: the button as it appeared in a 1990 4Runner. It confused just as many people back then. The effect was much more subtle in the old Runners, making the purpose of the button even more mysterious.

 

/thread

 

Welcome to TW. Most people are helpful on here. Lot of good folks in Texas. Sorry for some of the responses you have received.I mean this in a truly helpful way the search feature is a place to start.

 

I want to change mine to this one

 

Not only that. Check the generous coin holder.

 

That is so much better than what I thought it was doing to cousin Ted!?!

 

I wish I good get an insert like that for that square hole.

 

Or even one of these, anyone who’s had a GM rig will recognize these. @Stocklocker

 

Funny thing is, I believe that coin holder insert (which is likely to blank off an optional feature) appears to be the same size as the larger buttons Toyota still uses in 2020. It would be a good gag to get one, paint it black, and install a vertical coin holder in your 3G Tacoma dash to confound people.

 

Your on to something here


Edit. @Stocklocker

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOYOTA-OEM...Runner-Celica-Corolla-MR2-Camry-/163912295741

 

Another innocent OP chased away from their own thread...

TW can be merciless. At least an actual answer was provided in there somewhere.

 

the ECT button.

 

Nice find.

 

There is part of me that likes the funny comments and part of me that agrees with read the manual BUT, let's be honest; Where else to look for a quick answer … the internet. TW is brutal if you are really (like really) not versed on what the Taco is or isn't. Cant really blame OP if she read a couple of the comments and bailed.