Still learning.... help?

boynoyce · Feb 2, 2020

Gatordog said: ↑

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.
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Really- look at the thread title.

OP will hopefully read the informative responses and stick around.

Maybe she will laugh at some of the stupidity, who knows?

@Tx_tacogirl27 - hang in, it is a good, informative and entertaining place.

And Welcome.

Boyettexan · Feb 2, 2020

Tacohumper13 said: ↑

Is it....

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AstoriaTRD · Feb 2, 2020

Stocklocker said: ↑

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.

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Ahhhhhhhh just a pleasant informative answer from a real human being that doesn't get off telling people to read the manual or use the search function!! Niceeeeeee.

tgarza74 · Feb 2, 2020

This thread is suddenly full of...

boynoyce · Feb 2, 2020

tgarza74 said: ↑

This thread is suddenly full of...

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Idiot gifs?..yeah, looks like it

TacoSportTRD · Feb 2, 2020

AstoriaTRD said: ↑

Ahhhhhhhh just a pleasant informative answer from a real human being that doesn't get off telling people to read the manual or use the search function!! Niceeeeeee.
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Yep it's a very informative answer in fact I pasted it in my notes and printed it out.

AstoriaTRD · Feb 2, 2020

boynoyce said: ↑

Idiot gifs?..yeah, looks like it
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Ha. Couldn't have said it better myself.

tgarza74 · Feb 2, 2020

boynoyce said: ↑

Idiot gifs?..yeah, looks like it
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Edgy...

Stocklocker · Feb 3, 2020

An interesting aside:

As the ECT button in the 90s 4Runners was a two-position pushbutton, the trucks came from the factory with the “ECT Always-on mod”. You just left the button pushed in.

tomwilson74 · Feb 3, 2020

Some are saying “read the manual” and actually they are the one that needs to read it. It’s a button for rear window defrost not heated mirror...

Stocklocker · Feb 3, 2020

tomwilson74 said: ↑

Some are saying “read the manual” and actually they are the one that needs to read it. It’s a button for rear window defrost not heated mirror...

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On my truck that’s for the heated mirrors. What an I missing? Or are you joking?

Myles G · Feb 3, 2020

man its only monday

sdsurfer · Feb 3, 2020

tomwilson74 said: ↑

Some are saying “read the manual” and actually they are the one that needs to read it. It’s a button for rear window defrost not heated mirror...

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Heated side view mirrors... Tacomas do not have rear window defrosters.
Edit... unless they added them in 2020
2nd Edit... the OP was asking about the ECT button anyway. The side view mirror heater button was inadvertently included in the top of the picture.

bludweiaer · Feb 3, 2020

WOW.. new post about the ECT button, ever hear of google.. another waste of a post and tacoma world web space,,, too lazy to search the topic for yourself.. here ill do it for you,,

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=tacoma+etc+button

boynoyce · Feb 3, 2020

tomwilson74 said: ↑

Some are saying “read the manual” and actually they are the one that needs to read it. It’s a button for rear window defrost not heated mirror...

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The "plot" thickens...

Lawfarin · Feb 3, 2020

@Tx_tacogirl27

ETC (electronically controlled transmission) just manipulates the shift points of the transmission, when activated. This giving the slight feeling of added “power”. Here’s a link that describes it a little more in-depth from Toyota displayed by a dealer. https://www.toyotaofgreensburg.com/blogs/1749/toyota-tacoma/toyota-tacoma-ect-power-feature/

Stocklocker · Feb 3, 2020

bludweiaer said: ↑

WOW.. new post about the ECT button, ever hear of google.. another waste of a post and tacoma world web space,,, too lazy to search the topic for yourself.. here ill do it for you,,

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=tacoma+etc+button
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Let’s give OP a little credit.

This is the dichotomy of Tacomaworld:

Standard TW statement type 1:
“Toyota doesn’t know what they are doing with these trucks! / who designed this POS? / my dealer is a moron / the mechanic knows nothing / thank you TW experts!! / OVTune has solved everything / this website saved my life”

Standard TW statement type 2:
“Read the fuckin manual goofball / use Google much? / uggh.....Ever try the search window?”

You can see why someone might be a little confused coming here for advice when one post it’s Jekyl, and the next post it’s Hyde

AZ_Tumbleweed · Feb 3, 2020

Dont accidentally shift your 4WD drive knob OP

https://www.etsy.com/listing/760604452/tacoma-4wd-shifter-knob-spiked-ring?ref=listings_manager_grid

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