Are iDriveThrottle Controllers Worth The Money?

maxxpowa on 22/05/2018 - 23:57
Last edited 23/05/2018 - 10:45 by 1 other user

I own a 2013 Mitsubishi Triton, and it suffers from horrible accelerator lag - basically if you put your foot flat, it takes quite some time before the vehicle kicks back a gear and takes off…..which can seem quite dangerous on occasions. We have asked a few different mechanics about it and they have told us "it's just a Triton thing".

So I was talking to a guy today with a current model Triton, and he said that he also had horrible accelerator lag - until he fitted an iDrive to it.

He said it was the best $300 he ever spent and the vehicle is now much more responsive and drives exactly how he thought it should.

So I am wondering, does anyone else have any experience with these? Have you heard anything from anyone?

Thanks for the help!

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  shanakatak on 23/05/2018 - 00:20

  +3

  Not gonna do anything mate. An idrive is just a Sprint booster.

  Modern accelerators are mostly fly-by-wires. Unlike older cars where they accelerator controlled throttle or the fuel into the engine, a fly-by turns your accelerator input into an electrical signal. This is then sent to the ECU to do it's thing and control fuel, gear shifting etc.

  A Sprint booster takes the signal from the accelerator and modifies it before it hits the ECU. All it does is trick the ECU into thinking you are pushing the pedal faster/further down.

  If you floor it and it lags then the idrive is gonna do sweet fa for you.

  In regards to your friend. Perhaps their driving style was too restrained for the Triton. Some people are averse to putting their foot flat. A key point highlighting this:

  how he thought it should

  • 

    maxxpowa on 23/05/2018 - 14:45

    Ahhh ok. So the claim on the iDrive website that it removes the delay is just plain false?

    • 

      shanakatak on 23/05/2018 - 15:19

      If it takes the signal from your accelerator and modifies it before it gets to the ECU there is no way it can reduce the delay.

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  doctordv8 on 23/05/2018 - 18:39

  I have seen a similar stories with spark/timing advance systems etc years ago in the early days of LPG, but I have not heard of the exact response effect you have described for the symptoms you have described. So I researched it and I have just read up on how it functions.

  In a nutshell, it just varies the rate of engine throttle response, the same as economy/standard/sports/race mode for either auto shift car speeds or engine RPM. The later the gear shift, the harder the vehicle drives.

  It did not explain on the 'How it works' page if or how it shortens the 'response time' between dropping your foot to time for engine/throttle to respond or how to shorten that response time re your hard acceleration, barring a reduced response time for Eco Mode soft driving. In fact it states this exactly and only for Eco Mode.

  So, it can not reduce throttle lag as I read it for your situation. Besides, if you do not have Fly by wire accelerator/throttle body it will not function on your model regardless.

  Now, the all important re lack of information…is your vehicle petrol, diesel, suffering Turbo Lag(buy a BT50), or is it an Auto with a badly adjusted kick down cable(get ya sludge box adjusted)? If it is neither of these, is this a new issue you have noticed after it getting to 5-6 years old (induction/exhaust system clogged or injectors or ECU or)? Or heaven forbid is it a 4 banger auto? Yes - then there is probably nothing to do, but change your driving habits.

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    maxxpowa on 25/05/2018 - 11:35

    Thanks for the info and for looking into it. It certainly seems like these won't help at all.

    Now in answer to your questions…

    2013 Triton GLXR - Auto Diesel.
    Has been doing it since new, the dealer has checked it out and so have numerous other mechanics - apparently, it's just a "triton thing". Although apart from that problem, it is a great vehicle.

    So it seems we are stuck with it. At least until I decide to buy something new again!

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  Euphemistic on 24/05/2018 - 07:19

  I wouldn’t. As above all they do is remap the throttle a bit which typically can be done with pushing your foot down a little harder. It can’t open the throttle any more than pushing your foot to the floor, and it can’t do it any faster than stomping on the pedal.

  The triton I drove for work had some lag. Solution was to left foot brake a bit when ready to take off and bring the revs up before going. What you want to do is bring on the turbo a bit earlier when you lunge into a busy roundabout. Just watch t doesn’t slingshot you out the other side though!

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    maxxpowa on 25/05/2018 - 11:35

    Thanks for the input. It certainly seems like it is just a triton thing.

    • 

      Euphemistic on 25/05/2018 - 14:00

      Not just a triton thing, but it seems their turbo lag is worse than others.