Got a diesel ute. Everyone reckons you need a throttle controller but I'm not convinced as they just adjusted the throttle signal. I can't see how they 'give more power'. Isn't it just like your foot is pushing to the floor quicker?
Anyone got any further insights in their effectiveness or are they just a waste of time. I use my ute for towing and also proper off road work. Is it worth getting a throttle controller?
Just put yours into Power/Sports mode
Or R for race mode.
Warning: Danger to Manifold
Its got three pedals, the only mode is race mode.
D for drag.
D is for dull.
Doesn't always help with throttle performance. Yes, it will hold the gears longer but won't always give a better throttle response.
Laughs in 4 cylinder petrol Hilux My car doesn't even have Intermittent speed wiper setting, and you think it has sports mode?
OP, I got one, and it….kinda works. My Hilux has a heap of throttle lag, sometimes to the point it is downright dangerous, and the throttle controller helps….a little. Its a fine balancing point of getting a setting between reducing the lag, and pressing the peddle X amount and getting far too much throttle setting to the ECU.
They do not deliver you any more power than you have.They 'can' smooth out lag to a degree. eg, our auto diesel 4x4 going around corners before installing one, had a noticeable 'flat spot', that had the feel that the tranny was almost pausing before "picking a gear".
Set on setting 3 of a throttle controller seems to have addressed that issue.(We settled on that number after some dedicated research/reading online) I recommend reading a few articles about throttle controllers, if you haven't. There is definitely a % placebo factor in them for lead foots.
If you jump, buy a decent brand. The popular ones sold in oz should be in the first few google searches. Got ours at Automotive Superstore on special, but start there and shop around for the better deal.
EDIT: What ute is it?
Dmax. Its a manual so no transmision shifting issues that electronics will solve.
They all have a % of lag. So it 'might' help.We test drove a new manual Triton (well, when MQ was new) and it too had an annoying dip on take off. I'm sure a quality TC would have fixed or reduced it.
Put it this way, I don't think it's a bad investment, it won't make things worse or damage anything, and it's reversible, (as in remove or just turn it off)
Also, if it matters, it will STFU the ppl in your ear all day about getting one.
It won't turn the ultra reliable D Max into a quarter miler.
If you do get a TC, something to think about is that when you a shifting you might still have a bit of pressure on the accelerator pedal. You might not know that you do and it isn't a problem currently, but then when you install a TC, revs could be a bit higher because that bit of pressure is being amplified through the TC. You might need adjust the settings to get the right one and might not be able to have it high.
Just something you might need to keep in mind.
It is exactly as you say. It only works within the parameters of the pedal position sensor. It just pushes the "pedal" harder/faster for a given input. Just push it harder/faster yourself for free. Or for a proper increase, get a tune.
Just push it harder/faster yourself for free
In my experience, that didn't work that well or make a difference.
Or for a proper increase, get a tune.
This probably would be the other option instead of a TC where the default throttle position is changed. However, cost more.
In my experience, that didn't work that well or make a difference.
Ditto. And some cars have more lag at different loads. Out of the factory.This does what your ankle can't, at varying settings, has smoothed out the cornering 'slump' we had. Way better. You could get the same result pfaffing around with the ECU but it would cost more, so that would then justify a proper tune.Horses for courses.
Technically it's not lag, it's boost threshold.
In my experience, that didn't work that well or make a difference.
Your experience is incorrect unfortunately. The pedal sensor is comprised of two 0-5v sensors that work in opposite directions. If the voltage on either falls outside approximately 0.5-4.5v, a fault will be set.
The throttle control is only able to work within exactly the same parameters that the pedal sensor works to. All it does is make a small movement at the pedal look like a big movement to the ecu.
This probably would be the other option instead of a TC where the default throttle position is changed. However, cost more.
Correct, it costs more, but actually does something.
Your experience is incorrect unfortunately
Okay then. 🙄🙄
Correct, it costs more, but actually does something.
Of course it does, but a under $300 investment vs $2,000 ish? I know what I would choose.
Okay then. 🙄🙄
I've just explained to you why it can't do any more than what the pedal does. Diagnosing this sort of thing is what I do daily.
Of course it does, but a under $300 investment vs $2,000 ish? I know what I would choose.
A tune is not $2k. $300 that does nothing vs $1k that does something I know what I'd choose.
I've just explained to you why it can't do any more than what the pedal does. Diagnosing this sort of thing is what I do daily.
👍👍 Good on you.
I am just sharing my personal experience. So everyone can take it with a grain of salt or do whatever they like with it. But as I said, I found a difference by installing a TC.
A tune is not $2k. $300 that does nothing vs $1k that does something I know what I'd choose.
I just did a quick Google, its been a while since I have looked properly. I found my $300 investment does help.
A tune is not $2k
it's not, a tune is WAY more than $2k unless you want the car to grenade.
next minute you're looking at oil cooler, intercooler etc, and removing bottle necks with CAI, downpipe etc
@geekcohen: Under $200 corrected anomalies in our boost threshold.I'll take it.It does nothing really well.
Forget about trott, waste of money and time, you would come back and cry later here.
Instead, buy some trout and enjoy!
Required no. Nice to have? Maybe. Electronic throttles for some reason always come with large dead spots IME, these can help remove or minimise that. They won't give you more power or better economy.
I've got one for my PX3 Ford Ranger, and it is fantastic! Before I had it, it was really annoying, and the throttle was sluggish. I have an Ultimate branded TC, and I find U7 to be the sweet spot and I use drive in "Sports mode" all the time as well. I use it for every day driving and for when I am towing 8x5 trailer or the caravan. I still find when towing though, I might need to use the manual gearing depending on the roads I am driving, but sometimes you can leave it in 3rd or 4th gear in the hills and its fine, the faster throttle response is handy.
You can notice a difference when it is in normal mode (which is essentially the TC turned off) which I rarely use unless my wife is driving or I am dropping it off for a service.
It doesn't give more power in anyway, but instead of pushing the accelerator 50% of the way before you even get any response, you can tap it and get a response.
I bought mine on special for about $280. Just ensure you check the model is right for your vehicle, as they are not all the same with the wiring loom. It is a plug and play self install solution. I guess you can try it and always return it if you are unhappy with it. I would hate to remove mine and drive without it.
Has it affected fuel consumption at all? I assume that because the throttle response is quicker, that your essentially pushing harder on the go pedal more often which in my mind equates to more fuel used.
I think so, I cannot be 100% sure. I've got a few things that probably do not help aero dynamics etc with Starlink on the roof, towing mirrors, driving lights plus weight in the canopy. I am running about 11L per 100 with the TC in place. Towing the trailer goes to about 15L per 100.
When I first got the car, I was about 8-9L per 100 from memory.
I am a Regional Area so not too much City Driving, a lot of Freeway Driving.
If it has affected the fuel consumption on our rig it's negligible, if at all. The trip meter numbers and fuelling events, and noted consumption seem the same (on setting 3 driving normally,on road).
Do some reading.There's good tips on what settings for what conditions that might help you decide.
I just put my hybrid in Sport mode, it starts the engine way earlier and even with a light press on the pedal it shoves you back in the seat. Even gets a bit sideways on a wet roundabout if you're not careful.
The benefit is psychological.
You have a vehicle with a lot of mass, and not much power.
So you speed up the throttle response - the percentage of full power you get for any given amount of throttle - and it feels like you are not driving an underpowered block of flats. And that feels good.
But it doesn't actually do any good. It doesn't actually make more power. It just makes you drive like a stupid hoon. Too fast around roundabouts. Trying to drag people off from the lights who could leave you for dead if they just pressed their accelerator a bit harder.
It just makes you drive like a stupid hoon. Too fast around roundabouts. Trying to drag people off from the lights who could leave you for dead if they just pressed their accelerator a bit harder.
What utter bullshit.
godzilla had a stroke reading that…
Had one my old 2015 SQ5, 3L TT diesel. It helped the car feel a bit more spritely, but as others have said getting the car tuned was the real game changer. For $200 bucks, I was happy enough with the minor difference it made.
I have ECU=shop Boost Next throttle controller in my D-Max along with ECU piggyback which has been dyno-tuned to 777Nm torque.
Can definitely feel the difference with a throttle controller.. If I have it turned off, it takes much longer to get into the 'sweet spot' of acceleration. Having the throttle controller doesn't give more power or torque, it just helps get you to there a bit quicker. Car feels much more responsive with the TC than without.
Thanks all. Interesting feedback. Probably not going to get one, except maybe cheap second hand.
I dont think my ute is underpowered and seems to be responsive enough.
At the 4x4 training I had (where most cars were either diesel pickups or diesel v8 land cruisers), they mentioned it would improve throttle response times and reduce lag. This in theory makes you drive more relaxed/less aggressive and may improve fuel efficiency due to reduced smashing of the accelerator pedal. It does not give you more power or reduces 0-60 times.
It does depend on the tuning too, there's usually various modes you can configure to suit your driving style. For ~$200, seems like something you would just get and not worth worrying too much about.