what does the ECT button on the right side of my console do. what advantages does it have. does it improve gas mileage or hurt it

 

Holds the gear longer, improves acceleration moderately, uses more gas, but not much more....I mean, how could it? Your 4Runner will be sorta almost kinda peppy if you turn off O/D and hit the ECT button....

 

A friend and I came up with this on the very long drive up the mountain to Big Bear.

ECT = extremely cr@ppy turbo

 

haha, yeah, that's kinda true. i call mine the turbo boost button. kind of a misnomer, but whatever. i still use it sometimes and like to think of it as a poor man's push button supercharger.

 

"EC-Tra-power" as my Chevy Blazer driving friend said after driving my 4runner for a shift on a long trip last year.

Bob

 

 

It stands for "Electronic Controlled Transmission". But yeah, it just changes the shift maps a bit to squeeze a little more power out of the engine. You shoulnd't notice much of a difference around town unless you have an extremely heavy foot. It really just changes things when you romp on it.

 

If you want an example to see how this works, try and lug it just a little in O/D, then with your gas pedal in the same position, push in the ECT button (to "power"), and the tranny will kick out of O/D into 3rd.

 

ECT = wanna be supercharger

 

You could always mod the button to say EjeCT.

 

Also, the Torque Converter unlocks with much less travel of the gas pedal if the ECT button is on.

 

meaning?

 

thanks when ever im driving w/ mom she doesnt like me to use it, i guess b/c she thinks it will hurt my mileage i usualy use it while getting on the interstate entrance ramp

 

When crusing at above 48mph and low engine load with OD on the TC will lock-up and RPM's reduce. At that point it will remain locked even while you moderatly press down on the accelerator pedal. At a certain point it will unlock and RPM's increase while you stay in OD. Continue pressing the accelerator and eventually the Auto trans will downshift into 3rd. All this happens with less pedal travel while ECT is in the PWR mode. A benefit can be seen when you need to make a quick pass as you get into the powerband quicker. But a detriment can be seen when traveling up a long hill where you might want the trans to be locked-up (so the trans runs cooler) but with slight pdeal travel it will unlock and stay unlocked for more power.

 

And yet another example...

Try driving down the road in O/D, then, with your left foot, press the brake pedal lightly. You will feel the TC come unlocked. Kind of a weird sensation. Its electronically activated/deactivated with the brake also.