Throttle Response Units…. Thoughts?

I had a PC on my Runner for 3 years. I turned it off one day and found that I didn't miss it because I can stomp on it for the same effect so I gave it to someone on here after having it off for 3 months. It was jerky at part throttle and at low speed maneuvering. Yes you can turn it down but why mess with it at all? Yes I know some vehicles come with something similar from the factory but this isn't one of them since it's a slow turd at all times.

 

I've driven many cars with them when I turned wrenches and I get why some people like them, but all they do is modify the pedal input signal to be more aggressive on tip-in and sharp inputs. It's nothing you can't do yourself with right foot control but if you don't want to make the effort, they do serve their purpose.

The 4Runner doesn't have great response but it's not the fault of the throttle; it's a 5 speed transmission and not a lot of power. If you want a real improvement, buy a supercharger or throw some 4.56s at it.

 

I've often wondered what the 4.slow would be like with the new transmission going in the 6th gen. I know it doesn't make the low end torque that the turbo-4 will but gearing and a quicker shifting transmission would probably make a difference.

 

They all do the same thing which can be done with your foot. I had it in City 2 or something and that was after backing it down because it was too much off the line. Race mode just floors it at 1/4 throttle which may beat out a single cam Honda for the 1st 30 feet. The best part is when people mount it on their dash but it's bluetooth.

 

Very little difference. 6-speed transmissions are typically a 5-speed with double OD so assuming it's the same as the Taco, the ratios in 1-4 are going to be very similar to the 5th gen.

The 8 speeds are where things get good. Jeep's AT is a 4.71 first (3.60ish for Toyota) so it's basically like dropping 4.88s in your 4Runner.

 

But throttle controllers don't change anything like that. You aren't gaining power nor are you altering the power curve. All they do is change the relationship of pedal position input to output signal and if you move your foot properly, you get the same output signals. Same ECU response, same transmission gear selection, same spot in the power curve.

If you want to pull into traffic at quarter throttle instead of half then that's fine, but you aren't getting anything new you can't do yourself.

 

In my opinion, feet cannot replicate the Throttle Response Unit. Period. Folks are misconstruing this. It’s been clearly explained the valid reasons folks don’t want to push their pedal halfway down, or floor it, or any of these things. Not a single person it claiming it increasing any performance so let’s quit stating that. Trottle units work to increase pedal response time, at all rpm’s, and I like the effect.

 

I gotta take a video when I set my foot to sport. It's pretty rad.

 

Hah!
I don’t doubt that sir
I am pretty great at drums on Rockband

 

With a Pedal Pretender?

I deleted because I was being a little too much.

 

I don't tend to waste my money so no.

 

Try again? Was a dealer tech, CA smog, and ASE master cert. I've seen more than my share of these and I've seen how the system responds to them at a level I doubt you have. You are literally just altering the throttle input signal you are sending to the ECU. That makes the throttle feel more responsive but it does nothing to the responsiveness of the vehicle. Some like the Banks will read the data stream to determine which curve to apply but you aren't modifying anything but throttle signal.

If the purchase makes you feel better then whatever, it's your money. You just aren't getting anything more right foot won't give you.

 

In SoCal we tend to have longer onramps but in donwtown LA, they have the short ramps much like I encountered in Pittsburgh where you get nothing and then you're in a traffic lane. I just mat it taper off after the 1-2 shift and I can merge fine even with all the copium users speeding to get back to snorting.

 

Not having ever used one gives you zero credibility to dismiss the product

 

To be fair I don't know where OP lives so I'm not sure if retuning is out of the question.

I spoke to an OTT tuner earlier today. He quoted me 600 to literally come to my house and tune/ test drive.
The Banks throttle controller is $300. I wouldn't quite call that apples to oranges. Compared to regearing or a supercharger they're both pretty inexpensive.

The tune can give you 10-20 more pound-feet of torque aand give you better throttle response. So if tuning is available in your area I'd consider it.

Of course, I don't see why you couldn't have both? Having the extra mid range torque and the ability to adjust the sensitivity of your throttle could have benefits

 

Oh that...that's called a gutless engine.

 

Just interlace two Pedal Commanders together to get double the throttle response you guys!

 

The 2UZ-FE in the 4th gen Runner was e throttle as well. It had more low end torque so it didn't suffer from what you are describing.

 

Some of you guys have never driven a stock tuned 3rd gen Tacoma. Now that thing… idk who from Toyota was in charge of programming that transmission shifting. 4runner drives much nicer in comparison.

 

Makes sense. A pedal controller won't work for me as I already have a ScanGauge plugged into the OBDII port for temp/ voltage monitoring.

Also I've had issues in the past with electronic throttles. The less I can complicate that system the better.
All that to say I may be a little biased here xD

 

I'm just saying what the device does which is irrelevant to how you drive. I have driven little cars, big cars, overweight cars... everything with them. Marketing is a hell of a drug and people want to validate their purchases when the vehicle feels faster at the same throttle input. Every one of these kinds of thread end up with people preaching how great they are.

I just want to curb expectations so people asking questions to understand what these do and they do nothing that can't be achieved with your own right foot. They don't make towing easier, merging easier, or your vehicle any faster off the line. They don't change shift points or increase economy and as we've already agreed, they certainly don't add power.

If the feeling makes you happy, again, it's your money. To me as someone who has spent years racing and off-road, I have great right foot control and they're a total waste of money.

And you did insinuate a lack of expertise when you posted this immediately following your earlier response. It was not directed specifically at me but be real.

 

IDK my 370Z was fun and quick enough but throttle response was trash

 

So that's more the abysmal gearing selection if you're talking about the 4-5-6 mess. 6th is far too deep for the power curve.

We did a third member swap from a wrecked 6MT TRDOR into a 6AT TRDOR and that little bit of gear made 6th so much more usable. That double OD is so deep you can get pretty crazy with the gearing if you really wanted to.

 

I just don't have a problem using my foot to accelerate. Maybe I just know it's a slow turd and adjust accordingly.

 

I was going to be a dick but I'll just suggest you re-read the thread.

 

LOL love this ->

 

The anonymous internet tends to do that.

 

As a matter of fact I have never experienced throttle lag on my 4RUNNER.