Pedal Commander / Sprint Booster - everything you need to know about throttle controllers

Volant synthetic oil and Toyota extra super duper moly air intake and have stoneblack labs test your water.

 

But will it rub?

 

As @Agent_Outside explains in the write up, that YT video is bogus.

These devices are installed between the accelerator pedal and the ECU. They are simple voltage amplifiers that get the pedal output to full scale voltage with less foot movement. So it feels like the truck reacts faster to your foot. Which is good. I have used a Sprint Booster for over 4 years and can’t imagine not having one.

I like the analogy that the booster device feels like having a real throttle cable while the 4Runner OEM is like having a rubber band instead.

 

As addressed in my previous post I see it. Thanks for trying though.
Like I also said I'm on neither side.

 

Haha. Bold words, sir. Appreciate your work as always.

 

Just a question for anyone who might know…is the built-in lag dynamic based on how fast the throttle is pressed? Just wondering if the programming accounts for emergency situations where go-juice is needed RIGHT NOW to get out of the way of something.

edit: I don’t think I worded that correctly. What I’m asking is whether the rate at which the ECM opens the throttle valve is variable rather than linear based on input rate from the pedal in order to possibly account for emergency maneuvering situations where engine power is needed immediately.

 

The latter for sure. Percentage of pedal depressing is a linear variable, but not a singular variable. There are still other considerations such as air temp, oxygen %, engine temp, etc. The ECM is sampling all the variables to balance the interpreted driver and road conditions inputs.

Throttle controllers do make the experience a bit less lazy, and bit more “car like”, and I know many folks have said they’ve run them for awhile and no issues. The reality is, the forces needed to move this rig around in stock form (let alone once we build it out) with the OEM set up have allowed the average 4Runner to last for decades and thousands of miles above its competitors. In essence, the “dulled” responses help with longevity, that cannot be ignored … and utilizing one, especially in an aggressive mode must have some reduction in the average lifespan of an average owner.

For the record I do have the Ultimate9 EVCX model, and they claim to program these as vehicle specific (can’t recall if others do). I leave it in factory mode when driving, as I’m fine with the way it drives. I mainly got it as an added layer of theft prevention. Having said that, I haven’t added any real weight to the truck, we’ll see how it feels once I get bigger tires installed in a couple of weeks.

 

This is interesting. I'm not using one of these but it's been on my list of potential upgrades for quite some time. I liken this to something that my wife's Alfa Romeo Giullia has, which is a dial that allows you to choose between three different modes; Dynamic (fast), Natural (normal), and advanced efficiency (eco). There is a difference in her car 0-60 when the different modes are applied, so I'm sure that's what we would experience with these throttle mod devices. I'll tell you what, when I get on the freeway after work I need to gun it to get up to speed and my foot is to the floor in my 4r, and no matter what I do it's always off to a slow start. Now I'm really temped to try one of these things. If this little device can in fast get me up to speed faster, sign me up.

 

No, you would not.

The different modes in your wife's car might have different fuel mapping, shift points, etc. These devices can't do that. All they can do is amplify the signal coming from the pedal to the ECU. Full throttle is full throttle no matter what setting you have these devices on.

 

I think you're right. I just re-read the article and the most important thing that I didn't think about was this "it cannot reduce the throttle lag programmed into the ECM". That's where the mode dial on my wife's car, and these devices differ. Super interesting topic.

 

The ultimate test would be for someone to post 0-60 times with and without one of these devices.

 

Terrible idea. That would stop another 6 years of arguing.

 

Something like this?
https://youtu.be/cuP-I5ysGV4

 

Interesting.

 

My issue here and something I've experienced is that my Runner feels more responsive with the PC removed than it did with the PC in and off. Maybe it's something they do so you feel like it does something when you do have it on.

 

Dammit. I might need to buy one now. For science...

 

That would not be the ultimate test, it’s too variable When taking about such a small margin for gain. It’s like using a dyno, you do 3 pulls with no changes and and you get 3 slightly different results, if you’re looking for 1-2 hp gain you’re likely to find it by chance. Plus finding a way to measure it with 100% absolute accuracy and consistency is extremely unlikely.

The ultimate test would be a true data loggers graphing the throttle pedal and throttle body positions overlaid and measuring how many milliseconds sooner you could get the throttle open. It would also show that the max rate of steps per minute of the stepper motor in the throttle body not changing.

But nobody with the very expensive equipment needed is going to spend the time and resources on testing a product with a basis that is fundamentally unsound to begin with.

 

What’s the old saying? “Don’t let perfect get in the way of good.”

A measured distance and a stopwatch seem an adequate methodology to me.

 

We’re driving 4x4’s, not bracket racer’s.

 

But there's good, and there's irrelevant. It's all relative based on scale. There's a reason there are different units of measurement. If you're measuring how long dinosaurs have been extinct, use years. Time Apollo took to reach the moon, days. How long a work day is, hours. How long it takes you to take a dump, minutes.

0-60 with a stop watch wouldn't be a relevant measurement of how many milliseconds sooner the throttle could open.

 

Whether or not it’s irrelevant is a matter of opinion, sir.

Millennia might be more practical.

He’s not measuring throttle response. He’s measuring the improvement in performance that that the improved throttle response gives you. 0.7 sec over a hundred yards. 6%.

 

Fine you’re right, a good way to measure the effects of milliseconds of throttle response is to drag race it for 8-9 seconds measured by hand with no control for variables. That would be very informative.

 

Since this is turning out to be the repository for throttle controller info, here are some more documents for your reading pleasure.

- The 2007 Australian patent for the Sprint Booster. It shows some of the circuitry and the concepts of the early versions of the device.
- A 2007 white paper by Dick Bipes who installed a Sprint Booster in his Mercedes Benz and instrumented the accelerator pedal sensor signal and the throttle position sensor.
- The Sprint Booster user manual.

 

That's the issue, for sure. Your hypothesis is that the ECM sees one variable, voltage input, and responds with a linear opening of the throttle plate. My hypothesis is that there are two variables, voltage input and voltage input rate, making for a slightly more dynamic opening of the throttle plate by the ECM.

A throttle controller accounting for one variable doesn't have much to work with, but one with two variables can influence a bit more. Like you said, though, it's impossible to tell without testing and repeatable results.

 

This is covered in the article, and also in the article linked in post #53. Basically, since you arrive at full throttle sooner in the pedal stroke, the plenum can potentially open slightly faster. But, it's only by a fraction of a second.

 

Certain variables can cause a slightly faster rate of opening, but the rate can’t exceed whatever map is programmed into the ECU. Different parameters can cause different opening speeds, but the max speed movement of the stepper motor is still set by the driver which is in the ECM.

 

I know this is an older post but wanted to give you props on a great and extensive write up on the controller. You definitely did your home work and was looking for this exact research. I am one who has had numerous Toyota offroad vehicles and have always hated the delayed response to the accelerator. I feel very confident that the Pedal Commander will remedy that and look forward to installing it this weekend. You are right, it's about the feel, and I need to feel a more sensitive pedal. Great job and thank you.

 

Just happened to see this posted on Reddit yesterday...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL3pKztZirA

 

Gonna get a Yotawerx tune. F*ck a pedal commander or throttle grenade

If thats not a enough I'll invest in a magnuson and a retune from Yotawerx. Nearly 400 Lb-ft of torque does have a nice ring to it...

 

i like my pedal commander. I tell people its like mouse sensitivity on a computer