Throttle response devices

I've only had my 4Runner for a couple weeks but I reset on every fillup (the odometer and computer MPG) and i'm very surprised how accurate it is.

 

I'm only getting 17.4 mpg since I got my '21 OR 5-6 weeks ago. I hope as it breaks in I start getting higher numbers!

 

Mine started out at 14.something, so you are ahead of what mine said. I think I remember it rising fairly quickly, though.

I'll be very interested in seeing what the first full tankful on the SB shows...

 

I was keeping a running tally of my hand calculated MPG on my phone. Averaging multiple fill ups, it's been pretty damn close to the dash readout.

Adding this last bit of armor - heavy steel skid plates has really knocked it down to the point I no longer want to see what I'm getting.

 

^ LT Wildpeaks and it's game over...

 

You’re doing well, your gas mileage is right within specs. EPA fuel economy is advertised as 16/19/17.

 

I hand calculate mileage every tank and also reset the computer on the dash every tank as well. I am typically no more than 2/10's off, and usually the computer shows higher than my hand calculations.

 

Here is a great article that explains in detail how pedal controllers work. As an engineer, I always appreciate understanding the math behind the solution.

https://outbackjoe.com/macho-divertissement/macho-articles/sprint-booster-is-it-worth-it/

In the end, a pedal controller only provides you the ability to adjust throttle response to your comfort level of foot travel.

The author of the article has several more links of interest. The other that was very interesting was his comparison of traction control and diff locker. So if you scroll to the bottom of his page you can check it out.

 

I read the article.

Here's a counterpoint to some of his negative claims...
The problem with his article is that he thinks he's in a vacuum that this doesn't exist in the OEM world of Toyota or other car manufacturers.
Throttle response devices are not unique to the aftermarket. They come in OEM form.

For instance, my 2020 Toyota Rav4 TRD Off Road has drive modes for Eco, Normal, and Sport. Sport Drive Mode is a Factory version of the Sprint Booster w/ less choices as to responsiveness.

Toyota confirms that in the following video:


-----

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nDe_g3rkxk

So there you go - a Sprint Booster "accentuates the throttle response" just like having an OEM Sport Mode in your 4Runner.
Furthermore, a Sprint Booster gives you more selections as to how responsive that is.

 

Great point and I totally agree. I found his article did a nice job of explaining what a throttle controller actually does. In the end, you are setting the throttle response to best suit your comfort level for foot travel. There is no suggestion on my part that a controller has no value for improving your experience driving your vehicle.

 

Question - Pedal Commander clearly indicates on their website that the country of manufacture is Turkey. I applaud them for their transparency. Since none of the competitors I looked at list their country of origin and they all look identical. So I am assuming the country of origin is China. Can anyone confirm that?

 

The Sprint Booster is made in Greece.

 

How odd is it that the two most popular versions of this device come from that part of the world?

Two brothers, whose homes are on each side of the border?

 

HAHAHA!

 

Got the pedal commander in and I followed the instructions to a T. However it or something else disabled my multi terrain select and even unhooking the battery for 5+ minutes did not reset it. No other lights and the truck operates normal with the exception of not being able to select multi terrain. I have the little icon flashing on the bottom of the info screen on the dash and a warning popped up on the radio that multi terrain is unavailable. Not happy but I guess it will go to dealer tomorrow or Monday depending on their schedule.


I also unhooked it and returned everything back to Normal before disconnecting the battery still no change. So the pedal commander is back in its box going back most likely

 

Also the sos button is now green and red. So I don’t know what it did. I plan on checking the fuses later after my daughter goes to her moms

 

You must be in 4wd to use MTS. Additionally, all but the lowest setting only work in 4lo. You might know this already, but I'm just pointing it out in case you didn't.

 

Right. It will still allow me to go through all the 4wd settings including crawl control and normal high low, a trac, etc but when you push the multi terrain button to turn it on it says multi terrain unavailable. And even in 2wd the multi terrain light on the dash is blinking.

 

Ok. I was just checking because a lot of people don't realize there are procedures for engaging all of the different 4wd modes.

So, without doing anything but installing the PC it lit up the MTS unavailable light on the dash?

Or, did you stop and try to engage MTS and then the light came on?

 

Without doing anything. It was really weird I was expecting a CEL if anything but no CEL. I am going to go through each fuse and see if something popped. It’s weird that it still lets it go into 4wd and still select crawl control and other than an annoying light blinking nothing has changed performance wise lol.

 

I wonder if you got a faulty unit. There are so many on this site using those things, it seems like there would be more complaints if that was normal.

Good luck tracking down the issue. You could try resetting the computer and see if that gets rid of the dash lights.

Hopefully it's an easy fix. It may be worth contacting the manufacturer for suggestions.

 

Yeah I don’t think once whatever is wrong is fixed I will putting the pc back in the truck. The little bit I did drive with it I wasn’t “blown away” like other people claim to be. I tried it in city, sport and sport plus and it was more mehhhh it works but not enough to justify possible problems, and 250.00. I’d rather spend that money elsewhere over what I experienced with the PC

 

Sorry to hear of your issue. I know you started this thread in the hopes of finding out more about these devices, and ended up getting the PC due to ordering issues with the place you initially bought a Sprint Booster from.

Honestly, I had heard some say the PC could cause a check engine light to display, but had never heard of your result. Keep us posted on what the dealer says!

 

For sure. I mean a lot of stuff could be worse. I just went through the main fuse box and the under the dash. Man Toyota really wants you to work to get in there lol. Found no blown fuses. Hoping it’s not a abs malfunction or an ecu issue but whatever it is luckily it’s under warranty. I disconnected the battery again and am going to watch frozen with my daughter and let it completely reset. I think I remember somewhere if you touch the neg and pos terminals together it resets everything. But I’m still searching for that one. I also wonder if the cold, snow and ice we got may have triggered something. But idk. Like I said right before PC everything was fine. Then I installed pc turned on and this happened.

 

This is the method I used on my '03 when it had a computer brain-fart. I can't guarantee that it's safe on the newer models, though. I think the method of disconnecting it for awhile is safer. Let us know if the codes disappear after reconnecting it.

 

Sorry no help here.

I recall with the Sprint Booster, you had to leave the door open for a certain amount of time (15 minutes?) before installing it. Imagine disconnecting the negative battery cable and letting it rest awhile would've done the same thing.

Here's a similar thread on the other board: Reading real quick through that thread - the CEL will come on if you change speeds on the PC while accelerating. You need to be in park or coasting with your foot off the accelerator to change the PC sensitivity.

Could also be the PC is not plugged in correctly or has a kinked cable.

The Sprint Booster can also have similar issues: Swapping it with another under warranty seems to be the solution.

 

Yeah I’m gonna let it sit for another hour or so and what it does. While my daughter drives me crazy with frozen I am putting my new molle pouch together my wife got me for Christmas and charging the batteries on the mavic I am gonna send it up in a little bit and see how the neighborhood looks with all the snow. We haven’t had a good snow in a while.

 

Does the pedal commander work with 2021 OFP?

 

Well hooked the battery back up and no change. As long as it’s not affecting the drive ability I can just deal with the light until I can get into the dealer. So I’ll call and see if they are there tomorrow morning and take it over if so. If not I’ll wait until Monday. Perks of being off the rest of the year. I read one forum the guy had water intrusion from his roof rack that got into the main wiring harness in the driver kick panel. I tried to pull the floor panels but they are really in there and I don’t want to take a chance of the cold causing them to crack or break. At least if the dealer breaks them it’s free lol.