Depends on the setting. City +0 to +2 isn’t anything like that.
Pedal Commander for the 470
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Depends on the setting. City +0 to +2 isn’t anything like that.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the GX ECU somewhat “learn” your driving habits, and tune the throttle response and shift times accordingly, in the first few drives after having the battery disconnected for +20 mins? I’m pretty sure I read this in the owner’s manual years ago. I could check, but it’s BBQ time!
Even if it did the throttle response is sluggish (GX460) regardless. I’ve only ever seen one vehicle with this “learning” thing being noticeable and that was both my Dodge Charger R/Ts.
Have you used it?
Considering a PC for my GX470.
I ran a PC on my Tundra and running through the different settings you can definitely tell the difference in throttle response and acceleration.
For those saying these devices don't do anything other than simulate pushing the pedal harder couldn't be any more wrong.
If that were the case then the Tow/Haul button in my Tundra wouldn't work either, and it certainly does, and very obviously changes the behavior of the truck when pressed, totally different than just pressing the gas pedal harder. The beauty of the Tow/Haul button is you can press it real time and feel the difference in real time. A tow/haul feature in any vehicle is simply adjusting either the throttle mapping, shift points, or both and usually locks out OD to make better use of the power when you need it more for, well, towing or hauling. There is also the ECT button on Tacomas that does essentially the same thing. Neither method extracts more power from the engine obviously, but they do allow you to use the computer controlled throttle and/or shift points to your advantage when accelleration is more important than efficiency. Thats all these devices are doing, essentially a multi-step, wider range tow/haul button.
Most vehicles are computer controlled for max fuel efficiency, so these methods help get around that somewhat, short of a full ECU custom tune. However they work its most certainly not just a replacement for pushing the pedal harder. Anyone saying that has probably never driven a vehicle with and without-back to back to see for themselves. Whether its worth the cost or not is a different debate entirely.
I ran a PC on my Tundra and running through the different settings you can definitely tell the difference in throttle response and acceleration.
For those saying these devices don't do anything other than simulate pushing the pedal harder couldn't be any more wrong.
If that were the case then the Tow/Haul button in my Tundra wouldn't work either, and it certainly does, and very obviously changes the behavior of the truck when pressed, totally different than just pressing the gas pedal harder. The beauty of the Tow/Haul button is you can press it real time and feel the difference in real time. A tow/haul feature in any vehicle is simply adjusting either the throttle mapping, shift points, or both and usually locks out OD to make better use of the power when you need it more for, well, towing or hauling. There is also the ECT button on Tacomas that does essentially the same thing. Neither method extracts more power from the engine obviously, but they do allow you to use the computer controlled throttle and/or shift points to your advantage when accelleration is more important than efficiency. Thats all these devices are doing, essentially a multi-step, wider range tow/haul button.
Most vehicles are computer controlled for max fuel efficiency, so these methods help get around that somewhat, short of a full ECU custom tune. However they work its most certainly not just a replacement for pushing the pedal harder. Anyone saying that has probably never driven a vehicle with and without-back to back to see for themselves. Whether its worth the cost or not is a different debate entirely.
Please explain, in your words, how a Pedal Commander works.
A good video on Sprint Booster here shows how these devices actually open the throttle body quicker than just mashing the pedal.
I freely admit that I have no idea how it actually works from a technology standpoint, just like I don't know how the tow/haul button works, just like I don't know how this laptop I'm using works... that doesn't mean they don't. I don't deny something simply because I don't fully understand it.
I do understand the basic differences between a throttle cable and a drive-by-wire system, and the relationship between the gas pedal and the vehicle's accelleration on each setup. Its obvious that a drive-by-wire system can be electronically manipulated in all sorts of ways. Not sure why that's so hard for some folks to grasp. What I do know for certain is driving my Tundra with the PC turned on and without, or with the tow/haul button engaged and without, there is a very obvious change in the throttle response and the overall accelleration that CANNOT be reproduced by simply pushing the gas pedal further or faster or both.
The debate whether these devices change throttle response and acceleration or not is moot, as they obviously do to anyone who has actually experienced it. The debate is whether they work well enough in certain vehicles to justify their use. Some don't make much of a change, some are way too touchy. This thread was originally asking whether the GX470 responded well to the PC... sounds like most who have actually used it are generally satisfied.
At the risk of an insulting lecture about how I don't know how to mash the pedal correctly, I just installed one of these on my 09 and I too experienced what almost everyone who actually owns one reports. Obvious improvements in both throttle response and shift mapping. Someone previously said it best, it "comes alive". Obviously, you don't NEED one to operate the best damn overland vehicle you can own, but if you've got $270 burning a hole, it's a pretty dramatic upgrade. I'll pass on the "explain" homework. Cheers!
At the risk of an insulting lecture about how I don't know how to mash the pedal correctly, I just installed one of these on my 09 and I too experienced what almost everyone who actually owns one reports. Obvious improvements in both throttle response and shift mapping. Someone previously said it best, it "comes alive". Obviously, you don't NEED one to operate the best damn overland vehicle you can own, but if you've got $270 burning a hole, it's a pretty dramatic upgrade. I'll pass on the "explain" homework. Cheers!
You know... I'm going to politely step out of this conversation. If the part makes people happy what I think is irrelevant.
In my experience, not at all, insofar as your acceleration habits affect milage with any setup.
Sport modes will encourage more aggressive acceleration, economy modes will discourage it.
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At first I thought my fuel economy got a bit better, but now i don’t think it did.
I am, however, still very happy with the performance (or more accurately, the perceived performance) increase. This device works as advertised.
Back to fuel economy, I didn’t lose any, and can get roughly 16.5-17 MPG on level highway at 65MPH. But I drive like a old man because, well, I’m an old man.
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