Throttle response on 14' 4RUNNER vs 13' FJ TT

[Saker]

Reading a few threads about throttle response on various year model 4Runners didn't quite answer this question.

Maybe someone already posted this somewhere, but I never found my answer.
So help me out here, please chime in if there is a definitive answer.

Maybe this may require data from one of the resident Toyota guru's or someone that works on them like [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION]!

I previously owned a 2013 FJ Trail Team Edition AT, same Engine, Transmission as my 4runner. Sure the FJ weighed in on the scales a few pounds lighter, but not enough IMO to differ in throttle response from a dead stop.
My wife noticed this right off!

So is this something that may be programmable on the ECU or is there a different accelerator pedal sensor between the two vehicles?
Can something be adjusted or the accelerator pedal sensor be replaced with one for an FJ without adverse effects?

If one has ever driven a late model FJ, they would definitely know the throttle response I am referring to!

 

[2014 Warthog]

Reading a few threads about throttle response on various year model 4Runners didn't quite answer this question.

Maybe someone already posted this somewhere, but I never found my answer.
So help me out here, please chime in if there is a definitive answer.

Maybe this may require data from one of the resident Toyota guru's or someone that works on them like [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION]!

I previously owned a 2013 FJ Trail Team Edition AT, same Engine, Transmission as my 4runner. Sure the FJ weighed in on the scales a few pounds lighter, but not enough IMO to differ in throttle response from a dead stop.
My wife noticed this right off!

So is this something that may be programmable on the ECU or is there a different accelerator pedal sensor between the two vehicles?
Can something be adjusted or the accelerator pedal sensor be replaced with one for an FJ without adverse effects?

If one has ever driven a late model FJ, they would definitely know the throttle response I am referring to!

Mainly it's a matter of adjusting your foot

After a time your pedal foot will learn exactly how much to punch the gas down to achieve the level of acceleration you want.

The ECU itself also learns as you go and will do some amount of remapping based on your driving style. It's not a lot, your foot is still the main thing that needs to be retrained

The only hard part is if you switch cars occasionally back to one with a really punchy accelerator

 

[Saker]

Mainly it's a matter of adjusting your foot

After a time your pedal foot will learn exactly how much to punch the gas down to achieve the level of acceleration you want.

The ECU itself also learns as you go and will do some amount of remapping based on your driving style. It's not a lot, your foot is still the main thing that needs to be retrained

The only hard part is if you switch cars occasionally back to one with a really punchy accelerator

That is a little different answer to my question but that's fine. I have over 20K of mapping to the ECU it's doing all it can. Believe me I tried, and so has my wife!
The response if definitely different between these two trucks.
With the FJ, the response was immediate, the 4Runner fills all of my needs, but is not as responsive.

 

[2014 Warthog]

That is a little different answer to my question but that's fine. I have over 20K of mapping to the ECU it's doing all it can. Believe me I tried, and so has my wife!
The response if definitely different between these two trucks.
With the FJ, the response was immediate, the 4Runner fills all of my needs, but is not as responsive.

Oh sorry! I guess I assumed it was a new purchase...

Yeah I think the main consensus is that in general it's mainly mapped for mileage and not raw performance and there's only so much you can do

And of course Toyota doesn't make it easy for aftermarket tuners

 

[Ammomac]

I went from a 13 FJC to a 15 4R - we've not noticed anything too different in regards to the throttle but I drive extremely soft ;-)

 

[manofsteele2003]

I had an 07 FJ with a lift, 33's and a few engine mods (intake, ehaust, chip) and it was definetly more repsonsive than my 14 Sr5. I'm guessing it's cause the extra weight of the truck. It's a bit longer in the body and all the accessories the FJ doesn't have available to it. I'm planning on putting an intake and exhaust on my Sr5 in the near future, hopefully that'll at least give me better throttle response and a little more power.

 

[1engineer]

Two things:
1. Unhook your battery for about an hour. Re connect and drive it like you stole it for a few weeks.
2. You would be surprised how much a few hundred pounds can change the feel of acceleration. It really is a big deal. Weight does not change top speed much but it ddefinitely will change how fast you get there. Have you added LT tires? Unsprung weight is the worst for slowing down the acceleration.

 

[Donkey]

The nearly 500 pound difference in curb weight can't be overlooked. The lazy pedal on the 4Runner is just the way it is, perhaps the FJ's throttle is programmed differently but the weight is a major factor. I've driven both and really did not feel too much difference, but that is subjective.

In instrumented tests the FJ is quicker and faster in 30/60/quarter mile acceleration tests, your SOP dyno was correct. It feels quicker because it is.

The manual FJ also has higher gearing, rowing your own always felt quicker to me but I've never driven a manual FJ.

Lol:

 

[1engineer]

I had an 07 FJ with a lift, 33's and a few engine mods (intake, ehaust, chip) and it was definetly more repsonsive than my 14 Sr5. I'm guessing it's cause the extra weight of the truck. It's a bit longer in the body and all the accessories the FJ doesn't have available to it. I'm planning on putting an intake and exhaust on my Sr5 in the near future, hopefully that'll at least give me better throttle response and a little more power.

Waste of money unless you go new headers and straight pipes with no cats. Even then you will only gain a few percent. You already have a CAI stock so you would only be getting noise there.
Get gears or go with smaller tires or remove all excess weight a that is the only thing you can do.

 

[wfo9]

It does look to be about a 400lb difference. 2wd version of the 4 runner are lighter than 4x4s (by 500lbs).

FJ (TT) 4,332, 4Runner trail 4,750.

But, you would never feel that in throttle response.... it is something else.

 

[1engineer]

It does look to be about a 400lb difference. 2wd version of the 4 runner are lighter than 4x4s (by 500lbs).

FJ (TT) 4,332, 4Runner trail 4,750.

But, you would never feel that in throttle response.... it is something else.

Ha. Go take your 4runner 0-60 by yourself then do it with a few of your buddies. You will feel it for sure.

 

[Joel C]

My wife has a 2013 4x4 4R and without a doubt it is the most under powered vehicle I have ever driven. I only drive it probably once a month when I absolutely have to. My wife loves her truck but due to the lack of power I dread driving it.

 

[wfo9]

Ha. Go take your 4runner 0-60 by yourself then do it with a few of your buddies. You will feel it for sure.

Sure, at WOT there is a difference with 400lbs, but I think the issue at hand is really related to the pedal position vs actual TB position.

No doubt about it being under powered. Gears make a huge difference though. The motor has some grunt, Toyota just did a really bad job of using it.

 

[Kotrin]

In the last few years, i've driven a range of vehicles from a 92 Geo Prism, 97 4runner, 2013 VW TDI, 2013 Tacoma, 2014 Subaru and now my current 2014 4runner. Just myself driving, and with others, I've always been able to tell a difference between my 'heavy ass' to 'heavy ass +1 or more'.

My 4runner has great acceleration and doesn't feel sluggish what so ever. Compared to it before lift and tires I do feel a difference but not enough to need gears, etc..

When you talk about underpowered, anything will be when you it compare it to something that has the same HP but half the weight...

Just my 2c's

 

[Saker]

Thanks for the response so far.....

Oh sorry! I guess I assumed it was a new purchase...

I purchased it new...but in November 2013

Yeah I think the main consensus is that in general it's mainly mapped for mileage and not raw performance and there's only so much you can do

This may be the case...gas mileage programming.

Two things:
1. Unhook your battery for about an hour. Re connect and drive it like you stole it for a few weeks.
Have you added LT tires?

1. Gotcha....
No LT tires.... Bridgestone OEM's
I'm referring to immediate response as soon as you press the pedal, not how fast I get from point A to point B.
On the un-sprung weight subject, yes I am aware of that, but i'm talking about as soon as you depress the pedal....have to push the T4R further than the FJ.... but it still is not the same response.

The lazy pedal on the 4Runner is just the way it is, perhaps the FJ's throttle is programmed differently ............

This is what I am referring to.

It does look to be about a 400lb difference. 2wd version of the 4 runner are lighter than 4x4s (by 500lbs).

FJ (TT) 4,332, 4Runner trail 4,750.

But, you would never feel that in throttle response.... it is something else.

Possibly the way the ECU is programmed or is the acc pedal sensor different?

My wife has a 2013 4x4 4R and without a doubt it is the most under powered vehicle I have ever driven. I only drive it probably once a month when I absolutely have to. My wife loves her truck but due to the lack of power I dread driving it.

This is not what I am referring to, but if you take that T4R out and push the accelerator pedal down, once it achieves rpm off the bottom, it will roll up faster than you would expect.....

 

[Saker]

https://www.sprintboosterusa.com/default.aspx

Thanks, but NO THANKS!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Its just the way the vehicles are programmed, there's not much you can do to fix it unfortunately. Toyota programmed the 5th gens mainly for economy over performance as with most of their vehicles at this time.

 

[JayceeP]

I find the 4Runner throttle response most peppy in the 65-80kph (40-50mph) zone running a warmed up engine. Good example: "merging" on the on ramp behind a driver who refuses to accelerate sufficiently. You get to the speed I noted above and then JUICE the pedal out of frustration. You will be surprised how quick your 5,000lb brick lunges itself down the left lane of the highway.

 

[Saker]

Its just the way the vehicles are programmed, there's not much you can do to fix it unfortunately. Toyota programmed the 5th gens mainly for economy over performance as with most of their vehicles at this time.

Thanks for your response. Didn't know if there was maybe the accelerators position sensor that could be swapped or not.

 

[Saker]

I've read some reviews on the FJ Cruiser forum and most of the guys who have it say it makes a noticeable difference in throttle response which is what I thought you were after.

Thanks, but not really looking for an aftermarket item. Was just trying to see if this was something that could be done with Toyota software or from a pedal sensor swap.