Torqit Pedal Torq Module - Solution for 5th Gen Throttle Lag and Choppyness?

[Off_Gridder]

Hello,

Saw this product in All 4 Adventure TV installed on a Land Cruiser 200 series. It is an in-line module that captures the throttle signal from the pedal, modifies it to reduce lag and increase / smoothen throttle response and sends it to the ECU. It also has various modes that you can change on-the-fly:

Torqit Pedal Torq
http://http://www.torqit.com.au/pedal-torq-landing

I emailed the company to see if they had anything compatible for the 4 runner and apparently the Prado version will work just as well. :clap2:

Seems pretty pricy @ around 400$, but solves what is quite possibly the most annoying 5th gen issue if it performs as described.

Has anyone had any first hand experience with these?

 

[GabrielM]

Hello,

Saw this product in All 4 Adventure TV installed on a Land Cruiser 200 series. It is an in-line module that captures the throttle signal from the pedal, modifies it to reduce lag and increase / smoothen throttle response and sends it to the ECU. It also has various modes that you can change on-the-fly:

Torqit Pedal Torq
http://http://www.torqit.com.au/pedal-torq-landing

I emailed the company to see if they had anything compatible for the 4 runner and apparently the Prado version will work just as well. :clap2:

Seems pretty pricy @ around 400$, but solves what is quite possibly the most annoying 5th gen issue if it performs as described.

Has anyone had any first hand experience with these?

First, your hyperlink is broken Torqit - Pedal Torq Landing - Performance products for the automotive industry

Second, I've check the website and all the Prado version looks to be for a turbo diesel engine, which the 4Runner obviously doesn't have

Personnally, I find the lag and power just fine, but I came from a world of older/slower vehicle. And I'm not sure I want to put a third party product there.

 

[mdogg]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/97588-sprint-booster.html

Toyota 4Runner SprintBooster

I've never used the product, but I have seen threads on every car forum I've been a member of. I've always seen mixed reviews (generally well-liked by users, but criticized for the relatively high price for no measurable change in performance). There are always discussions around the perception of throttle response and delivered results. To their credit, Sprint Booster (from what I remember) has a 30-day money back guarantee, so they're quite confident in the product. It's a challenge to determine the real results given that many people spending $300 on a product are going to be biased towards feeling they did not waste money.

On some forums, I've even seen people try to come up a DIY throttle amplification to essentially perform the same function. At the end of the day, the company admits that this product does not increase horsepower and does not change 0-60 acceleration.

 

[marshal]

all your pedal is is a potentiometer, so what this product does is preload the potentiometer signal.

your previous 20% throttle is now 35%, and your 60% is now 80% etc etc.

in other words, its a gimmick.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Well, I don't know how much of a gimmick it is, but I'm about to find out soon. Just odered one, if it doesn't help the ridiculous throttle lag, it will be boxed up and sent back!

From what their chart looks like, it modifies the pot to send a higher signal or voltage initially, then backs off, sorta like giving the throttle a hard bump then backing off the pedal.

I love my 4 runner, but that throttle lag is ridiculous! Its not even close to my '87 truck with an old 22RE in it! And I find it even worse when, after backing out of a stall, if I'm turning the steering wheel and try to bump the throttle to get moving, it literally sits there for at least one full second before any power is given to the wheels! And its not a transmission thing, the rpms just don't move for a full second, then as I realize no power is there, I press down harder on the throttle, which is just about the same time the ecu feeds power to the throttle body's servo, so now I'm lurching forward much harder than I want to!

Its ridiculous to me that Toyota designed this as part of their system! As much as I hate my wife's Odyssey, which also has a drive-by-wire pedal, the response is immediate, linear and controllable. I can literally stomp down on the pedal in the 4 runner and if I let off within a half second, the rpms are never affected! I literally thought the servo on the throttlebody was bad when I first got the vehicle (which was in December) and almost took it back to the dealership for the issue, but found lots of others here complaining about the same thing.

Thanks for starting this thread guys, I will definitely follow up once I get the package in and box installed.

 

[Off_Gridder]

Looking forward to hearing how it goes. Way out of my price range, both for what it is and in regards to the priority list, but I am curious.

I was hoping it would take care of the totally non linear pedal. If I slowly push it all the way down to the floor, it never hits WOT. I literally have to return it almost to 0 and kick it to get it WOT. I dont drive this thing like its a sports car or expect any performance gains from a product like this, but hope that it would eliminate the issue of same throttle position on the pedal does not equal same throttle at the engine every time.

 

[marshal]

i had the sprint booster on my wrangler trying to solve this exact problem, its a pain in the ass to have such a large lag when you have a manual transmission. it did nothing. i would be super surprised if this thing did anything either.

that said, i don't have this throttle lag that you guys have in my 2010. i mean its not as responsive as my brothers M3 - but its not bad either

 

[4Rager]

I remember seeing the Sprint Booster mentioned on the Audi forums I used to frequent when people were looking for solutions to turbo lag. The general opinion was if it really made a difference, then everyone on the forums would have one, which wasn't the case. Regardless, I haven't noticed throttle response lag in my 5th gen. Taking my foot off the brake is usually enough to get things moving, and from there the sensitivity/response seems fine. I also have a CAI, so that could be making a difference, but I also came from a car with major turbo lag so maybe I have a higher tolerance.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Yep, no difference in the throttle LAG, but it is an interesting device!
I'll do a write-up of it when I have some time, perhaps this weekend, but until then, here's a quick overview of what I experienced...

1. Easiest installation I've ever done! pull original plug and stick this thing in between the pedal and oem plug!

2. Absolutely no difference in speed at which throttle is applied to throttle body. This was the whole purpose of getting the unit, but I had doubts from the start. I only got it because there was a money-back warranty, which I will be using.

3. I use Torque with an ELM327 plugin on my android. I've "mapped" all the throttle sensors that it sees in my 4R, and these are the only changes the device makes:

a. no throttle=same data on all 3 positions.
b. partial throttle=increase over oem (light off on device) setting
c. full throttle=no change from oem setting
d. almost full throttle=green light, almost maxed throttle, red light, maxed throttle (will have actual numbers/percentages later)
​

4. I absolutely hate throttle response in "red" mode! Downshifting is done at almost a third throttle opening!

5. Green position seems to be what I think Toyota should have made the throttle setting map in the first place.

Gotta get back to work, but thought I'd post this here just so you folks know I haven't forgotten about doing a full write-up! I'll try to include screen shots from Torque too to give y'all a better picture of what this thing really does.

Super short version? It just makes the throttle pedal "shorter"!
:bolt:

 

[intense1776]

Looking forward to hearing how it goes. Way out of my price range, both for what it is and in regards to the priority list, but I am curious.

I was hoping it would take care of the totally non linear pedal. If I slowly push it all the way down to the floor, it never hits WOT. I literally have to return it almost to 0 and kick it to get it WOT. I dont drive this thing like its a sports car or expect any performance gains from a product like this, but hope that it would eliminate the issue of same throttle position on the pedal does not equal same throttle at the engine every time.

What evidence do you have that you are not WOT when the pedal is to the floor?

Personally, I don't understand what everyone is talking about. If I want to go faster, I push the throttle down farther. I don't see the need to spend $400 to save my foot some travel distance... But thats me.

 

[cbreze]

I wouldn't put that on my rig but also not sure what lag you guys are referring to. My 4R gets up and moves right now when I hit the throttle which I do when its safe like when entering the freeway. So I'm confused why this ,if it works , would be necessary. I have no acceleration complaints what so ever, especially considering the weight factor. I think this is probably the heaviest vehicle I have ever owned.

 

[Saker]

I'm pretty sure everyone here is speaking of the initial response as soon as one begins to depress the skinny pedal. There is obvious lag there and is not overcome by pressing it farther.
Prime example: I previously owned a 13' FJ same motor, same transmission and even though it was 450lbs lighter than my T4R, the throttle response was different than it is on my T4R.
It is the way the 2 different vehicles computers are programmed to respond when one presses the throttle. If you ever drove or drive a similar year FJ that hasn't been modded with oversized tires, you will see what I am referring to.

That said, I made a similar post asking about this same issue... if you want to call it an issue.
I would not put a third party gizmo between the skinny pedal and the throttle body!

just sayin'

 

[cbreze]

Got it. I do notice this lag a little bit if I rev it in neutral. Can't really say it's an issue tho since I don't really notice it when driving. Seems a non issue for now. Maybe I need to give it a more critical critique.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I believe there's a difference between vehicles, and maybe not everyone has the same amount of lag.

I have almost 2 seconds when tapping the throttle to actually having the throttle respond! I can sit at a stop sign, go to hit the throttle lightly (ie., not trying to take off like a bad outta hell!), and it takes almost a full 2 seconds sometimes for it to actually start moving!

As a test, while driving, I can literally stomp down to full throttle, on and off the pedal about 1 second on, one second off, and it does not respond whatsoever!

Now, if those of you commenting that you don't understand what the issue is, perhaps its because you are not having this issue at all. I have personally never experienced such a "lazy" gas pedal before, and I've owned more than my fair share of vehicles, many of them Toyotas.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

I believe there's a difference between vehicles, and maybe not everyone has the same amount of lag.

I have almost 2 seconds when tapping the throttle to actually having the throttle respond! I can sit at a stop sign, go to hit the throttle lightly (ie., not trying to take off like a bad outta hell!), and it takes almost a full 2 seconds sometimes for it to actually start moving!

As a test, while driving, I can literally stomp down to full throttle, on and off the pedal about 1 second on, one second off, and it does not respond whatsoever!

Now, if those of you commenting that you don't understand what the issue is, perhaps its because you are not having this issue at all. I have personally never experienced such a "lazy" gas pedal before, and I've owned more than my fair share of vehicles, many of them Toyotas.

Are you sure the throttle lag you experience is actually 2 sec? If you look at a stopwatch, 2 sec is actually quite a long time. The throttle lag I experience could be measured in fractions of a second. These fractions of a second do make for quite an annoying driving characteristic though. 2 second lag would make a vehicle dangerous and un-drivable.

My biggest beef is with the amount of throttle input it needs before it will downshift, and when it does, it doesn't hold it very long and then always wants to upshift and keep you in that high gear.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Are you sure the throttle lag you experience is actually 2 sec? If you look at a stopwatch, 2 sec is actually quite a long time. The throttle lag I experience could be measured in fractions of a second. These fractions of a second do make for quite an annoying driving characteristic though. 2 second lag would make a vehicle dangerous and un-drivable.

Depends how hard I hit the throttle, actually. I experience almost two seconds (thousand one, thousan t....) every morning in a particular parking lot, this is while I'm backing out of a stall, put it in drive while turning left to pull forward down the lane. Other times is definitely 1 full second, and if I'm trying to lightly take off (right at the edge of the ECO light turning off), approximately 1½ seconds. If I punch it to the floor, sometimes slightly less than a full second.

And I agree, it does make it dangerous, because when I don't start moving, I tend to push down further, that's just about the same time the throttle reacts, and it doesn't see the initial throttle input, it sees the heavier throttle input, which makes it lurch forward!

I'm convinced that this delay is a setting within the ecu, but I was going to check the pedal with my multimeter to see if the potentiometer(s) inside are instantaneous or delayed. This will confirm that its an ecu throttle timing issue or not, as I can clearly see the response time is delayed on my Torque app from when I depress the throttle.

 

[cbreze]

I believe there's a difference between vehicles, and maybe not everyone has the same amount of lag.

I have almost 2 seconds when tapping the throttle .

Prior to this thread I was not aware of any issue. So while out and about this morning I paid extra attention to notice any lagginess and don't see it at all. Now having said this if I "tap" the pedal it does seem to hesitate, but if I just depress it normally it's quite smooth, no lag. I don't think everyone has the same amount of issue.

 

[2014 Warthog]

Toyota says the ECU learns your driving style and I wonder how much that makes the throttle response different for different people after some use. I haven't had the chance to try out say 4 different 5th gens of the same year and see if they act differently though, would be fun to try.

For me, if I accelerate slowly pushing the pedal mildly it does seem to hesitate initially to get up to the power I would expect for how much I'm pushing the throttle. However, I have trained my foot to hit the pedal and instantly push it down about 3/4 an inch or so on green lights or freeway onramps and it gets it instantly into a (low level) power band. It takes off instantly, zero hesitation and has good acceleration (for a truck).

So I normally perceive no hesitation whatsoever in my normal driving, but occasionally I'll end up slow accelerating, like a slow driver in front of me or in a parking lot with people etc, and it then it is noticeably laggy at first.

I think the main difference is really that the ECU is programmed for fuel economy first, but if you press the pedal quickly it does go "oh crap" and stops ***** footing around pretty quickly.

[Edit]Here ***** cat![/Edit]

[Edit 2]Hmmm...[/Edit2]

 

[JohnPips]

Toyota says the ECU learns your driving style and I wonder how much that makes the throttle response different for different people after some use. I haven't had the chance to try out say 4 different 5th gens of the same year and see if they act differently though, would be fun to try.

For me, if I accelerate slowly pushing the pedal mildly it does seem to hesitate initially to get up to the power I would expect for how much I'm pushing the throttle. However, I have trained my foot to hit the pedal and instantly push it down about 3/4 an inch or so on green lights or freeway onramps and it gets it instantly into a (low level) power band. It takes off instantly, zero hesitation and has good acceleration (for a truck).

So I normally perceive no hesitation whatsoever in my normal driving, but occasionally I'll end up slow accelerating, like a slow driver in front of me or in a parking lot with people etc, and it then it is noticeably laggy at first.

I think the main difference is really that the ECU is programmed for fuel economy first, but if you press the pedal quickly it does go "oh crap" and stops ***** footing around pretty quickly.

[Edit]Here ***** cat![/Edit]

[Edit 2]Hmmm...[/Edit2]

How long does it take to "learn" your driving style? I have had my '15 TEP for two weeks tomorrow and the pedal issue is a little annoying, especially since at 40mph, the tranny sits at 1100rpm (is that normal?)?

 

[2014 Warthog]

How long does it take to "learn" your driving style? I have had my '15 TEP for two weeks tomorrow and the pedal issue is a little annoying, especially since at 40mph, the tranny sits at 1100rpm (is that normal?)?

Given both it learning you and you learning it (And it's not easy to distinguish the dividing line between the two) I'd say that within a month or two I was driving without thinking about it.

Yeah it tries to keep it well below 2k at all times, though ususally like 15k to 2k in my case.