Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Okay, I've now gone 4 wheeling twice in my '99 4runner. This is the first 4x4 I've ever owned with an automatic transmission, and I've got a couple of questions about techniques.
First off, am I the only one who works in the medical/insurance field who smiles at the "ECT" button on the dashboard? The ECT button, of course, is for the Electronically Controlled Transmission and allows you to select either a "power" or an "economy" setting for the tranny. However, "ECT" is also the abbreviation for a type of psychiatric treatment, Electro-Convulsive Therapy, also known as Electroshock Therapy or just "shock treatment" for short. So I think it's funny that there's an "ECT" button on my dashboard!
Anyway, the first time I went off-road with the 4runner, I left the ECT in the standard (i.e. "economy") position. This most recent time, I decided to put it into "power" mode, thinking this might lead to earlier shifts. I also put the t-case into 4 low so I could take advantage of the extra torque in low range, figuring that the transmission isn't geared as low, so I'd need the extra torque. As a bonus, this also allowed me to toggle on the rear diff lock, which I did.
Most of the day I kept the transmission in L, which, as I understand it, keeps it in the lowest gear setting. A few times when we were moving across relatively flat ground, I would bump the shifter up into 2, which would allow it to shift up one gear, but no further.
I guess that as long as I am shifting manually, either in L or in 2, the position of the ECT button is irrelevant, right? I suppose it might make the tranny shift from 1 to 2 a little bit later than if I had it in the "economy" mode, but other than that I can't think of any difference.
My '99 would have a 4 speed, which is really a 3 speed with an "overdrive." So if I understand it correctly, in L it will only go in 1, in 2 it will go into 1 or 2, in D with the overdrive OFF it will go into 1, 2 or 3, and in D with the overdrive ON it will go into 1, 2, 3, or 4, correct?
So are there any other techniques people use when 'wheeling with an auto? Even though I've been off road for years, this automatic transmission stuff is still new to me.
EDITED TO ADD: Does this vehicle have a "lockup torque converter?" I've heard of that but I'm not certain about what it is - seems to me I've heard it's something that mechanically locks the engine to the transmission so it's not just fluid movement that's making the transmission turn. Are there any transmission upgrades available and if so, what kind of mods are they?
First off, am I the only one who works in the medical/insurance field who smiles at the "ECT" button on the dashboard? The ECT button, of course, is for the Electronically Controlled Transmission and allows you to select either a "power" or an "economy" setting for the tranny. However, "ECT" is also the abbreviation for a type of psychiatric treatment, Electro-Convulsive Therapy, also known as Electroshock Therapy or just "shock treatment" for short. So I think it's funny that there's an "ECT" button on my dashboard!
Anyway, the first time I went off-road with the 4runner, I left the ECT in the standard (i.e. "economy") position. This most recent time, I decided to put it into "power" mode, thinking this might lead to earlier shifts. I also put the t-case into 4 low so I could take advantage of the extra torque in low range, figuring that the transmission isn't geared as low, so I'd need the extra torque. As a bonus, this also allowed me to toggle on the rear diff lock, which I did.
Most of the day I kept the transmission in L, which, as I understand it, keeps it in the lowest gear setting. A few times when we were moving across relatively flat ground, I would bump the shifter up into 2, which would allow it to shift up one gear, but no further.
I guess that as long as I am shifting manually, either in L or in 2, the position of the ECT button is irrelevant, right? I suppose it might make the tranny shift from 1 to 2 a little bit later than if I had it in the "economy" mode, but other than that I can't think of any difference.
My '99 would have a 4 speed, which is really a 3 speed with an "overdrive." So if I understand it correctly, in L it will only go in 1, in 2 it will go into 1 or 2, in D with the overdrive OFF it will go into 1, 2 or 3, and in D with the overdrive ON it will go into 1, 2, 3, or 4, correct?
So are there any other techniques people use when 'wheeling with an auto? Even though I've been off road for years, this automatic transmission stuff is still new to me.
EDITED TO ADD: Does this vehicle have a "lockup torque converter?" I've heard of that but I'm not certain about what it is - seems to me I've heard it's something that mechanically locks the engine to the transmission so it's not just fluid movement that's making the transmission turn. Are there any transmission upgrades available and if so, what kind of mods are they?
