Throttle Controllers
 

I haven't seen anyone talking about these things yet, but Tom's, Blitz, and a bunch of other JDM tuning brands are selling electronic throttle controllers for the 86/BRZ. I was wondering if anyone has experience with these and can explain their use/value? I understand how they work, just curious if they are worth while. All my previous cars had mechanical throttles so these are new to me.

Examples:

Blitz Full Auto Light
http://www.blitz.co.jp/products/elec...ler_light.html

Blitz Full Auto Plus
http://www.blitz.co.jp/products/elec...ocon_plus.html
http://www.blitz.co.jp/products/elec...onplus_ttl.jpg

http://youtu.be/vBpkU1DgrAM

I think OBX makes a ghetto version of this. Even I don't know if they are good.

I can't find the thread but someone actually did a test or relayed a JDM test that showed that the throttle controllers work worse than stock and generally just make the car idle worse.

All throttle controllers do is trick the relationship between the throttle pedal (your foot) and the throttle blade (your engine). You can achieve exactly the same result by pushing the pedal down further or less. Its not magic, in fact its not even good. Its a gimmick.

It allows you to tune the throttle-by-wire's response time. I have something similar in my Audi, called "Drive Select". In normal mode there is a slight lag in throttle response (very slight) to improve fuel economy. In "Dynamic" mode it sharpens the throttle response to make it feel more sporty. In "Comfort" mode it delays throttle response even further, to avoid jerky accelaration. I almost never take it out of normal mode but there is a marked difference between the three modes. Would I spend the money on one of these, though? No.

If all you want is acceleration then yes, I agree.

However, as I've gone through a few HPDEs I have realized the importance of throttle modulation. Being able to make small, precise changes in the amount of throttle input allows you to transfer weight more smoothly and ultimately go faster.

So, the ideal pedal-to-butterfly relationship (IMO so far) is a 1:1 relationship. Draw a graph. Make throttle input the X axis and throttle/butterfly opening the Y axis. The relationship I'm describing is a line that starts at the origin and has a slope of 1, extending to 100% throttle input and 100% throttle opening.

These throttle controllers can change that line into a curve. I forget how to describe it (been a while since math class) but I'm thinking of something like an exponential function.

What I am curious to know is if the stock throttle map is linear (straight line) or not. If it is, then no need for a throttle controller in my opinion, unless you just like to tool around town and don't need the precision. The other case may be that you want to dampen the throttle to trick yourself into driving more slowly to save gas.

I wouldnt have thought there would be too much need to modulate the throttle in small increments on a 200hp NA four cylinder to control its attitude. Flat out on the throttle or flat out on the brake pedal in something like the FT86. I will get to prove this in mine at the track in the next few weeks :brokenheart:

So you don't modulate the throttle when you drive your 86 on the track?

Not to the point where the throttle action or slope of throttle needs to be changed with a tricker box. Now maybe a 500hp FRS might be a different story.... :thumbsup:

Throttle and engine load are different :P

it's an SAFC for your gas pedal

Hi all, I was searching for this information for quite sometime.. So GT86 does actually have the drive by wire? How close does the response compare to car which run with just wire directly and carb?
Reason why I'm asking its because I'm so used to old car which just run from pedal to throttle with wire (used to have ae85 then changed to ae86 and integra zx for daily drive). When I got Altezza, it just annoy me to no end with the throttle response. For just driving daily its okay but I just felt it does not have the response I want.

The drive by wire system is probably the same as used in the STi since 2004 and WRX since 2006. It's pretty good and there isn't really any throttle lag. Nobody installs these throttle controllers on those cars.

These actually have some good applications - throttle response (in terms of adjusting delay) is just one small part. The value in these is to create custom throttle curves...

As an example, the stock Tundra has a crazy sensitive throttle - it seemed like the first 10% of throttle movement went from 0% to 90% of throttle, and the remaining pedal movement did little or nothing. This was a real issue when trailering and trying to back up, maneuver a load, be precise etc.

with this box, you can really have the first bit of pedal movement feathered out, and make it really easy to control speed on the low end. you could make a full linear curve, an economy curve.. or all on if you wanted ;)

Granted, i'm not sure what application this would have on our cars.. I think the throttle is pretty well sorted.