ECT button?

I thought it meant Electronic Controlled Transmission. Pushing it will change the shift points so it so the transmission shifts later for faster performance and of course less gas mileage.

button

aha. and this would be necessary to use WHEN exactly? I mean, overdrive is for better highway mileage, correct? so when should I use ECT, if ever?

thanks for the help.

jrm

On my last camry that had it, I just left it turned off. I guess if you want to dragrace Hondas turn it on, or towing a boat maybe. They did away with that button in later years.

Overdrive is a different button and lets your trans shift into highest gear for high speed cruising at lower RPM for better gas mileage.

ECT,

haha. nah, I won't be in competition with the "too fast, 2 curious" crowd. besides, I don't own enough hair products....

so this would be best left dis-engaged for city driving I'd assume.

thanks for all the help. I'm off to get the shop manual for this thing.

jrm

With the XLE you've probably got the six cylinder. Normal setting for both the ECT (electronically controlled transmission) and the O/D off (overdrive) button on the shift stalk - is off. If you turn either of these on a warning light should appear on the dash. With the six cylinder, you rarely if ever need to use either. O/D off is used if you're ascending a hill at just the speed where the overdrive keeps cycling on and off, so you could turn it off. Generally, for better mileage you leave it on. The ECT in later years went to ECTi (with added "intelligence" to record driving patterns and adjust upshift points accordingly). With the four cylinder, I've learned to use the buttons regularly. Nearly every time I accelerate up an on ramp I turn on the ECT so that the transmission will not upshift as soon. Lets me wind out the gears better, almost like a manual transmission. They'll stay in the lower gear longer with less throttle pressure. With ECT engaged you seem to get quicker downshifts too, that is, the transmission will downshift sooner and more often, with less throttle pressure. I use the O/D off button, in combination with ECT in city traffic when driving in a more "spirited" fashion for increased mid range power and quicker response (no downshifting out of overdrive). Then immediately just return each setting back to normal as soon as they're no longer needed. It is very helpful (and fairly simple) to learn to find these buttons by touch, so you can use them without looking down. Essentially you're just altering the electronic mapping for shift points, adjusting it slightly when desired. Actually I prefer this to later models with the adaptive technology, because you can instantly switch on and off, with no adjustment period.

With the XLE you've probably got the six cylinder. Normal setting for both the ECT (electronically controlled transmission) and the O/D off (overdrive) button on the shift stalk - is off. If you turn either of these on a warning light should appear on the dash. With the six cylinder, you rarely if ever need to use either. O/D off is used if you're ascending a hill at just the speed where the overdrive keeps cycling on and off, so you could turn it off. Generally, for better mileage you leave it on. The ECT in later years went to ECTi (with added "intelligence" to record driving patterns and adjust upshift points accordingly). With the four cylinder, I've learned to use the buttons regularly. Nearly every time I accelerate up an on ramp I turn on the ECT so that the transmission will not upshift as soon. Lets me wind out the gears better, almost like a manual transmission. They'll stay in the lower gear longer with less throttle pressure. With ECT engaged you seem to get quicker downshifts too, that is, the transmission will downshift sooner and more often, with less throttle pressure. I use the O/D off button, in combination with ECT in city traffic when driving in a more "spirited" fashion for increased mid range power and quicker response (no downshifting out of overdrive). Then immediately just return each setting back to normal as soon as they're no longer needed. It is very helpful (and fairly simple) to learn to find these buttons by touch, so you can use them without looking down. Essentially you're just altering the electronic mapping for shift points, adjusting it slightly when desired. Actually I prefer this to later models with the adaptive technology, because you can instantly switch on and off, with no adjustment period.

If you look in the book it says it is for the cars made for(or in) Canada, it is just extra power, but we found out if you use it, it sucks up the gas.