I've had my truck now about 90 days. The truck is a good vehicle, however I don't like the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC). Way to much of a delay and takes away from the feel of my foot to the pedal which is now not truly connected to the throttle. Seem like a drive by wire type of feel. I know the airlines have had this for years. They have no mechancal connection at all on throttle, wing adjust etc. Even on warm up in the mornings as I press the gas pedal a few times to much lag time. This may be a great assist during hill climbing or on slippery surfaces, but I still prefer to have a mechanical connection under my control, not a computer.

 

With 600 miles on mine now, the delay is almost unnoticable. At first it was annoying, now it's a non-issue.

However, sometimes while at speed, I get some strange responses to throttle inputs. Meaning, when I stab at the gas at say 40 mph, it almost seems like computer is unable to make up its mind. I get some surging for a second or two and then it smooths out. It feels like it debating on how much throttle to apply.

I also need to dip into the gas pedal more than in my previous trucks to get the same results. I find myself driving slower than usual - which ain't necessarily a bad thing!

 

I am surprised at some of the drive-by-wire postings. I dont notice a difference at all, except for the smoothness of the shiftings. When I need the power, it is always there. One thing I do notice, is that you dont feel the engine vibration in the pedal. It is funny how you never notice some of these things until they ARENT there!!!

 

I don't notice anything different between the dbw and a regular cable actuated throttle. When I first got the truck I felt it was power sluggish, but gradually I got familiar with this throttle, which as someone mentioned takes more pedal involvement than my last truck. I'm suspecting that this was the reason I had early-on thought the truck was sluggish.

 

When I test drove the 4x4 XLT 5.6 SCAB, the throttle response was amazingly good. Very smooth and immediate--much like my brother's Mercedes ML; very much unlike my dad's E. Is it possible to make adjustments?

 

The only way adjustments could probably be made would be through the computer software. It would involve adjusting the tuning parameters of the ETC. Of course one would have to have access to the computer. Maybe computer chips will be available later with quicker throttle response, increased horsepower, etc..

 

We can always hope for more Horsepower.

 

i think some clarification would be good. i don't think people here are complaining about the truck being sluggish (though I've read the reviews that say that, but screw them). it is a dip in the response of the engine. you punch the pedal but the engine doesn't roar right away, there is a split second while the ETC decides what to do. I notice it when pulling out of parking lots and off the line at a stop light. it bugs me. i want power when i push the pedal, not a second later. i really hope the come out with a fix for this. that dip is lame. it's not a dip in power, just a time delay in response.

 

There isn't even a hair of sluggishness/slow throttle response in between me hitting the pedal and it going...

 

I have an 04 FX4 Screw with 1,000 miles on it.
I never noticed a difference in the response.
It has no lag. I heard about it on the new trucks
and my Wife's Audi is terrible with the lag.

But my truck has no time delay when hitting the throttle.
Wondering if they corrected the recently built ones....

Also, I do not have the dreaded LSD vibration/slippage.

 

The reason for the odd reving at standstill might be explained like this. When the driver gives the vehicle more throttle, it figures out what kind of tourque you want at the wheels, then adjusts the throttle plate to the optimum position for that. Instead of the conventional setup where you just yank on the throttle plate. A full open throttle plate might not give you maximum performance. Anyhow, I'm not sure how the computer interrprets inputs at standstill since you aren't demading torque at the wheels, it may have some default setting in park that doesn't rev quickly.


-ii

 

Brew, are you sure you and I aren't the same person, I swear we agree on everything.

Anyway, the 1/2 second delay bugs me too, off the line I hit the peddle a little and then wait for the truck to come to life. I have to consciously think about how much I depress the pedal so I don't lurch off the line (tough on the neck you know).