ECO Button - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

johnjan · 07-13-2011, 03:51 AM

When I press the ECO button, I do not see anything that says 'ECO' on the A/C panel.
How can I know whether the ECO button is active or not?

WhiteSands · 07-13-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjan

When I press the ECO button, I do not see anything that says 'ECO' on the A/C panel.
How can I know whether the ECO button is active or not?

I only know about the 2007 TCH. The ECO button is located nearest your left knee or steering column when sitting in the drivers seat. The matching fuel door button is located nearest the drivers door.

I can't remember if you have to have the heater/AC on for the ECO text to show in the window. I do know you must have a temperature number showing and not set on HI or LOW which shows at each end of the temperature range. If you go below 65 degrees it will then read LOW and erase your ECO setting. I also does this when you set it to HI.

The ECO text is not large, but is centered in the AC/Heat Temp window. If it still don't work, try calling or dropping by your local Toyota dealer and ask the service rep.

ukrkoz · 07-13-2011, 10:40 PM

ECO works only in one mode, and i think it's with vents pointing down. temp must be at specific level, not sure if it's 70 or something. sort of "strange way or the highway" setup. why would you have to have a/c blowing at your feet to have it work?

ukrkoz · 07-13-2011, 10:41 PM

also, has to be in AUTO. go figure.

AML · 07-14-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

also, has to be in AUTO. go figure.

On my '08 it works in ALL modes except for LO & HI temp settings, and the defrost&defrost/feet vent setting. I just went outside and tested it now and it worked through the entire temperature range, fan speed range, A/C on or off, and vent setting range (except for the exceptions above) and every combination in between.

WhiteSands · 07-14-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

ECO works only in one mode, and i think it's with vents pointing down. temp must be at specific level, not sure if it's 70 or something. sort of "strange way or the highway" setup. why would you have to have a/c blowing at your feet to have it work?

Also, has to be in AUTO. go figure.

I don't think so, I never use the Auto setting due to the fan speed running way too fast when I first get in the car and the cabin being rather hot.

My ECO works fine using the manual settings for AC or HEAT. I have no idea where you read about the vents pointing down. Whats that all about?

Today where we turn off from the highway to our house, we had to wait for a train to pass-by in the 85 degree outside heat. The train was a mile or more long with 1 pusher and 2 puller engines. I left the cars AC on set to 79 degrees, with the fan set to 2-bars. The engine had already shut off probably due to the ECO being set to on. I kept a eye on the battery and with the wait maybe near 5 minutes long the traction battery stayed at 80% and never moved. The battery was fully charged from the 8 mile drive from town to our turnoff. We stayed cool with the car stopped. The engine did start when we started forward for about 200 feet then it shut off the next mile to our house. The paved country road is rough, so we drive 25 mph on batteries the mile to our house. I left the AC on all the time we drove today due to the heat.

ukrkoz · 07-15-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AML

On my '08 it works in ALL modes except for LO & HI temp settings, and the defrost&defrost/feet vent setting.

so is it ALL or "some" settings? that's a strange definition of all.

as of insinuating that i am smoking pot and making up stuff..

here's your car manual:

The ECO HEAT/COOL mode is cancelled in the following cases:

- the temperature control is set as LO or HI

- the air flow is set in the floor/windshield mode or windshield mode

- ECO switch is pushed again.

so, yeah, I might have had flow directions confused, but it definitely DOES NOT operate in ALL modes.

oh, and by the way,:

In the automatic operation mode, the air conditioning selects the most suitable fan speed, air flow, air intake and on-off of the conditioning according to the temperature.

And even more "btw" - same "we know better what suites you the best" attitude from Toyota designers goes back in time into 90s. My wife's RX300 is the same way - you have very little manual control choices over climate controls. Toyota wisdom is unfathomed. I LOVE my Silverado in this respect. Blow whatever you want, whichever way you want to. BIG knobs, none of that computerized stupidity.

ukrkoz · 07-15-2011, 09:57 PM

and here's more on ECO:

credit to HAROLDO

ECO Button...quick tip
Just a two second tip (now that winter is officially here...)
If you have the ECO button on and the heat is on, when you come to a stop (red light, etc.), the engine will shut off.
If the ECO button is off, the engine will keep running.

I have observed that turning on the front windshield defroster, or turning the A/C to front windshield defrost/lower vent automatically turns off the ECO switch. When you switch to regular venting, you must again turn on the ECO switch.

The engine will shut off when the A/C system is in the mixed defrost/lower vent mode. Not sure about in full defrost mode, as the days I have had it on it has been below 20 degrees F, and I don't believe the car is getting warm enough, period.

ukrkoz · 07-15-2011, 09:57 PM

and here's more on ECO:

credit to HAROLDO

ECO Button...quick tip
Just a two second tip (now that winter is officially here...)
If you have the ECO button on and the heat is on, when you come to a stop (red light, etc.), the engine will shut off.
If the ECO button is off, the engine will keep running.

I have observed that turning on the front windshield defroster, or turning the A/C to front windshield defrost/lower vent automatically turns off the ECO switch. When you switch to regular venting, you must again turn on the ECO switch.

The engine will shut off when the A/C system is in the mixed defrost/lower vent mode. Not sure about in full defrost mode, as the days I have had it on it has been below 20 degrees F, and I don't believe the car is getting warm enough, period.

ukrkoz · 07-15-2011, 09:59 PM

and here's more on ECO:

credit to HAROLDO

ECO Button...quick tip
Just a two second tip (now that winter is officially here...)
If you have the ECO button on and the heat is on, when you come to a stop (red light, etc.), the engine will shut off.
If the ECO button is off, the engine will keep running.

I have observed that turning on the front windshield defroster, or turning the A/C to front windshield defrost/lower vent automatically turns off the ECO switch. When you switch to regular venting, you must again turn on the ECO switch.

The engine will shut off when the A/C system is in the mixed defrost/lower vent mode. Not sure about in full defrost mode, as the days I have had it on it has been below 20 degrees F, and I don't believe the car is getting warm enough, period.

AML · 07-15-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

so is it ALL or "some" settings? that's a strange definition of all.

as of insinuating that i am smoking pot and making up stuff..

here's your car manual:

The ECO HEAT/COOL mode is cancelled in the following cases:

- the temperature control is set as LO or HI

- the air flow is set in the floor/windshield mode or windshield mode

- ECO switch is pushed again.

so, yeah, I might have had flow directions confused, but it definitely DOES NOT operate in ALL modes.

oh, and by the way,:

In the automatic operation mode, the air conditioning selects the most suitable fan speed, air flow, air intake and on-off of the conditioning according to the temperature.

And even more "btw" - same "we know better what suites you the best" attitude from Toyota designers goes back in time into 90s. My wife's RX300 is the same way - you have very little manual control choices over climate controls. Toyota wisdom is unfathomed. I LOVE my Silverado in this respect. Blow whatever you want, whichever way you want to. BIG knobs, none of that computerized stupidity.

How else do you want me to explain it? To list out every single combination? I'm not sure where you learned English, however saying "all" but clarifying it with some exceptions still makes complete sense and is still acceptable use of the word "all." In this case it is used to imply "works in all other modes, except...."

I work for a Toyota service department and this is how we explain it to our customers. This explanation has never failed on the first try.

danealle · 08-16-2011, 10:19 AM

LOL! This is typical of Ukrkoz. Always arguing and usually wrong.

ukrkoz · 08-16-2011, 10:27 AM

danealle, have a blessed day.

George350 · 09-02-2011, 05:17 PM

What does the ECO button do? I know with the ECO on the ac isn't as cool as it would be otherwise.. What purpose does the ECO serve?

ukrkoz · 09-02-2011, 07:50 PM

ECO stands for "economy". basically, it engages a/c less to improve mpg. some say, it also shuts ICE - internal combustion engine - down better, to put it into EV - electrical vehicle - mode.

It's another Toyota trick to improve mpg. ECP button works only in specific climate control modes and specific temperature settings. There are multiple posts here on ECO button. Be realistic and do not expect it to bring you your lost 150 miles back.