I think it makes the trans start in 2nd gear, not 1st, when stopped.

 

It also dethrottles the accelerator.

 

Gives you a smoother start. I like it in stop start traffic as the trans doesn't jerk as much especially on hilly roads, (my peak hour traffic seems to move at just the right speed for it to cause havoc with the 1st - 2nd shift point).

 

I might have to try that in traffic next time, as it never seems to handle creeping along very well.

 

I've used ECT mode in traffic for 7 years. As you noted, keeps the constant 1-2, 2-1 hunt from happening.

 

Does starting at second gear harm the tranny? When I use manual gear, I was taught to always start with first gear. I saw some public buses in Hong Kong have label near the driver "PLEASE START WITH FIRST GEAR".

 

Maybe we should rename the Exasperating Crawling Traffic button

 

The "ECT" stands for Electronically Controlled Transmission. The "Snow" mode starts the transmission in 2nd gear rather than first so that the wheels don't have quite as much torque and are less likely to spin in inclement weather. Secondly, it changes the whole shift pattern of the transmission, particularly when accelerating from a start or when passing. It has the transmission change into higher gears earlier so that, again, when it is bad conditions you are less likely to spin the tires each time the transmission shifts up and when you go into a passing gear, it down-shifts only one rather than the usual 2 gears so that you don't have as dramatic a change in the power going to the wheels.


Sourced from a 15 year vetran of wrenching on Toyota's

 

Glad to see this I wondered as well

 

I've been using the ECT snow button in heavy traffic and it works great. Helps with smooth starts and makes traffic a little more bearable.

 

Does ECT affect your gas mileage when applied? In snow or not?

 

Nothing you would notice.

 

starting in 2nd shouldn't hurt it. You'll generate more heat in the torque converter, but its nothing worrysome in any way.

 

It doesn't hurt it, as long as you aren't doing heavy throttle launches, vs creeping along in traffic.