[rayzooker]

G'day there, it's been a while since I was on here, but I've got myself a new(er) Grand Vitara Sport (2016- end of the series) and was wondering if anyone has fitted a Throttle controller- either the EVC or SAAS (or other) type. I'm disappointed with the lag in acceleration and fuel economy. It seems to struggle on hills too. If anyone can tell me if it is worth fitting said item, I'd appreciate it, thanks. Ray

[seanzook06]

While I am no expert on throttle controllers, I think if you're problems are more than just throttle lag, it might be worth getting an ecu remap instead, this would give you more useable power and probably more useful for bettering fuel economy, and it should help you with throttle lag too

[Gwagensteve]

Rayzooker, it sounds like you might not have a full understanding of how a throttle controller works. All they do is change the linearity of the pedal response - the don't actually make any change to the performance of the engine, fuel economy or torque.

Basically, they work like this:

at 25% pedal travel, the stock calibration might open the throttle 10%. If you fit a controller, you can choose that 25% pedal travel opens the throttle maybe 6%, 10% or 15%. The less the throttle opens, the softer the car will drive, the more the throttle opens, the more aggressive. Total performance doesn't change one bit, and neither does fuel economy - the throttle needs to be open a certain amount to do a certain job. (and therefore a use a certain amount of fuel) it makes no difference where the pedal is in relation to the job the car has to do.

In short, you're a rich better throttle controller than a little box because you can choose how aggressively to apply the throttle every time you do it, rather than with some pre-programmed response that speeds or slows the effect of your foot going on the pedal.


One huge proviso is off road where a much softer throttle map is helpful to improve control when the car is bouncing around. - If you're fitting one to make the throttle slower to react in the bush I get it- that's oversight on behalf of the manufacturer - the pedal should be mapped differently in low and high range.

If you have a problem with performance on hills etc, you need to address vehicle weight, gearing or torque, not fit a box that makes 50% throttle travel = more throttle opening. Once the throttle is fully open, the engine only has so much to give.

I do understand being unhappy with drive-by-wire throttle mapping, I had a 2005 STi with early drive by wire and I didn't like the throttle response, but that was around fine tuning and response speed. that's not stuff a throttle controller has any control over - it doesn't remap the throttle or change it's mechanical properties, it can only change the ratio.

[rayzooker]

Thanks for the 2 responses. I did enquire about remapping (a bit expensive) and I knew the basics of throttle controllers, but the lack of power on hills etc is more concerning than the throttle lag on take off. So it would seem a throttle controller would only address about 5% of my concerns.
Can anyone then give me an idea of how to go about finding a reputable remapping service? I live in Warwick QLD.
Thanks for any further advice. Cheers, Ray

[Gwagensteve]

I’m not aware if the JB24 ecu can be economically remapped or how much gain you could realistically expect. As a 10:1 compression motor with dual VVT already, there’s going to be very little scope for a meaningful increase in torque. About the best you could do is map the car exclusively for 98 octane fuel which will allow more timing advance. Ironically a remap would probably be more successful at reducing throttle lag (at the expense of fuel economy) than increasing torque

[rayzooker]

Gwagensteve wrote:

I’m not aware if the JB24 ecu can be economically remapped or how much gain you could realistically expect. As a 10:1 compression motor with dual VVT already, there’s going to be very little scope for a meaningful increase in torque. About the best you could do is map the car exclusively for 98 octane fuel which will allow more timing advance. Ironically a remap would probably be more successful at reducing throttle lag (at the expense of fuel economy) than increasing torque

Thanks for that, Steve. Yes, I did enquire some time ago and locally, if I remember correctly, it was at least $800. That was only the initial cost, then there was the actual mapping of the chip. So, economical?? Nuh. Anyway, I'll keep looking into it. Thanks again.

[vet 180]

rayzooker wrote:

Gwagensteve wrote:

I’m not aware if the JB24 ecu can be economically remapped or how much gain you could realistically expect. As a 10:1 compression motor with dual VVT already, there’s going to be very little scope for a meaningful increase in torque. About the best you could do is map the car exclusively for 98 octane fuel which will allow more timing advance. Ironically a remap would probably be more successful at reducing throttle lag (at the expense of fuel economy) than increasing torque

Thanks for that, Steve. Yes, I did enquire some time ago and locally, if I remember correctly, it was at least $800. That was only the initial cost, then there was the actual mapping of the chip. So, economical?? Nuh. Anyway, I'll keep looking into it. Thanks again.

Sell 2.4 and buy 3.2 V6. That is the most economical way out if you like everything else the car has but power

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