question about toyota automatic transmission?

Question

have a hire car- haven't driven auto before- there are two buttons manu and trans. They make a light on the dash- ECT ON. There is also a light which seems to come on and off randomly ECONO.

above park on the transmission there is a slim red button which doesnt seem to do anything is it a reset button- what the heck is it? whats going on?

Answer 1

ECT or ETC?

If ETC, then quite possibly "Electronic Traction Control" - sort of "Nanny knows best" supervision of power to wheels to stop you spinning / sliding. Good for inexperienced drivers, a pain in the bum if you cannot disable it for more experienced drivers.

Answer 2

I have the ECT button in my car also, it just gives a little boost of power when climbing hills, etc. Leave it off. It uses more gas. The red button, on my toyota, if i push that button when my car is off, it unlocks the shifter, so i can put the car into gear without turning on the engine, it is good when you are broken down. Try with the car turned off, foot on the brakes, so you don't roll, hold the button down, and try to move the shifter into drive. If that works, then that is its function.

Answer 3

Just put it in D and drive the thing. If you want to play around, have over drive on, use the 'L' for 1st gear, and '2' for 2nd gear gear then 'D with overdrive on' for 3rd gear, then press the overdrive off will change it to 4th. Over drive leaves it in 3rd gear and used when over taking.

That ECT light probably controls how the computer runs the transmission to change gears.

That ECONO light? No idea. Probably short for economy? Saves fuel maybe?

I also have that red button on one of my cars. Doesn't do anything so I don't use it.

Answer 4

ECT will make the car accelerate faster in other brands, but I wouldnt really know about toyotas

Answer 5

The handle says "park", but it isn't getting there. Have the shifter adjusted.