Idrive

[marlin1856]

Just wondering if it is worth getting an idrive for my PS, a friend has one in his Ranger and swears by it....any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated before shelling out my hard earned.

[Jim-oz]

Just wondering if it is worth getting an idrive for my PS, a friend has one in his Ranger and swears by it....any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated before shelling out my hard earned.

Best cheap mod you can get, works great. Go on the FB PS pages ,a lot off people have them. Virtually eliminates Turbo/Throttle lag and no you can't do the same thing by putting your foot down harder, as some have suggested.

Iwas a sceptic, till i got one.

[Keithyv]

I like the 'How it works' link on their website, It explains zero about how it works

https://idriveaustralia.com.au/#how_it_works

[Merts]

I like the 'How it works' link on their website, It explains zero about how it works
https://idriveaustralia.com.au/#how_it_works

Lol. Yep.

All they do is amplify the pedal signal to the ECU, so that at say 30% pedal position, the ECU gets a signal that indicates 60% pedal position. They make the pedal more sensitive to your foot movement. No doubt they make vehicles 'feel' more responsive, but it really is no different to pushing the pedal down faster and further.

They don't (and can't) have the slightest effect on turbo lag. Turbo lag is a physical characteristic of how long the turbo takes to spool up from a low rev condition. This won't change no matter how sensitive the accelerator pedal is.

[Keithyv]

Yeah, it is intriguing.
'People' say these controllers can not just be replicated by 'putting your foot down faster' and that they have some magical ability. I'm not saying either way that they are a waste of money or not as I have no experience with them.

At their core though, all they can do is affect the rate of change and the perceived position of the pedal. I can't see how that can make such a difference. Happy to be proved wrong however.

[NJV6]

Lol. Yep.

All they do is amplify the pedal signal to the ECU, so that at say 30% pedal position, the ECU gets a signal that indicates 60% pedal position. They make the pedal more sensitive to your foot movement. No doubt they make vehicles 'feel' more responsive, but it really is no different to pushing the pedal down faster and further.

They don't (and can't) have the slightest effect on turbo lag. Turbo lag is a physical characteristic of how long the turbo takes to spool up from a low rev condition. This won't change no matter how sensitive the accelerator pedal is.

Do you have one to quantify your comments?

[Merts]

Do you have one to quantify your comments?

No mate. I just have a degree in engineering and a good understanding of physics and electronics.

[Jim-oz]

Do you have one to quantify your comments?

In other words he hasn't and hadn't tried one, plenty of people around with Degrees, especial pollies and i certainly don't believe or trust them.

[marlin1856]

I appreciate all the comments, I have driven a friends Ranger with it set to U4 and also with it switched off and let me tell you there is a considerable difference in how that vehicle drives (for the better) not sure if it perception or physical but either way you touch the throttle and it goes instantly I just don't know if it will have the same effect on my PS?

[BruceandBobbi]

I appreciate all the comments, I have driven a friends Ranger with it set to U4 and also with it switched off and let me tell you there is a considerable difference in how that vehicle drives (for the better) not sure if it perception or physical but either way you touch the throttle and it goes instantly I just don't know if it will have the same effect on my PS?

If you want to "go instantly" buy a Ferrari not a 4X4.

[Poita]

Do you have one to quantify your comments?

In other words he hasn't and hadn't tried one, plenty of people around with Degrees, especial pollies and i certainly don't believe or trust them.

You don't need one to be able to know the limitations of the scope of design and functionality, that's the point of being qualified in a field. I would rather trust someone with training in a field than someone with absolutely no idea, but who would like to justify to themselves that they haven't wasted their money.

[Poita]

To work this through...
What sort of signal is the throttle positioning sensor sending to the ECU? Really only a couple sensible options, it's either PWM or analogue. Highly likely PWM.


So this IDrive, being plug and play, would need to send exactly the same type of signal to the ECU, but multiplied by a factor. So for a given throttle position, the Idrive would increase the % duty cycle of the PWM (i.e. 40% instead of 30%), or the analogue signal would be a larger voltage (i.e. 6V instead of 4V).

Which is the same as putting your foot down further. But with the iDrive, 50% duty cycle is at 1/4 throttle position instead of 1/2.

Again, another electronic engineer, which means I don't need one to know there is only very limited signals this device can be outputting. It's a very simple thing to reverse engineer. The fact that the website is incredibly simplistic in it's 'how it works' section speaks a large amount. They aren't going to tell you, as if it's this simple, they wouldn't sell them.

Again, from an engineering perspective this device can have no control whatsoever over boost or power. None. All it is doing is increasing the revs at a given throttle position which in turn, is spinning the turbo and boost comes on at a earlier throttle position, but the same revs as before. Same effect as if you put your foot down harder.

Now if you (who are unqualified in the area) can show me from an design level where I am wrong, then go for gold. Your seat of the pants 'feeling' does not show or even come close to proving that this device does what it claims. It will feel more responsive but just wear heavier shoes, it's cheaper!

[marlin1856]

If you want to "go instantly" buy a Ferrari not a 4X4.

Don't need a Ferrari my wife drives a Kia Stinger and it goes, I just want my PS a little more responsive.

[Poita]

Don't need a Ferrari my wife drives a Kia Stinger and it goes, I just want my PS a little more responsive.

Nice, a Kia I would actually like to own!! They did a fantastic job on that car!



You would be better looking at an ECU remap. That ACTUALLY effects boost, timing etc.

[Jizza]

Lol. Yep.

All they do is amplify the pedal signal to the ECU, so that at say 30% pedal position, the ECU gets a signal that indicates 60% pedal position. They make the pedal more sensitive to your foot movement. No doubt they make vehicles 'feel' more responsive, but it really is no different to pushing the pedal down faster and further.

They don't (and can't) have the slightest effect on turbo lag. Turbo lag is a physical characteristic of how long the turbo takes to spool up from a low rev condition. This won't change no matter how sensitive the accelerator pedal is.

This is correct, I have one, I have a tune, did alot of research and still have exactly the same throttle lag as before. You stomp the pedal, with iDrive active or not and the car will think for a full second before anything relevant happens. It's a mitsi second guess they always programme in assuming everyone who drives one is a moron who cant possibly want to accelerate.... brake, or transition from braking to accelerating quicker than a soccer mum or a pensioner

It is a great quality unit and still well worth having, really good for controlling the throw of the pedal and setting it how you want it. I have mine set on 6 and I notice straight away if it resets back to zero (which does happen on the odd occasion).

When I get in the wife's car and push the pedal I wonder why the hell it doesn't move.

So well worth having to tailor the car to the way you want it to drive, but if a purchaser expects it to remove any lag from zero throttle to getting moving they will be disappointed I'm afraid, as I was

Service from Tim is excellent and a quality product