Amongst vehicle enthusiasts, the most efficient and reliable vehicles in the world are the ones made by Japanese automakers. Japan had its economical boom later than most other countries (after the end of World War II) and that gave them a significant boost in production. Many Japanese car manufacturers are considered as makers of true efficiency vehicles, one of which is Nissan. Formerly known as Datsun, this car manufacturer makes vehicles that are not only reliable and efficient, but also vehicles that provide great value for money.

While you won’t find the latest technological advancements in a Nissan, you will find all the benefits of a modern, well-engineered engine. But what if you have an older model? You don’t necessarily need to get a new Nissan just to get its level of efficiency. You have the option to spend less and still get what’s present in newer Nissan models by investing in a Nissan electronic throttle controller.

How Do Throttle Controllers Work?

These small and powerful devices rely on nothing else other than electrical voltage signals. Yes, all a Nissan throttle controller needs is to send a signal to your vehicle’s ECU to improve performance. Furthermore, a Nissan electronic throttle control unit helps regulate fuel intake to optimise the fuel/air mixture going into the engine.

Does Throttle Controller Save Fuel?

Since a throttle control unit does have a direct impact on fuel consumption, it can help save fuel. However, it can also increase fuel consumption if you don’t configure the device properly or if you don’t let it configure the settings itself.

Setting up a Throttle Controller in Your Nissan

1. To install a Nissan electronic throttle controller you need to park your vehicle on even ground, turn off the engine and wait for about 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes have passed you need to remove the original sensor plug from the accelerator pedal.
2. Once that’s done, insert the adapter of the throttle controller into the accelerator pedal outlet and connect the original sensor plug to that adapter. You can also connect the original sensor plug to the adapter first and then insert the adapter into the accelerator pedal outlet.
3. Lastly, you just attach the throttle controller anywhere on the dashboard and connect the device using the adaptor cable provided with it. Fix the cables with some cable ties to make the inside of your vehicle look cleaner and you’re ready to go.

Configuration

1. To configure the throttle controller in your Nissan you usually need to turn the ignition on and then press and hold the knob on the controller. There is typically a countdown from 3 to 0 and after it reaches 0, you release the knob.
2. You’ll see either an L or an H show up on the display. The L means low voltage which refers to the voltage of the accelerator pedal. You then need to click the knob and then select SET and navigate to H.
3. H means voltage value at rest. This is where you press on the accelerator pedal all the way to the bottom and hold it. The high voltage value will show up on the display of the device and you will then need to press the knob once again.
4. With your foot on the accelerator pedal you should then wait for the display to show “100”. This means that you can release the pedal and that the calibration was successful and that the device is configured. All you need to do now is drive your Nissan to reap the benefits of a Nissan electronic throttle control.

Tips to Make your Nissan More Fuel Efficient

Speeding

Although a throttle controller can do a lot in saving fuel there is no harm in driving your Nissan in a way that saves fuel as well. This can also help the throttle controller work better. Avoid speeding, which as simple as it may sound, it’s sometimes not that easy to do. Yes, you will get faster to your destination but it is not as safe or as economical.

Coasting

To coast means to have your Nissan out of gear (neutral) and let the turning motion of the wheels carry your vehicle. But you have to remember this should only be done at low speeds as otherwise, it can do more harm than good.

Gears

If you drive a Nissan with a manual transmission then you should be wary of which gear you select at what time. Obviously, when in the highest gear your Nissan will use a lot less fuel. But this doesn’t mean you should always drive in a higher gear. Instead, you should drive in the most appropriate gear, but when the chance for a higher gear arises then shift to it as soon as possible.

Gradients

When driving up a hill your Nissan will definitely use more fuel than usual. It’s gravity’s fault mostly, but what you can do to minimise the use of fuel is gain momentum before climbing up a hill. This way your vehicle will have enough motion to overcome the hill without using the accelerator pedal as much. Then going down you’ll just let gravity do its thing.