Discover the Benefits of D-Max Throttle Controllers
Isuzu’s second generation of D-Max trucks, the RTs, aren’t just some of the hardiest and most reliable trucks ever sold in Australia, they also happen to be equipped with one of Isuzu’s most successful commercial engines: the 3.0L J-series. J-series engines are notorious for their nearly bulletproof internals, and have been used in practically every kind of fixed-station and mobile application imaginable. Dropping it in a D-Max, slapping a turbo onto it, and allowing it to roam the outback is just the beginning, though.
Unlike a lot of trucks in its class that were right on the edge of their performance limits when they left the factory, the D-Max RTs weren’t. Isuzu was very deliberately in not sending them out the door oozing horsepower, which is why with only diligent planning and careful parts selection, it’s so easy to massage 500hp from a D-Max without pulling the head or swapping the turbo.
There is, however, a far simpler and more cost-conscious way to take your D-Max’s performance and responsiveness to a whole new level … and you don’t have to turn a screw to do it. It’s called throttle control, and in 5 minutes, you can unleash a side of your D-Max that you didn’t know existed.
Throttle Control Makes Your D-Max Responsive
Let’s be honest: when you’re looking to open up your truck’s responsiveness, the last place you’re likely to look is directly under your feet. That’s precisely where you can look for it on a D-Max, though. If it’s a more responsive throttle that you’re after, installing an Ultimate-9 Isuzu DMax throttle controller is the mod that’ll instantly let you tap into your engine’s natural power curve and put more of the D-Max’s power on the ground where it’s needed. A throttle controller won’t force your engine to work harder, but it will give you the ability to regulate the electronic signal between the accelerator and the engine’s Throttle Position Sensor (TPS), and ultimately place control of your truck’s responsiveness entirely at your fingertips.
How Does a Throttle Controller Actually Work?
You may not be aware of it, but your truck’s Engine Control Unit (ECU) is programmed to delay the TPS’s response whenever you depress the accelerator either too suddenly or too heavily. The ECU’s job, after all, is to balance performance with safety and economy; but drivers typically experience this as excessive throttle delay in the form of either engine hesitation or dead spots in throttle response. And in turbocharged vehicles like the D-Max, this delay can be intensified even further by turbo lag.
Throttle controllers create new ECU reference points that signal the TPS body to open quicker, effectively removing the throttle delay. These points are regulated entirely by the driver through the controller’s interface, and they provide a selection of driving modes that allow you to dial-in performance traits like:
- Increased throttle response;
- Improved torque control; and,
- More responsive steering.
An Ultimate-9 throttle controller gives you the confidence to change lanes, overtake, or tow a trailer with the knowledge that not only is your J-series engine up to the job, but that all of its power is actually going to the wheels to get the job done. And with the latest, multi-mode version of the Ultimate-9, drivers now have more control over that power than they’ve ever had.
Ultimate-9’s Best Throttle Controller Yet
The latest version of the Ultimate-9 throttle controller, consisting of an in-line throttle control module and a dash-mounted driver interface, is their best model to date, and it features 20 tunings settings across 4 unique driving modes that give you maximum control of your truck’s throttle.
Factory Mode
In this single-setting mode, the control module duplicates the D-Max’s factory ECU throttle settings. This would normally be the best setting if your vehicle’s being driven by someone who may not be prepared for the Ultimate-9’s more responsive behaviour.
Ultimate mode
Ultimate mode offers 9 performance settings that can put all of the D-Max’s power to use when you’re rolling at highway speed, when you need to merge, or you’re pulling heavy loads. This mode also uses the most fuel, and if you’ve installed larger tyres and a heavy canopy, you’re going to want to keep that in mind.
Eco Mode
Eco mode also offers 9 performance settings, and it provides a more feathered throttle response for occasions like off-roading or travelling over loose or uneven surfaces. This moderated setting is also ideal for driving in heavy traffic and low-speed towing.
Automatic Control Mode
This single-setting mode is unique to the Ultimate-9 throttle controller, and moderates throttle response strictly according the amount of pressure being applied to the accelerator. For long drives or for towing over varying terrain, this is the ideal setting.
And if this range of customizable performance still isn’t enough for you, the Ultimate-9 throttle controller can also be safely used in conjunction with other forms of D-Max tuning such as chip or ECU tuning, or high-performance exhaust or turbo swaps. In fact, in cases where other types of tuning may have made your truck’s performance too aggressive for certain conditions, the D-Max throttle controller can even tame throttle response and make the vehicle more drivable again.
Installing Your Throttle Controller
The Ultimate-9 throttle control module installs directly in line with your truck’s wiring behind the accelerator, and doesn’t require any tools or vehicle modifications. From start to finish, 5 minutes is all it takes to complete the following:
- Disconnect your D-Max’s accelerator pedal from the harness leading to the TPS;
- Replace the TPS’s connection with the throttle control module’s connection behind the accelerator;
- Plug the TPS connector into the opposite end of the throttle control module;
- Mount the driver’s interface to the location you want; and,
- Connecting the cable from the driver’s interface to the module.
It doesn’t get any easier than that, and setting up the driver’s interface is as intuitive as starting the engine.
The Final Word
As far as sturdy, hardworking vehicles are concerned, they really don’t get much more practical that the D-Max. They do a job and they do it well, but it’s no secret that they’ve got a lot of potential that’s waiting to be released. For a fraction of the cost of any other mod, an Ultimate-9 Isuzu DMax throttle controller can unleash all the raw performance that its very-capable J-series engines have to offer. Again, you won’t be asking your truck to do more than it was designed to do. You’ll just be enabling it to do what it’s been capable of doing all along but didn’t have the chance to, and you won’t be disappointed at the result.