AU II auto Econ button

malwilson · 10-01-2008, 11:50 AM

I have recently bought a 2000 AU II auto. Can someone tell me what the "econ button" does? How does it work? I have tried driving with it in both positions and dont see any difference in economy or shift changes. Any info appreciated. Thanks

InfernoSR · 10-01-2008, 12:08 PM

Normally it means that it restricts your top end revs... without the Economy on, you should be able to rev it harder and there for, use more fuel... but thats the theory behind it... i just usually floor it regardless for the same result :P

nutter_x · 10-01-2008, 12:17 PM

I found in my first AU it actually made the transmission more reponsive when economy mode was off. Held gears longer at most throttle applications too.

As for the economical benefits...very arguable if it did anything

Chamelion · 10-01-2008, 01:00 PM

I've done a little testing in my AU3 wagon.

Econ - Better economy by about 1-1.5L/100km, changes up at lower revs, lock up kicks in earlier, holds gears under acceleration MUCH longer

NON Econ - Worse economy as above, changes at higher revs, changes smoother, drops gears much sooner, faster and smoother than econ

I tend to use econ more often to save the fuel cost. Mind you, if I'm in a rush and have to drive aggresively I'll tend to put it in power mode.

JC · 10-01-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chamelion

I've done a little testing in my AU3 wagon.

Econ - Better economy by about 1-1.5L/100km, changes up at lower revs, lock up kicks in earlier, holds gears under acceleration MUCH longer

NON Econ - Worse economy as above, changes at higher revs, changes smoother, drops gears much sooner, faster and smoother than econ

I tend to use econ more often to save the fuel cost. Mind you, if I'm in a rush and have to drive aggresively I'll tend to put it in power mode.

Spot on.

accurate1 · 10-01-2008, 01:09 PM

All it does is change upshift points a little but has nothing to do with top end revs.

curtleyw · 10-01-2008, 01:47 PM

My transmission dude said that it's better to drive around town with ECON off. He reckons sure it's a bit worse fuel economy but your transmission will last a bit longer.
Don't know if it's B.S or not, but it's worth a try!

FGII-XR6 · 10-01-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtleyw

My transmission dude said that it's better to drive around town with ECON off. He reckons sure it's a bit worse fuel economy but your transmission will last a bit longer.
Don't know if it's B.S or not, but it's worth a try!

I'd get a new transmission mechanic if I were you. this Myth has some basis in fact but only to older magnas. in the old magnas the econ switch let the overdrive 4th gear come in but the "power" mode the overdrive was locked out. it was found that running around town with 4th engaging was loading up the transmission that was not that strong to start with.
in the BTR the switch has no bearing on if you get 4th or not so if he is still perpetuating the magna story he is living in the past and I wouldn't trust him to fix a roller skate

eXi7w0unD · 10-01-2008, 02:51 PM

i put my car in econ on the way to the gold coast from brissy etc, but other then that its always off. and if i dont have econ on, on the way to the coast my fuel thingy doest go up like it does on econ.

waggaclint · 10-01-2008, 03:07 PM

ive found i get around 40 to 50kms more out of tank in econ mode and the car is alot smoother to drive.....

The Monty · 10-01-2008, 05:31 PM

Mines always on, unless I overtake.

Werd. · 10-01-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au3xr6

I'd get a new transmission mechanic if I were you. this Myth has some basis in fact but only to older magnas. in the old magnas the econ switch let the overdrive 4th gear come in but the "power" mode the overdrive was locked out. it was found that running around town with 4th engaging was loading up the transmission that was not that strong to start with.
in the BTR the switch has no bearing on if you get 4th or not so if he is still perpetuating the magna story he is living in the past and I wouldn't trust him to fix a roller skate

It was actually wearing out the overdrive gear so eventually if left on you would have a 3 speed gearbox with no overdrive.
The mechanic may be correct due to the transmission not changing gears as often or being loaded up in low revs.

brad` · 10-01-2008, 06:15 PM

so in colclusion its better to have econ ingaged for causal driving but.. then again who here honestly ever drives casually ?

gregsAUII · 10-01-2008, 06:19 PM

ME! like a grandmum.

gj350 · 10-01-2008, 07:00 PM

just your shift pattern is changed with the auto it will change gears earlier with econ engaged, as for economy it is marginal depending on the terain your driving in ie; throttle opening.

v8falconsrule · 10-01-2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad`

so in colclusion its better to have econ ingaged for causal driving but.. then again who here honestly ever drives casually ?

with the fuel prices are heading i think more and more people will be unfortunatly. personally i always drive with econ on.

paddle · 12-01-2008, 12:16 AM

stupid question here but does it work for lpg or petrol only? i personally keep mine in power,the auto hasn't seen economy for bout 2 years!

accurate1 · 12-01-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddle

stupid question here but does it work for lpg or petrol only? i personally keep mine in power,the auto hasn't seen economy for bout 2 years!

Yes it works on both.

**Mechan1k** · 12-01-2008, 08:39 PM

I only switch ECON off when I I load the ute up ... or towing something.
Otherwise it is always on.

Oh ... if i am crusing around the 70km/h or below in traffic ... I actually drop the shifter back into 3rd ... stops it from shifting up and down all of the time on me.

crusher · 12-01-2008, 11:39 PM

Always drive with Econ off.
Drive A LOT of hwy each day and I like having it kick down right away when I want some more speed put on. I found in Econ it takes forever to kickdown.

Luckily my drive to and from work is a pretty easy one. Half the way is 110/90/80 zone and the rest is done at about 70. Bout a 45 minute drive. Might try it with Econ on and see if there is a difference in fuel but im highly doubting it as I normally get about the same out of a tank each week no matter what I do. That a mix of taking it easy and cleaning out the cobwebs.

coxy321 · 06-02-2008, 10:57 PM

I've been told by several people (all in the industry) to leave the economy button off. Two different transmission workshops and a few different mechanics. Apparently instead of the converter "slipping" up a gear, or "slipping" down a gear, in power mode it makes a more defined shift. And as previously stated, economy mode short-shifts & holds onto gears longer instead of kicking back. I've also noticed that it just about completely skips 1st gear altogether (gets the car going to about 20km/h then just "slips" on up to 2nd gear).

Saying that, i drive in economy mode all the time, as my AU2 wagon is an absolute bucket of s--t, and would struggle to pull the skin off a rice pudding. Usually if i need/want to go a bit harder i just pull the shifter back into 3rd or even 2nd sometimes.

Cheers - Coxy

Eu-GenixX · 07-02-2008, 07:46 AM

my car put itself into econ mode the other week when i was towing a trailer... then after a couple minutes turned itself off again... anyone know what causes that?

i used to drive around in econ mode all the time... but i used to drive like a grandma... now i do enjoy a spirited squirt of the pedal.. and i leave it off....

sly · 07-02-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chamelion

I've done a little testing in my AU3 wagon.

Econ - Better economy by about 1-1.5L/100km, changes up at lower revs, lock up kicks in earlier, holds gears under acceleration MUCH longer

NON Econ - Worse economy as above, changes at higher revs, changes smoother, drops gears much sooner, faster and smoother than econ

I tend to use econ more often to save the fuel cost. Mind you, if I'm in a rush and have to drive aggresively I'll tend to put it in power mode.

Almost spot on.

The one trainspotting detail you missed is that in ECON mode the torque converter locks up in 3rd gear as well as in top. In PWR mode it stays unlocked in 3rd.

Mr Hardware · 08-02-2008, 01:33 PM

Chamelion, JC and sly are right. Except i would argue that MY transmission is smoother in econ, but i'm not 100%.
Econ and 3rd and no air con around town (up to and including 60kmh)
Econ and 4th and air con on highway (70kmh or above)
but thats just me
but power/econ don't matter too much, 4th in 60 zones is just stupidity. Would you put a manual in top at anything under highway driving? no! so don't do it with your lovely BTR.
Penultimate gear around town boys.
Trust me on this one, when i worked with Taxis we did tests and the ones who drove in 3rd around town lasted about 50,000klms longer, and fuel economy differences were undetectable.

Chamelion · 08-02-2008, 01:38 PM

Cheers mate, I'll do my next tank in 3rd around town, will see what fuel difference it makes.

I've taken to using NON ECON near always now... Smoother, cleaner shifts and the near instant kick down is extremely pleasing.

Matt.

Markwatts91 · 27-11-2014, 04:56 PM

I just had the auto transmission serviced and when you drive without econ mode it doesn't seem to change gears just revs high, any ideas?

Spurious · 02-12-2014, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markwatts91

I just had the auto transmission serviced and when you drive without econ mode it doesn't seem to change gears just revs high, any ideas?

This thread was started in 2008.

Start a new thread. It bugs some members when others bump really old threads.

My rule is, if it's more than halfway down the page on the sub forum, I don't touch it as the original poster most likely has the answer/s they were after.

Also check the date of the original post before bumping a thread. Bumping means to put it back on the top of the list, this happens if you reply to a really old thread that's down the bottom of the page.