NTD 3-Drive Throttle Controller--Preliminary Review

[manxman]

As I have previously posted, I used a Blitz Throttle Controller on my GD3. I liked the Blitz product enough to NOT REGRET spending the approx. $300. group buy price.

Throttle controllers allow you to get all of the acceleration out of a Fit that it can potentially give. You can't get the whole potential unless you have the T/C to eliminate the time lag between pressing the accelerator and the throttle actually opening enough to correspond with the position of the gas pedal. T/C's eliminate that annoying time lag to give you approximately the same instant response that we used to have with mechanical linkage between the pedal and the throttle.

The new NTD 3-Drive T/C works at least as well as the Blitz , for less than half the price . The NTD unit has more levels available in its sensitivity range than the Blitz did. In SP mode, as I recall, the Blitz had 3 levels (SP 1 thru SP3). The NTD unit has seven. I only went up the scale to level 6 in my test. Around here, that was more than fast enough for me. I will get to level 7 at some other time in different terrain.

NOTE: I did get a check engine warning light, but I just kept driving around with several stops and starts of the engine. The check engine warning went away on its own. Apparently there is a learning process that the T/C control box and the car's ECU have to go through to establish proper communication.

If you buy this unit, you will notice a significant and immediate difference in acceleration compared to stock . One of the push-button selected modes of the T/C is "Nor" for normal, or stock performance. You can feel the difference between normal and SP1. SP6 will get you into real trouble in a parking lot or heavy freeway traffic. The last mode is "ECO", which gives you several levels of slowing down the throttle reaction speed. The ECO mode is meant for use in slow, heavy traffic. One nice safety feature for those of us who have other family members who might occasionally drive our Fits. The T/C always reverts to the "Normal" setting when the engine shuts off. You have to manually adjust it back to the performance modes. This prevents your family from backing up in SP7 and smashing the Fit clear through your house.

I suggest that you mount the controls box with the push-buttons and display screen somewhere OTHER THAN on the top of the steering column. Reason?? The display is a very bright red and will be a huge distraction at night. On my GE8, I mounted the control box directly below and to the left of the large, bottom HVAC knob. My control box sits about 3" above my right knee. I usually drive one-handed with my right hand, and my arm blocks any red glare from the display from bothering my eyes at night. When picking a mounting location, remember that there is no "OFF" switch. The red display will always be lit.

I will shoot and add a photo to this post sometime tomorrow to show where my control box is Velcro mounted, and will describe how to make the same mounting bracket that I did.

[macbuddy]

Originally Posted by manxman

NOTE: I did get a check engine warning light, but I just kept driving around with several stops and starts of the engine. The check engine warning went away on its own. Apparently there is a learning process that the T/C control box and the car's ECU have to go through to establish proper communication.

Dave,
When you have a chance, pull up that code on your Scangauge2. I am curious to know what triggered that CEL.

Originally Posted by manxman

...as I recall, the Blitz had 3 levels (SP 1 thru SP3)...

BTW, to refresh your memory, the Blitz has a fourth level, called ECO mode.

[manxman]

Thanks Mike, but apparently you did not read my whole post. As I explained, in the SP mode of the NTD unit, there are SEVEN levels. I only recall 3 levels in the SP mode on the Blitz. BOTH T/C's have an ECO mode (see paragraph 5 in the review). The NTD has more levels than the Blitz in that mode also.

[macbuddy]

Originally Posted by manxman

Thanks Mike, but apparently you did not read my whole post. As I explained, in the SP mode of the NTD unit, there are SEVEN levels. I only recall 3 levels in the SP mode on the Blitz. BOTH T/C's have an ECO mode (see paragraph 5 in the review). The NTD has more levels than the Blitz in that mode also.

OIC! That is interesting, you are right, the Blitz has only one level of "ECO" mode, can you elaborate on how the NTD offers more levels in it's "ECO" mode? Also, how does one choose each mode/level, is it done through a series of button pushes, or is there a dial to turn? BTW, do you know if there is an online PDF of the NTD manual that we can look at?

-macbuddy-

[manxman]

Last first- I doubt that the NTD manual is on line. The printed manual that comes with the electronics is sketchy at best, with some weird syntax problems in the Chinese to English translation.

Selection of modes, and selection of the various levels in each mode is done by button pushes- one button for mode, one button for "set". The set-up procedure is a little confusing because the buttons do different things with a push, and other thins with a 10 second hold. This is one of those cases where you have to have the thing in front of you, with the instructions. There are too many variables to describe coherently in a verbal description. But using it isn't hard- it just takes a little time to get used to their operating system.

I don't remember how many levels there are available in "Eco" mode, but there are at least 2, and I could definitely feel a difference at level 1. By comparison, I felt nothing at all in my GD with the Blitz T/C. The throttle movement does actually slow down from the speed of movement in stock form. I don't know whether or not the 7 levels in the "SP" mode are necessary. This may be like a 6-speed transmission where the first three gears are much too low in ratio. If you run through 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. just to get up to 40 mph, why not just raise the ratios and eliminate at least one gear? This example is for street, not off road or heavy load hauling. Point being, there may be too many levels in SP mode. I don't know yet- haven't had enough experience with it.

Panson Pan, the NTD Sales Mgr. who is running the GB on that other forum may wind up joining us here sometime in the future. I suggested that he could link my review HERE to his GB on other forums. All he has right now is a bunch of people wondering if they should join the GB and wait for months for something that no one knows anything about. This thread should help some of those people feel more comfortable about buying this product. This thread is also linked on honda-tech to help get the info. out, and of course, to get more visitors to our forums.

[ekonetics]

Good information so far. I've been trying to read up about different experiences with this throttle controller since I am one of the few so far in the group buy. Have you been able to take a picture of where you mounted your t/c? I was driving home trying to figure out where I want it.

Also good job on your review of the progress rear sway bar. I've been running the ultra racing one for months now and it does make a huge difference.

[manxman]

Originally Posted by ekonetics

Good information so far. I've been trying to read up about different experiences with this throttle controller since I am one of the few so far in the group buy. Have you been able to take a picture of where you mounted your t/c? I was driving home trying to figure out where I want it.

Also good job on your review of the progress rear sway bar. I've been running the ultra racing one for months now and it does make a huge difference.

I have been watching your posts on ff.net. You're one of the few members who make sense. I will post a photo late today showing where I mounted my T/C. By comparison, the Blitz has a green display which was not quite as distracting to use. The bright red of the NTD makes placement out of your windshield field of view pretty important.

I bought the very first Progress GD3 bar (retail buyer #1) and used it for two years. I had absolutely no doubt that the GE8 bar would be as good as the first one, but I was wrong-- it is better!
Thanks for the compliments!

[twpanson]

manxman,

Thanks for you comprehensive review and I would discuss w/ our engineer to see if we could change the lit color shown on the device.


Panson

[manxman]

Originally Posted by twpanson

manxman,

Thanks for you comprehensive review and I would discuss w/ our engineer to see if we could change the lit color shown on the device.


Panson

Panson,

You are welcome and you deserve it. By all means, see what your engineers have to say about the light color. Keep in mind that you can't please everyone. Whatever color you change to, some buyers won't like it. As long as the present red display is out of your line of sight in night driving, at isn't a problem. My review comment on the color was just an observation, not a complaint.

However, in my opinion, either green or blue might be more universally appealing. I have my Scan Gauge II display set to blue because that is the instrument color of the Fit. But since your device can fit many cars with the right choice of wiring harness, if you make the device to match gauge colors of one car, many other car owners will object.

Since the device settings do not change by themselves, there is no need to keep the display in view at all times. That makes it easy to mount the display out of view, but within easy reach. The red display is certainly easy to see.

[manxman]

macbuddy,

I went for another test drive today on the freeway. The NTD ECO mode has five levels, and you can definitely feel the throttle speed slow down in ECO 1. I went to ECO 4 and turned my Fit into an Aveo (I mean slug). I will definitely use this feature the next time I am caught in a huge freeway jam where the max speed hovers around 5 mph. "Slug Mode" will keep you from having to stomp on the brakes every 30 seconds.

Also, the rpm surge in the SP settings really is apparent when you hit the gas to pass or change lanes on the freeway. Kicking the trans. down a gear or two is absolutely faster on the freeway with the NTD contoller.

I will try to find that CEL code, just don't have time right now.