GR86 Jerky acceleration when cold?

When cold is your 86 OK to pull away smoothly and easily?

  • Yes smooth as butter

    Votes: 10 9.2%
  • Not perfect but not an issue

    Votes: 59 54.1%
  • Finding it frustrating but ok to live with it

    Votes: 31 28.4%
  • Jesus Christ its annoying, just stop it, stop it now!

    Votes: 9 8.3%

  • Total voters
    109
From the translation above, it looks like the Type C update includes a recalibration for ‘safer’ implementation of the VSC.
Would this make the Type C spec a suitable update for a safety recall??
I would quite fancy that more linear throttle map… though in fairness I think I’ve developed a ridiculously sensitive right foot over the last year- able to flex in 1/10th millimetre increments in order to make smooth and modest progress 😄
The first batch of UK cars sat in Derby for about 6-9 months while new software was installed to increase the sensitivity of VSC as it was too slack for EU/UK type approval. Whether Type A/B refers to Jap/US/World markets who received the 86 way before the UK I dont know, but of course there is a newer wave of 86s which came to the UK recently which seem to have the same issue so I cant work out how the improved throttle response is on UK cars. However, there could of course be just the VSC software changed for the EU/UK for approvals, they wouldnt change the throttle mapping unless they had to.
 
Mines a 73, so the 2nd batch.

I've definitely made the problem worse with having an aftermarket exhaust. If its early or late in the day, and I don't want to sit on my driveway with the cold start blaring away, I tend to start up and immediately roll off my downhill driveway. I don't have to touch the accelerator at all until I get to the T-junction at the end of my road and it does all sorts of weird stuff during this time.
By the time I go to pull away from the T-junction at the end of my street, I'm still at the mercy of an engine that does whatever it wants. Given the engine is still cold and I'm trying to be as gentle as possible until I get some heat into it, this is when the jerky power delivery presents itself pretty much 100% of the time.

It seems that it's something ill have to live with for now if I don't want to annoy the neighbours with the cold start, unless I put the stock exhaust back on - which isn't happening. :)
For the first few hundred yards when cold the car doesnt really want to stop, we've a roundabout 100 yrds from the house and as you slow down for it until you dip the clutch it is both fighting the brake and wanting to run on like when a classic car has the choke fully out but warmed up!
 
I believe (the jerky acceleration) when hot gets a) amplified by chassis suspension and b) is down to the aggressive non perfect mapping. It is like a bouncing porpoising effect that you can feel in the drivetrain and chassis. It spoils your drive under certain getting back on to the throttle for moderate to heavy accelerations particularly noticeable and bad in 2nd and 3rd gear. And apparently is not felt as bad on the softer sprung and setup BRZ.
 
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The accelerator 5 tap thing doesn’t work. Not surprisingly as the poke your seatbelt buckle in & out 20 times to stop the no seatbelt warning chime doesn’t either. 🙄
 
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Reactions: Noel McC
Video of updated 2024 GR86 which says it has a new electronic throttle control for a smoother ride.(1min 10sec). Won’t hold my breath for Toyota to issue a service bulletin though for our older ones. Maybe it will only work on manuals with the eyesight camera update.
TRD performance dampers mentioned also.

 
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This GR is like new Yamahas that I had in the past, in that it gets much better with more miles on.

I’m at 2500 miles now.

And the motor runs so much better than it did on its 1st day on the road.
 
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This is probably the best place to post this.

"Toyota Gazoo Racing and Subaru have announced a small treat for current GR86 and BRZ owners—at least for those in Japan. The twin sports cars are now eligible for an optional software upgrade, designed to sharpen throttle response in manual models and improve downshifting performance in automatics."


Japan only. Boo.
 
This is probably the best place to post this.

"Toyota Gazoo Racing and Subaru have announced a small treat for current GR86 and BRZ owners—at least for those in Japan. The twin sports cars are now eligible for an optional software upgrade, designed to sharpen throttle response in manual models and improve downshifting performance in automatics."


Japan only. Boo.
From todays Toyota Tokio Auto Salon Press release;

‘Since its launch in 2021, the GR86 has been well-received by many customers as a car with the unique driving feel of a GR vehicle. Its partial upgrade in 2024 reflects learnings from various motorsports in which the GR86 continues to compete. Based on feedback from professional drivers who hone cars in the extreme environment of racing, the throttle characteristics were modified (in manual transmission vehicles) and the engine-speed tolerance range during downshifting was expanded (in automatic transmission vehicles) to improve acceleration response and enable quicker downshifts, resulting in the further refinement of the unique driving feel of a GR vehicle. To enable pre-upgrade GR86 owners to experience this evolved driving performance, software upgrades "GR86 PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE for MT" / "GR86 PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE for AT" are to be sold*2 through GR Garage locations from the spring of 2025. So that those who continue to drive the GR86 can enjoy it for many years to come, TGR intends to continue supporting the evolution of its customers' beloved cars.

Manual transmission vehicles
Engine torque control has been modified for easier blipping, which is often required in motorsports. Also, throttle control has been adopted to obtain a more direct response to accelerator operation, improving ease of handling at the upper limits of performance.

Automatic transmission vehicles
Responding to requests from customers who participate in motorsports with automatic transmission vehicles, the engine-speed tolerance range during downshifting has been expanded, enabling sporty driving supported by a wider torque band.’
 
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Can’t see me needing that ‘upper level of performance ’ patch for my drive to the barbershop in town - those cobblestones are dangerous enough as it is. I might end up drifting the car through Cash Converters window 😆
 
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If this cures the “rev hang” which others [more informed forum members] attribute to software, I really want this upgrade.

I originally thought the 86 needed a lighter flywheel - a La Chris Harris.

Agree with you, correction of a “flaw” is something Toyota should be do for free… as they would a recall.
 
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TD suggests that throttle mapping has been improved in their upgrade info https://www.tuningdevelopments.uk/p...baru-brz-gen-2-toyota-gr86-fa24-22-on-models/

Sounds like a good ‘easy’ upgrade option for those interested. They’re about 15 minutes away from me, must resist 🤣.

Why must you resist? Resisting sounds like the worst thing you could do. Resistance is futile.

An extra 20 hp (25 at 4,000 rpm) sounds lovely. Although 300+ will be nice for some, I can't see myself putting a turbo on it, and something like this might be enough.
 
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Very interesting indeed! Has anyone had it done or used this company before? Fensport do anything similar I wonder?
Very popular on the old platform. The GT86 suffered from the notorious torque dip, this package for the GT was the most popular in the UK to get rid of it.

Worth bearing in mind the closing comment on the kit.

Please note, this product removes one of the catalytic converters and therefore we must advise is for offroad use only.

It is the one and only catalytic converter removed, so the car would not be road legal and pass an MOT with this setup installed.
 
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Worth bearing in mind the closing comment on the kit.



It is the one and only catalytic converter removed, so the car would not be road legal and pass an MOT with this setup installed.

Yeah that basically makes it completely pointless.
 
Very popular on the old platform. The GT86 suffered from the notorious torque dip, this package for the GT was the most popular in the UK to get rid of it.

Worth bearing in mind the closing comment on the kit.



It is the one and only catalytic converter removed, so the car would not be road legal and pass an MOT with this setup installed.
How hard is it to swap, I wonder…